The head of the Yisrael Beitenu party, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced that his party will not enter a coalition government if not given the defense portfolio. Lieberman views himself as Israel’s next defense minister.
Lieberman made his remarks during an interview with Israel’s Meet the Press on motzei Shabbos Parshas Yisro.
Lieberman explained that following fifty days of warfare, Hamas remains in power and continues to manufacture rockets and this is an untenable situation. He added two IDF soldiers were killed yet there was no Israeli response. “Look how Jordan responded to the killing of the pilot who was burned to death. This is how we must respond” stated Lieberman. This is the only relevant methodology in the Middle East. Therefore I will demand the defense portfolio and we will receive it”.
In the erev Shabbos poll published by the Rafi Smith Institute, Yisrael Beitenu received 5 seats, not a likely scenario for one to receive such a senior cabinet appointment.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
I too hope he will not enter the coalition unless he is given the defense portfolio.
Pretty fancy talk for a party that the polls predict will most of their seats, and that has little bargaining power. Indeed, it is bordering the threshold meanig that if the polls are wrong (though polls are fairly likely to underestimate a party with much Russian support) he will be unemployed.