Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu last week offered Yisrael Beitenu opposition party leader Avigdor Lieberman the post of Defense Minister if he agrees to enter the coalition, Channel 10 News reported. Lieberman’s party has six seats.

The report adds that PM Netanyahu told Lieberman he would back his death penalty for terrorists bill that he wished to advance in the past, albeit without success. To the surprise of some, Lieberman informed Mr. Netanyahu that he would be declining – that he is not interested in entering the current coalition.

Persons close to Lieberman explain they feel the offer is nothing more than a signal to Machane Tzioni leader Yitzchak Herzog that PM Netanyahu can expand his coalition without him, seeking to apply additional pressure on Machane Tzioni to enter the coalition.

Yisrael Beitenu officials also feel the current coalition will fall in the coming year and remaining in the opposition will be to the party’s advantage in the next Knesset elections.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)