Israelis differ over possible nomination of far-right Lieberman as defence minister

Record ID: 102888

  • Title: Israelis differ over possible nomination of far-right Lieberman as defence minister
  • Date: 19th May 2016
  • Summary: JERUSALEM (NOVEMBER 7, 2010) (AGENCY POOL) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER AVIGDOR LIEBERMAN WELCOMING GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER GUIDO WESTERWELLE
  • Embargoed: 3rd June 2016 12:09
  • Keywords: Lieberman Israel Politics Palestinians Security
  • Location: JERUSALEM/ RAMALLAH AND NOKDIM, WEST BANK/ VARIOUS AND ASHKELON, ISRAEL
  • City: JERUSALEM/ RAMALLAH AND NOKDIM, WEST BANK/ VARIOUS AND ASHKELON, ISRAEL
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Defence,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0044IH3SJR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Israelis on Thursday (May 19) voiced different reactions to the possible nomination of far-right politician Avigdor Lieberman as a defence minister in Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition.
    On Wednesday, Netanyahu met with ultra-nationalist Lieberman to try to recruit him into Israel's government, and political sources said the prime minister agreed to his demand to be appointed defence minister.
    Netanyahu, who won a fourth term last year, governs by a majority of one in the 120-member Knesset, making his administration vulnerable to any falling-out among his political allies, so he is keen to add to their ranks.
    It had appeared for the past several days that a course had been set for Isaac Herzog's centre-left Zionist Union party, which has 24 lawmakers, to agree on an alliance with Netanyahu's right-wing Likud.
    But in a surprise move, Lieberman, who heads the far-right Yisrael Beitenu party and previously served as foreign minister, convened a news conference on Wednesday to say he was ready to negotiate a pact with Netanyahu.
    Newspaper headlines reported on the move as 'dramatic' and Israelis were at odds on whether or not Lieberman would be a good defence minister.
    "I think it could be good. He is a man who knows his mind, he is a man who understands what's going on, he's a great tactician," said Henry Israel, a Jerusalem resident.
    But Jonathan Goshen voiced fear for the future of the state of Israel. "I feel scared for Israel, I'm scared for my three boys who will be serving in the army and this is one of the saddest days for the state of Israel and a very very poor appointment by Prime Minister Netanyahu," he told Reuters.
    Lieberman, who twice served as foreign minister in previous Netanyahu-led governments and has had testy relationship with the prime minister, has drawn headlines by repeatedly questioning the loyalty of Israel's Arab minority.
    In the past, he has proposed transferring some Israeli Arab towns to a future Palestinian state in return for Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. He has also proposed bombing Egypt's Aswan dam and 'flattening' Gaza Strip into a soccer field.
    "Joining criminal Lieberman into this government means more Palestinian bloodshed as a fuel for the continuity of this far-right, most extreme government. This will reduce the chances for future peace and will bring a criminal and aggressive escalation as Lieberman is calling for more killing in the streets, of prisoners and others," said Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) Member Wassel Abu Yousef in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
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