Israeli defence minister steps down, clearing way for hardliner Avigdor Lieberman is expected to take over sensitive post from former military chief Moshe Yaalon
Associated Press
Sunday 22 May 2016 12.33 EDT
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/22/israeli-defence-minister-steps-down-clearing-way-for-hardliner?CMP=twt_b-gdnnewsIsrael’s defence minister has officially stepped down, capping a tumultuous week of politics in the country. The former military chief is expected to be replaced with an inexperienced hardliner in the sensitive post.
Moshe Yaalon’s departure cleared the way for Avigdor Lieberman, one of Israel’s most polarising politicians, to take over as defence chief.
The prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, last week invited Lieberman’s Yisrael Beitenu party into the government in a move meant to shore up his narrow governing majority. But Lieberman reportedly demanded the defence ministry as a condition, forcing Netanyahu to ask Yaalon to step aside. Yaalon angrily announced his resignation on Friday, saying the government had been taken over by “extremist and dangerous elements”.
Netanyahu and Lieberman were still negotiating their coalition agreement on Sunday, and it was unclear when he would formally join the government.
Yaalon was one of the last moderate voices in Netanyahu’s Likud party.
