LIVE UPDATES: Netanyahu Offers Hardliner Avigdor Lieberman Position of Defense Minister in Expanded Coalition

Herzog: Policies of Netanyahu-Bennett-Lieberman government will be 'verging insanity' ■ Likud source says deal nearly sealed ■ Habayit Hayehudi: This will be Israel's most right-wing government ever.

By

Jonathan Lis

and

Barak Ravid

May 18, 2016 11:20 PM

Netanyahu, Lieberman and Ya'alon in the Knesset. — Olivier Fitoussi

18.05.2016
Sources: No gaps between Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu
18.05.2016
MK Yacimovich: Herzog is lying about achievements in negotiations with PM
18.05.2016
Likud source: Netanyahu considers making Ya'alon foreign minister as compensation
18.05.2016
Likud MK Begin: Making Lieberman defense minister irresponsible, dangerous

At the end of a day of political shock and upheaval, Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman was on Wednesday night said to be close to accepting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s offer of the defense minister post and bringing his party into the coalition.

Jonathan Lis

and

Barak Ravid

18.05.2016 | 23:16

Sources: No gaps between Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu

Sources privy of the coalition negotiations between the Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu say that the sides have bridged the gaps and are now just tie up loose ends.

"There are no gaps between us," they say. "The main task now is closing the budgetary aspects with [Finance Minister] Kahlon" for legislation Yisrael Beiteinu are interested in passing.

A meeting between Minister Levin, who is in charge of the coalition negotiations on behalf of Netanyahu, and Lieberman has ended. The two have agreed to meet again on Thursday in an attempt to strike a deal as soon as possible.

Jonathan Lis

and

Barak Ravid

18.05.2016 | 22:30

MK Yacimovich: Herzog is lying about achievements in negotiations with PM

Referring to the actions of Zionist Union head Isaac Herzog, party MK Shelly Yacimovich said on Wednesday night that "we have witnessed a miserable, depressing and regrettable lack of leadership and zero accountability on the part of the person who with his own hands rolled out the red carpet for [Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor] Lieberman, and completely legitimized the right-wing government when he was ready to enter it at any cost."

"Herzog is lying when he ticks off a fictional list of achievements that never was and that [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, according to him, anyhow wasnt willing to put in writing, and he's lying when he's talking about "begging for a post," Yacimovich said, referring to Herzog's remarks that she was interested in top ministerial positions in his negotiations with the prime minister.

Jonathan Lis

and

Barak Ravid

18.05.2016 | 22:02

Likud source: Netanyahu considers making Ya'alon foreign minister as compensation

A senior Likud source says that Lieberman's appointment as defense minister will involve a reshuffling of the cabinet. Netanyahu, he says, is considering giving Ya'alon the Foreign Ministry as compensation. As part of the reshuffling, Minister Ze'ev Elkin will be given the Economy Ministry instead of the Immigrant Absorption Ministry.

Two other ministers who have expressed their interest in the economy portfolio are Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, a confidant of Netanyahu who is in charge of the coalition negotiations on the prime minister's behalf, and Culture Minister Miri Regev.

Jonathan Lis

and

Barak Ravid

18.05.2016 | 21:31

Likud MK Begin: Making Lieberman defense minister irresponsible, dangerous

Likud MK Benny Begin said that "the idea to appoint MK Lieberman as defense minister is bizarre." Speaking on Channel 2, he said that "this move displays a lack of responsibility toward the defense establishment and toward the citizens of Israel.

"The prime minister apparently prefers to trade the day-to-day difficulties of managing a limited coalition for difficulties that are several times greater, as well as for dangers that will arise from this appointment."

Likud MK Benny Begin speaks at the 2015 Haaretz Peace Conference, November 26, 2016. Tomer Appelbaum

Jonathan Lis

and

Barak Ravid

18.05.2016 | 20:32

Herzog: Policies of new government will be 'verging on insanity'

Opposition Leader Isaac Herzog said at a press conference in Tel Aviv that the policies of a Netanyahu-Bennett-Lieberman government will be "verging on insanity."

"From now on, the citizens of the State of Israel will have to deal with a government whose policy will be verging on insanity," Herzog said. "This I tried to stop."

Isaac Herzog speaks at a press conference at Zionist Union headquarters in Tel Aviv, May 18, 2016. David Bachar

Herzog blamed MK Shelly Yacimovich (Zionist Union), who opposed the negotiations with Netanyahu, accusing her of "extreme left-wing positions" and said that "she will bear the responsibility for the appointment of Lieberman as defense minister."

Herzog says he notified Netanyahu on Tuesday that the coalition negotiations reached a dead end even though the two reached some agreements. The Zionist Union leader says he asked Netanyahu to have the deal in writing, but Netanyahu refused.

Herzog said that the achievements reached in the talks included a veto on building in the West Bank, a blanket veto on all racist legislation, "far-reaching" socioeconomic achievements, being in charge of Israel's foreign affairs and diplomatic negotiations, as well as the defense portfolio, the foreign affairs portfolio, the economic affairs portfolio and seven more, plus five deputy ministerial positions, four Knesset committee chairs, including the prestigious Foreign Affairs and Security committee.

