Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Wednesday, 13 Menachem Av, revealed his new plan to defeat Arab terror, a plan he calls the ‘carrot & stick’ method.

Mr. Lieberman explained punishment for villagers from which terrorists come from will receive harsher punishment and they will not receive benefits enjoyed by other villages.

Lieberman cited 15 PA (Palestinian Authority) villages that have maintained a peaceful existence with their neighbors as opposed to 15 others that were home to many terrorists who perpetrated attacks against Israeli targets.

Lieberman explained that villages willing to live in coexistence with Israel will reap the rewards of such a relationship while the others will bear the consequences of their actions.

Lieberman is on a crash course with Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit regarding the return of bodies of terrorists for burial, telling military correspondents that the latter is the nation’s attorney general and not the High Court of Justice, making it clear that in his eyes, Mandelblit’s word is not law. Lieberman is critical of the fact that his office and the Ministry of Public Security maintain different policies as he remains adamantly opposed to the return of the bodies of terrorists for burial while the Public Security Ministry is not of the same opinion. He added that this dates back to 2004, when there were restrictions in place surrounding the return of the bodies, including a guarantee the burial would be small and without fanfare, not permitting families to turn the slain terrorists into heroes.

To make things crystal clear, IDF Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) is launching an Arabic language website that will explain everything in detail – his three-pronged plan that includes ‘carrots & sticks”, “dialogue with the Palestinian public” and formulating a list of close associates of the PA and Hamas”. He plans to work with a map that will divide Yehuda and Shomron into three areas. The green area will be PA areas from which no terrorists have come while the other areas will be yellow and red.

The rewards he explains will be significant, like the construction of a hospital in Beit Sachur in the Bet Lechem district, the construction of an industrial zone in Western Shechem and a soccer field in Kafr Bidia. Lieberman envisions a major “Economic corridor” in line with the plan which is initiated and funded by Japan.

However, the story in yellow and red areas will be somewhat different, including more arrests, house demolitions and raids to locate and confiscate weapons and arrest wanted suspects.

Lieberman explained he did not just awaken and make up the plan but has consulted with Shin Bet officials, COGAT Chief Major-General Yoav Mordechai and Central District Commander Major-General Roni Numa. He also plans to address the diplomatic channel and will be maintaining a dialogue with senior PA officials, but ignoring PA Chairman Abu Mazen, whom he blames for continuing the incitement and hate campaign against Israel. Lieberman stated a long time ago that Abu Mazen “is not a peace partner” and plans to ignore him in his talks with PA officials, preferring to concentrate efforts on those willing to speak with Israel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)