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Netanyahu offers ministry to Lieberman
Benjamin Netanyahu, widely tipped to become Israel's prime minister after next week's election, said on Thursday he would offer a top ministry to ultra-nationalist hawk Avigdor Lieberman if he takes office. Lieberman's party Yisrael Beitenu has emerged as a force in the February 10 election, tipped to become the third largest party in Parliament."When I become prime minister, I will reach out to Yisrael Beitenu and I will propose an important ministry to Avigdor Lieberman," Netanyahu told Army Radio. "I intend to form a government by first of all reaching out to our traditional partners in the national camp, including Yisrael Beitenu," the hawkish politician said. According to the mass-selling Yediot Aharonot newspaper, Lieberman is seeking the defense portfolio but Netanyahu is unlikely to meet his demand. The 50-year-old Lieberman is one of Israel's most controversial politicians whose extremist rhetoric about the nation's indigenous Palestian-Israeli population earns him regular charges of racism. Yisrael Beitenu (Israel is Our Home) is projected to win up to 18 seats in Parliament to become the third-largest party, nudging out center-left Labor. Posted by: Fred 2009-02-06 |
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