The deal to bring the six-seat Yisrael Beitenu party into the coalition was completed during a meeting on Tuesday night. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman moments ago signed the document, making it official.

The Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Moshe Kahlon and Avigdor Lieberman met on late Tuesday night in the Prime Minister’s Office seeking the final approval for Lieberman’s pension plan to assist senior citizens, which carries a hefty price tag. Kahlon raised numerous objections but the bottom line is the deal is signed.

What remains to be addressed are the demands from Bayit Yehudi and party leader Naftali Bennett, who is demanding the appointment of a military secretary to the cabinet to “teach” ministers what they need to know to make responsible decisions regarding defense and security matters. Bennett insists that until this demand is met, his party will not vote to approve Lieberman’s inclusion in the coalition.

When Lieberman’s party enters Knesset, the coalition will increase from 61 to 67 seats and Israel’s 66th Government will include Lieberman as Minister of Defense and Sofia Landver as Minister of Absorption.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)