If Mr Lieberman’s appointment is confirmed, it would mark a return to government for the controversial politician who stepped down in 2012 when he was investigated for breach of trust. Over three decades, he has at times been Netanyahu’s closest ally and other times a fierce rival.
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Political sources say Netanyahu offered ultra-nationalist politician Avigdor Lieberman on Wednesday the defence portfolio, a post crucial for a country on a perennial war footing and which also runs civil affairs in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians struggling for statehood live in friction with Jewish settlers. “Israel and Likud have been taken over by extremist and unsafe entities that are undermining our home and threatening its dwellers”.
Mr Ya’alon said he had spent his career fighting extremism, violence and racism, but that they were threatening the “sturdiness” of society and trickling into the IDF. Over the last few weeks, Ya’alon encouraged IDF generals to speak out about moral issues and the rules of engagement, “regardless of whichever way the wind blows”. The solider is now on trial for manslaughter. While Yaalon has backed the military, Lieberman went to the court to offer his support to the soldier. Although Herzog as Foreign Minister in a wider coalition had clear advantages, the divisions within Zionist Union, and threats by individuals not to follow their leader into Government, created uncertainty as to exactly how many MK’s Herzog could deliver. “It resulted from the need to expand the government so as to bring stability to the State of Israel given the great challenges it faces”, he said in a video statement. He also said he was leaving politics. Ya’alon resigned on Friday both from the government and from the parliament, citing “a lack of faith” in Netanyahu even as the PM reportedly tried to compensate him by offering the job of the foreign minister. Ya’alon notified Netanyahu of his resignation from the government on Friday morning.
Departing minister rues rise of “extremists” in Israel.
“It is important for Israel to have as broad a coalition as possible”, he stressed.
Former Defense Minister Ehud Barak criticized the political upheaval.
The expert also noted that lacking natural resources, and existing for nearly seven decades through conflicts and hostile environment, Israel is an overall economic success story, which is also a good model for Azerbaijan.
He called it a move that is “irresponsible for the military and the citizens of the country”.
Yaalon is the highest profile casualty of an ongoing plan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reform the government.
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“Unfortunately, I have recently found myself confronted by hard dilemmas on issues of principle and professional matters with the prime minister, a number of ministers and several Knesset members”, Yaalon said.
