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Israeli Government In Turmoil After Popular Defense Minister Quits

REUTERS/Baz Ratner

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Russ Read Pentagon/Foreign Policy Reporter
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A shake-up of the Israeli cabinet that led to the ousting of Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon has sparked significant controversy in Israeli politics.

Yaalon is the highest profile casualty of an ongoing plan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reform the government. Technically, he resigned from his position, but Yaalon’s comments during his resignation speech Friday showed his disdain for what he sees as an element of “extremism” in Israel.

“I fought with all my might against phenomena of extremism, violence and racism in Israeli society that threaten its fortitude, and which are trickling into the IDF (Israel Defense Forces), that are already hurting it,” said Yaalon in his resignation speech.

While he did not name Netanyahu in his speech, Yaalon’s sentiments for the prime minister were made clear when said “senior politicians” have chosen to engage in “incitement and divisiveness” in Israeli society.

“It is unacceptable to me that we be divided because of cynicism or craving for control, and I expressed more than once my opinion on the matter — from a position of sincere worry for the future of Israeli society and future generations,” said Yaalon.

It was initially believed that Netanyahu was on the brink of solidifying a deal with center-left Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog after weeks of negotiations. The plan was to bring in Herzog as defense minister in order to attempt to reignite negotiations with the Palestinians, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s backing. Netanyahu instead chose to ally himself with Avigdor Liberman and his nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party, offering him the defense minister post Wednesday, according to reports.

Netanyahu attempted to alleviate the situation by offering Yaalon the foreign minister position, which Netanyhu holds in addition to the office of prime minister. Yaalon refused the offer, and has decided to resign from the Israeli Knesset (parliament) in order to take a “timeout” from politics.

“I think he should have continued to be a full partner in the country’s leadership as foreign minister,” said Netanyahu in a statement. “The change in ministerial portfolios was not due to a crisis of confidence between us, it was due to the need to expand the government, in order to bring stability to Israel.”

Netanyahu’s decision, while controversial internationally, makes sense at a domestic political level. Netanyahu’s coalition holds a one seat majority in the Knesset, adding support from Israel Beitenu gives the coalition a healthy 67 out of 120 seats.

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