Baku, Azerbaijan, May 25
Trend:
Israel's former foreign minister and the leader of conservative "Israel - Our Home" party Avigdor Lieberman has been appointed the country's defense minister, Interfax reported May 25 citing The New York Times.
The appointment to the post of Israel's defense minister was the main condition for the entry of Lieberman's party into the ruling coalition, said the newspaper.
Upon the entry of "Israel - Our Home" party, the number of mandates of the ruling coalition in parliament will increase to 66. Until then, the coalition formed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a minimum majority - 61 from 120 seats in the Knesset (Israeli parliament).
Israel's former defense minister Moshe Ya'alon resigned last week explaining his decision with the "lack of confidence" in the country's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.