Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman was sworn in as a cabinet minister Monday evening, after the Knesset plenum voted 61-38 in favor of his inclusion in the government.

He becomes deputy prime minister and minister for strategic threats - primarily those presented by Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Earlier Monday, Minister of Culture and Sport Ophir Pines-Paz (Labor) resigned from the government, hours after the cabinet approved Lieberman's appointment by a large majority.

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Pines-Paz absented himself from the plenum vote.

Speaking at a specially convened press conference at the Culture and Sport Ministry in Jerusalem, Pines-Paz said that there had been no other option left to him in the wake of the cabinet vote on Lieberman.

"I came to the decision for reasons of conscience," Pines said.

He added that he could not sit in a government with "a party whose platform is full of racist characteristics, and whose leaders' statements harm the essence of democracy in the State of Israel."

He said that he had fought as hard as he could against Lieberman's inclusion in the government.

"What is in Lieberman's past that qualifies him? What has he done in his life that qualifies him to be a senior minister in defense issues?" he asked.

"Is this the solution to stabilize the government and other issues? If Lieberman is the answer to the government's loss of direction after the second Lebanon war, the entire government should resign and let Lieberman and his friends - the Likud, National Religious Party and National Union - lead the country."

Pines-Paz, the only cabinet member to vote against Lieberman's, also announced that he has "decided to run for the leadership of the Labor Party in the next elections... to lead the party back into the right direction, so that it will present a real alternative to the government"

Pine-Paz's decision drew praise from Arab MKs vehemently opposed to Lieberman's entry to the coalition.

MK Al-Sana (United Arab List) said, "MK Pines-Paz proved his values are stronger than his [Knesset] seat and that the government has not sanctified all means [of opposition]. There is some hope of sanity."

MK Tibi (United Arab List) said he admires Pines-Paz's courage and public integrity.

"There is a saint in the 'Sodom' of the government - we need more like him," he said.

Nabil Sha'ath, an advisor to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, called the inclusion an "ugly message and ugly symbol of the direction this Israeli government is taking."

With Yisrael Beiteinu's 11 lawmakers on board, Olmert's government will control 78 of 120 Knesset seats, an overwhelming majority.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday that Lieberman's inclusion in the government would not cause any policy changes.

"I think it is important that we act in the diplomatic arena," Olmert told MKs in his Kadima Party. "This includes the Palestinian issue first and foremost."

Pines-Paz was also absent from the Labor faction meeting earlier Monday.

The Pensioners' Party ministers voted in favor of Lieberman's appointment, after they were promised that previous commitments made to them regarding government stipends for pensioners would be honored.