Avigdor Liberman won't be joining the new government coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Liberman called a meeting of the Yisrael Beitenu party today after which he announced that the party would not be part of the new government. This means that Netanyahu must base his new government on a coalition of just 61 MKs in the 120-seat Knesset.
Liberman said, "Our dilemma was about principles and not portfolios and we chose principles. We had no problems with the cabinet seats but we came to the conclusion that it was not right to join the present coalition."
Liberman attacked Netanyahu and said, "This is not the national camp but a government that embodies opportunism. At the end of the 19th Knesset the main topic was the nationality bill. There were several versions and this was the subject that split the coalition from within. Suddenly in this Knesset the subject no longer exists.
"It would be an understatement to say that this coalition does not reflect our positions. I've decided to resign my position as foreign minister."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 4, 2015
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