This Article is From Jul 12, 2010

Israeli FM to Palestinians: Take Israel's Arabs

Jerusalem: Israel's Foreign Minister has said that a peace deal with the Palestinians should include handing areas where Israel's Arabs live over to Palestinian control.

Avigdor Lieberman said a peace accord should be based on "population exchanges, not land for peace."

The Palestinians claim the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem for a state, but they have indicated readiness to swap some land in the West Bank for territory in Israel.

"It is clear that the 'triangle'," an area where many of Israel's minority Arabs live, "should be outside the borders of Israel, Lieberman told Israel Radio on Sunday.

Ahmad Tibi, an Israeli Arab lawmaker, called Lieberman's proposal "fascist."

Arabs make up about 20 percent of Israel's citizens, and may sympathise with the Palestinians.
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