Lieberman accepts Netanyahu’s offer of defence minister
In a meeting that lasted less than an hour on Wednesday afternoon (May 18), Avigdor Lieberman accepted Prime Minister Netanyahu’s offer of the defence and immigration and absorption portfolios.
In a day of political upheavals, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went from a stalemate in coalition talks with Zionist Union chairman Isaac Herzog to reaching a preliminary deal with Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman in just 16 hours.
In a meeting that lasted less than an hour on Wednesday afternoon (May 18), Lieberman accepted Netanyahu’s offer of the defence and immigration and absorption portfolios and support for key Yisrael Beytenu-sponsored legislation.
Tourism Minister Yariv Levin negotiated for the Likud with Lieberman and Jerusalem city councillor Moshe Lion late Wednesday in an effort to finalise the deal by Thursday, ahead of Monday’s return of the Knesset from its extended Passover recess.
Netanyahu updated Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon immediately after meeting with Lieberman. While it was not final Wednesday night, a source close to Netanyahu said Ya’alon is likely to be compensated by becoming foreign minister, but Ya’alon’s office said he had not yet been offered the post.
There will be a series of appointments within the Likud as well, with Levin and outgoing Immigration and Absorption Minister Ze’ev Elkin expected to receive promotions.
One Likud MK not expected to be promoted is Bennie Begin, who called Lieberman’s appointment as defense minister “delusional and irresponsible.”
Talks with Yisrael Beytenu began after negotiations with the Zionist Union failed to progress.
Netanyahu met with Herzog until late Tuesday night but failed to reach agreements on diplomatic issues.
In a Tel Aviv press conference, Herzog blamed the failure to reach a deal on Netanyahu refusing to write down his commitments on diplomatic issues.
But Likud officials said Herzog had not succeeded in drafting the support of any MKs in his 24-MK faction, while Lieberman’s six MKs were loyal and obedient.
Lieberman dared Netanyahu to engage in serious coalition talks to add Yisrael Beytenu to the government Wednesday morning in a press conference at the Knesset. Netanyahu immediately called and invited him to meet with him four hours later.
At the press conference Lieberman denied a report that he met last week with Netanyahu and that the prime minister offered him defence. He said he had heard such offers only from the press and “self-appointed mediators” who did not represent Netanyahu.
THE JERUSALEM POST
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