Israel cabinet okays far-right Lieberman as defence minister

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet today approved the entry of ultra-nationalist Avigdor Lieberman to the ruling coalition as defence minister, after defusing opposition from another partner, the government said.
The religious nationalist party Jewish Home had planned to block the addition of Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu party by voting against it in parliament, possibly sparking fresh elections, unless demands for procedural reform were met.
"The cabinet unanimously approved the appointment of Avigdor Lieberman as minister of defence," a statement from Netanyahu's office said.
It added that Yisrael Beitenu's Sofa Landver was approved as minister of immigrant absorption.
The deal is expected to be approved by parliament later today, with the new ministers to take their oaths of office.

The prime minister's office said that as part of the reshuffle, veteran Likud MP Tzachi Hanegbi, chairman of parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee, would become a minister without portfolio.

Netanyahu and Jewish Home party leader Naftali Bennett reached a compromise yesterday night after mediation by a third party, a Likud statement said.
Jewish Home holds eight parliamentary seats, enough to block Netanyahu's proposed new line-up.
If approved by parliament, the deal would create what is seen as the most right-wing government in Israel's history.
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.

Bennett says such a post is needed to avoid security cabinet members being kept in the dark on important developments, pointing to aspects of the 2014 conflict with Palestinian militants in Gaza, among other concerns.
Under the compromise brokered by Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, of the United Torah Judaism alliance of ultra-Orthodox parties, security cabinet members will receive frequent personal briefings from Israel's National Security Council as an interim measure, while a committee of experts looks at ways to improve procedure.
While some analysts say such a change is needed, Bennett's demand is also seen as political manoeuvring ahead of the next general election, due by 2019 at the latest.