"Israel" Closes Strategic Affairs Ministry
Source: Alalam TV, 14-04-2008
AL-QUDS--The 'Israeli' occupying regime is closing a government office charged with spying on Iranian nuclear activities, less than 18 months after it was created, tacitly admitting the office's failure in its mission.
The move is an admission that the Strategic Affairs Ministry served little purpose other than providing a Cabinet post for one of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's former political allies.
Government spokesman Mark Regev said Monday the ministry's functions would pass to other government departments. Regev claimed the closure would not affect 'Israel's' security.
The portfolio was created in December, 2006, for hardline coalition partner Avigdor Lieberman.
In announcing the appointment, Olmert said Lieberman would "oversee - on my behalf - the formulation of 'Israeli' policy regarding strategic threats against 'Israel' and will, to this end, coordinate between the various relevant intelligence and security services."
Lieberman quit in January 2008 in protest against Olmert's moves to negotiate with the Palestinian Authority, and the Cabinet decided Sunday that the post was unnecessary.
Lieberman slammed Olmert for shutting down the ministry, noting that previous investigations have pointed out that one of the critical problems with 'Israel's' decision-making process is that there is too much reliance on the war ministry.
He called the decision "a strategic mistake." The problem in 'Israel', he added "is that there is no 'second opinion,' only one opinion - that of the war ministry."
Lieberman stressed that "The prime minister is preoccupied with political matters like the primaries, and needs someone to assemble all government data for him. Now there will be no such body."
Several forums on strategic affairs had operated under the auspices of the ministry, which was founded in December 2006.
These forums included 'Israel's' most senior experts and focused on spying on issues, such as the Iranian nuclear program and movements like al-Qaeda.
The National Security Council and 'Israeli' war ministry will assume most of the responsibilities of the dissolved ministry.
AL-QUDS--The 'Israeli' occupying regime is closing a government office charged with spying on Iranian nuclear activities, less than 18 months after it was created, tacitly admitting the office's failure in its mission.
The move is an admission that the Strategic Affairs Ministry served little purpose other than providing a Cabinet post for one of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's former political allies.
Government spokesman Mark Regev said Monday the ministry's functions would pass to other government departments. Regev claimed the closure would not affect 'Israel's' security.
The portfolio was created in December, 2006, for hardline coalition partner Avigdor Lieberman.
In announcing the appointment, Olmert said Lieberman would "oversee - on my behalf - the formulation of 'Israeli' policy regarding strategic threats against 'Israel' and will, to this end, coordinate between the various relevant intelligence and security services."
Lieberman quit in January 2008 in protest against Olmert's moves to negotiate with the Palestinian Authority, and the Cabinet decided Sunday that the post was unnecessary.
Lieberman slammed Olmert for shutting down the ministry, noting that previous investigations have pointed out that one of the critical problems with 'Israel's' decision-making process is that there is too much reliance on the war ministry.
He called the decision "a strategic mistake." The problem in 'Israel', he added "is that there is no 'second opinion,' only one opinion - that of the war ministry."
Lieberman stressed that "The prime minister is preoccupied with political matters like the primaries, and needs someone to assemble all government data for him. Now there will be no such body."
Several forums on strategic affairs had operated under the auspices of the ministry, which was founded in December 2006.
These forums included 'Israel's' most senior experts and focused on spying on issues, such as the Iranian nuclear program and movements like al-Qaeda.
The National Security Council and 'Israeli' war ministry will assume most of the responsibilities of the dissolved ministry.
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