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1st LD: Israeli PM, hardline legislator sign deal to expand coalition

Xinhua, May 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and ultranationalist legislator Avigdor Lieberman signed a deal Wednesday to expand the governing coalition.

Lieberman's party, Yisrael Beytenu, or 'Israel Our Home,' was brought in and Lieberman was offered the post of defence minister.

The new political partnership was signed in parliament during a live broadcast in Jerusalem and is expected to further Netanyahu's slim lead in parliament.

Netanyahu vowed that his new government will "pursue peace with Palestinians," whilst "ensuring the security of Israeli citizens."

"My policy has not changed," Netanyahu said.

Lieberman, known for his hardline stance on security matters, said, "We are all committed to peace with our neighbors."

Lieberman is replacing Moshe Ya'alon, who resigned on Friday claiming that extremists have taken over Israel.

Ya'alon, who was considered as a strong voice of moderation in the far-right government, said he no longer trusts Netanyahu after the latter offered his post to Lieberman in a bid to expand the coalition.

Lieberman is a Jewish immigrant from Russia and many of his supporters are of Russian descent.

He secured 360 million U.S. dollars in the deal in order to increase the pension stipends of Russian veterans.

Surprisingly however, Lieberman, known for disliking Netanyahu, expressed his willingness last week to engage in coalition talks after Netanyahu had reportedly reached an agreement with the center-left Zionist Union. Endit