Israeli government unanimously approves Lieberman as defence minister

The latest version of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition was unanimously approved by the cabinet Monday after weathering its first storm, Netanyahu's Likud party said as quoted by Ha'aretz newspaper.

The expanded coalition was agreed to on Wednesday when Netanyahu controversially joined forces with ultra-nationalist Avigdor Lieberman, who will now become defense minister after the cabinet's vote.

Now approved, the deal will form what is seen as the most right-wing government in Israel's history.

The cabinet also approved the appointments of Sofa Landver as Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption Minister, and Tzachi Hanegbi as Minister-without-portfolio in the Prime Minister's Office.

One of Netanyahu's coalition partners had threatened to block the planned expansion of the alliance by voting against it in parliament, possibly sparking fresh elections, unless demands for procedural reform were met.

But a compromise between Netanyahu and his rival, Jewish Home party leader Naftali Bennett, was reached late Sunday, a Likud statement said.

The religious nationalist Jewish Home holds eight seats, enough to block Netanyahu's proposed new line-up.

Jewish Home had demanded the creation of a military liaison for the government's security cabinet, a smaller forum of cabinet members which decides on matters of national security.

Source ; MENA