Jonathan Lis

and

Barak Ravid

18.05.2016 | 19:10

Likud source: Deal with Lieberman nearly sealed

A source in the Likud party says the deal with Lieberman is nearly sealed. "Lieberman is taking the offer to be appointed defense minister seriously," he says.

Tourism Minister Yariv Levin will head the Likud's negotiation team and will meet with Lieberman on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.

Jonathan Lis

and

Barak Ravid

18.05.2016 | 18:44

Herzog calls press conference for 8 P.M.

Opposition Leader Herzog calls a press conference at the Zionist Union headquarters in Tel Aviv at 8 P.M. This is the second press conference he calls in just one day.

Jonathan Lis

and

Barak Ravid

18.05.2016 | 18:33

Litzman tells Netanyahu he expects gov't policies to remain unchanged

Health Minister Yaakov Litzman's bureau said that Netanyahu called the minister and informed him about the progress in the talks with Lieberman.

A statement said that Litzman, a member of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism faction, told Netanyahu he welcomes the expanding of the coalition and stressed that he expects that the agreed-upon government policies will remain unchanged, specifically the ultra-Orthodox draft law.

Jonathan Lis

and

Barak Ravid

18.05.2016 | 17:40

Netanyahu offers Lieberman Defense Ministry

Netanyahu informed cabinet ministers that he has offered Avigdor Lieberman the Defense Ministry and the Immigrant Absorption Ministry in the expanding coalition.

Former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Olivier Fitoussi

Jonathan Lis

and

Barak Ravid

18.05.2016 | 17:36

Netanyahu, Lieberman agree to form negotiation teams

Netanyahu and Lieberman have agreed to form negotiation teams to further discuss the terms of Yisrael Beiteinu joining the government. Netanyahu is now updating the heads of the coalition parties on the details of the meeting.

Sources close to Lieberman said that the meeting was good and that the two have agreed to meet again tonight.

Jonathan Lis

and

Barak Ravid

18.05.2016 | 17:12

Habayit Hayehudi: This will be Israel's most right-wing government ever

Sources in the Habayit Hayehudi party have expressed satisfaction with the progress in the negotiations with Yisrael Beiteinu, and with the possibility that Ya'alon will be deposed as defense minister in favor of Lieberman.

"There is a consensus that Ya'alon is a walking security disaster," they said. "He will leave and Lieberman, who took an active role part in the demonstrations for Elor Azaria [the Hebron shooter], will come in his place. He will bring this worldview into the defense establishment."

"Lieberman entering the government is great. This would be a deep right-wing government, the most right-wing ever in Israel," sources said.

Jonathan Lis

and

Barak Ravid

18.05.2016 | 16:57

Netanyahu, Ya'alon deny report that Lieberman to be named defense minister

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yisrael Beiteinu chief Avigdor Lieberman meet after Lieberman stated he was not ruling out joining the governing coalition if his demands are met.

Lieberman is expected to present his demands in the meeting. Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ya'alon deny that the two discussed earlier offering the defense portfolio to Lieberman.

Jonathan Lis

and

Barak Ravid

18.05.2016 | 15:01

Herzog: No unity talks negotiations if Netanyahu is also talking to Lieberman

Opposition Leader Isaac Herzog says he will not take part in talks about joining the coalition as long that Yisrael Beiteinu is also in the running to enter the government.

Herzog, who heads the Zionist Union, a joint slate consisting of Labor and Hatnuah, says Netanyahu is facing a choice between "going to war orchestrated by Lieberman and [Minister Naftali] Bennett or embarking on a journey of hope for all Israeli citizens."

Jonathan Lis

and

Barak Ravid

18.05.2016 | 13:14

Lieberman says will join coalition if demands are met

Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman says his party could well leave the opposition and join the government if acceptable conditions are offered. The party is in opposition not because it didn't get offers but because of its principles, Lieberman said at a press conference at the Knesset.

"We were offered two distinguished ministries before the present government was formed, and we refused. As far as I'm concerned, nothing has changed," Lieberman said – but then qualified that sitting in opposition is not a personal matter. "If our main issues are resolved, then we could talk."

In the press conference, Lieberman says reports that Yisrael Beiteinu was offered the defense portfolio, or the immigrant absorption portfolio, or legislation on death penalty to terrorists are one thing – "but in practice, we have not heard anything official." He added that a lot of people seem to be trying to broker a deal to further their own interests. "Negotiations should not be handled secretly or through envoys," he said. "They should be held openly, with full transparency."

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LIVE UPDATES: Netanyahu Offers Hardliner Avigdor Lieberman Position of Defense Minister in Expanded Coalition

Sources: No gaps between Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu

MK Yacimovich: Herzog is lying about achievements in negotiations with PM

Likud source: Netanyahu considers making Ya'alon foreign minister as compensation

Likud MK Begin: Making Lieberman defense minister irresponsible, dangerous

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Sources: No gaps between Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu

MK Yacimovich: Herzog is lying about achievements in negotiations with PM

Likud source: Netanyahu considers making Ya'alon foreign minister as compensation

Likud MK Begin: Making Lieberman defense minister irresponsible, dangerous

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