The Israeli government approved the inclusion of Avigdor Lieberman as
“Minister fro Strategic Affairs, in a three minutes session, Israeli
sources reported. The deal will be brought before the Knesset for
approval on Monday evening.
The ministers also approved the appointment of Labor member of Knesset, Ephraim Sneh as Deputy Defense Minister.
Lieberman is the head of “Israel Our Home” party, and is known for his extreme views that calls for expelling the Arabs and Palestinians from Israel and the occupied territories.
The Israeli Ynetnews reported that Ophir Pines-Paz, Sports and Culture Minister, voted against the inclusion of Lieberman, while the Pensioners party voted in favor in spite of threatening to vote against the move if there were not given the Welfare portfolio.
Israeli Defense Minster, Ehud Olmert, said the Lieberman will be in charge of “collecting strategic intelligence in Israel”.
Olmert added that the inclusion of Lieberman will not lead to any changes in the principles of the government, and that none of the ministers privileges will be changed.
Meanwhile, the Labor party voted in favor of remaining in the government coalition that includes Lieberman and his Israel Our Home party, yet many party officials said that Pines-Paz told them that he might resign.
Labor member of Knesset, Shelly Yacimovich, said that she would not attend the vote on the inclusion of Lieberman.
