Bibi Reaches Deal for Lieberman’s Party to Join Govt
Local Editor
"Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined forces on Wednesday with the hardline party to expand his coalition, forming what is being called the most right-wing government in the apartheid entity's history.
Avigdor Lieberman and his Yisrael Beitenu party will add five lawmakers to Netanyahu's previously wafer-thin majority if the deal is given parliamentary approval as expected.
Lieberman, who has spoken of harsh measures against Palestinians, will take over the key role of war minister after being sworn in.
The two men, who have in the past been bitter rivals, announced the deal at a ceremony at Knesset, with Lieberman pledging to be "balanced" and saying he was committed to "responsible, reasonable policy."
Netanyahu said that "we are joining hands now to march "Israel" forward."
Moshe Yaalon, a Likud member who resigned as War minister on Friday and who has also served as armed forces chief, warned of a rising tide of extremism in the party and the country as a whole.
Former Labor prime minister and war minister Ehud Barak went further, saying "Israel's" government "has been infected by the shoots of fascism."
But others say that Lieberman is above all a pragmatic politician who aspires to be prime minister one day, noting also that he will face opposition from the security establishment if he seeks to carry out some of his most controversial ideas.
An example of his provocative style was recently on display in comments directed at Ismail Haniya.
Lieberman said he would give Haniya 48 hours to hand over two detained "Israelis" and the bodies of soldiers killed in a 2014 war "or you're dead".
Netanyahu had earlier engaged in negotiations with Labor party leader Isaac Herzog to join the government before turning to Lieberman instead.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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