Environmental Affairs Minister (Kulanu) Avi Gabbai on erev Shabbos 19 Iyar held a press conference, during which he announced he is resigning from the cabinet.

Gabbai explained that while he understands the importance of his post, the deal signed with the Yisrael Beitenu party this week by which Avigdor Lieberman will become Minister of Defense is more than he can stand. He also announced he was among the few ministers opposing the natural gas deal, lamenting the fact that in his opinion, there are ministers lacking “a basic understanding of economics yet they make these major decisions”.

He feels the appointment of Lieberman as Defense Minister is the result of “political maneuvering and deal-making at the expense of the nation’s security”, telling Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu he is unable to continue as a member of the cabinet after Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon was compelled to step down.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)