Israeli hard-liner appointment to defense minister postponed

A vote to approve Israeli hard-liner, Avigdor Lieberman, as defense minister was put off on Sunday night, amidst disputes in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's newly-expanded right-wing coalition.

Israeli media reported that the vote on the controversial appointment was put off to the cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Netanyahu was hoping the cabinet could approve the new appointment by a quick telephone vote on Sunday. The swearing-in ceremony for Lieberman and his Yisrael Beytenu ("Israel Our Home") colleague, the newly-appointed immigrant absorption minister Sofa Landver was scheduled to Wednesday.

A report by the Hebrew Ha'aretz newspaper said the reason for the delay was a decision by the Attorney General that the vote on the controversial appointment should be held at Tuesday's cabinet meeting.

The Knesset (parliament) also needs to approve the appointment.

Earlier on Sunday, religious nationalist Jewish Home party threatened to leave Netanyahu's coalition if its demands to make changes to the security cabinet are not met.

The faction demands that the ministers of the security cabinet, a forum of top ministers convening of matters of national security, would be more informed on what's going on in the field.

"We are not seeking jobs or asking for money, we wish to save human lives," chairman of the party and Education Minister Naftali Bennett told reporters during a visit to a Jerusalem school with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.

"I will continue to fight and defend Israeli soldiers and the citizens in communities near Gaza wherever I am, whether inside the government or outside of it," Bennett said.

On Saturday, Bennett explained on his Facebook page his insistence of making changes to the security cabinet "which commands the chief of staff and the military, which makes fateful life-and-death decision" and said the security cabinet forum must "stop being blind" as it is today.

Another member of the Jewish Home, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, warned Sunday that if the party's demands are not met, the crisis may lead to new elections.

"We don't think things should go there, but if the situation remains as it is, it is definitely an option," Shaked responded when asked about the prospects of them leaving the coalition, therefore triggering early elections, in an interview with Army Radio.

Last week, Bennet had threatened to vote against the nomination of Avigdor Lieberman from the nationalist Yisrael Beytenu (Israel Our Home) party after the latter signed a coalition deal with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu added Lieberman to his coalition, giving him the post of defense minister, to increase his lead over the opposition in parliament, from the previous razor-thin 61-59 lead to 66-54.

Source: XINHUA