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Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon resigns Israel politics: Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon resigns in protest
(about 2 hours later)
Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon has resigned, saying he lacked trust in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon has resigned, warning that Israel has been taken over by "dangerous and extreme elements".
It comes amid moves by Mr Netanyahu to bring hardliner Avigdor Lieberman and his party into the ruling coalition, likely offering him the defence post. It comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to bring hardliner Avigdor Lieberman into the coalition, possibly as defence minister.
The deal would shore up Mr Netanyahu's one-seat majority in parliament.The deal would shore up Mr Netanyahu's one-seat majority in parliament.
Mr Lieberman previously served as foreign minister. He has a reputation for inflammatory comments and takes a hawkish stand towards the Palestinians. Mr Lieberman has a reputation for inflammatory comments and takes a hawkish stand towards the Palestinians.
If his six-seat Yisrael Beiteinu party joins the coalition, it will become the most right-wing in Israel's history.If his six-seat Yisrael Beiteinu party joins the coalition, it will become the most right-wing in Israel's history.
Announcing his decision on Twitter, Mr Yaalon said: "I informed the PM that after his conduct and recent developments, and given the lack of faith in him, I am resigning from the government and parliament and taking a break from political life."Announcing his decision on Twitter, Mr Yaalon said: "I informed the PM that after his conduct and recent developments, and given the lack of faith in him, I am resigning from the government and parliament and taking a break from political life."
It also follows a public disagreement between the two men after Mr Yaalon backed a senior military figure, who made controversial remarks about Israeli society on Holocaust Day earlier this month. The two men had publicly disagreed after Mr Yaalon backed a senior military figure who had made controversial remarks about perceived extremist trends in Israeli society on Holocaust Day earlier this month.
Mr Yaalon defended Deputy Chief of Staff Maj-Gen Yair Golan after he said he detected trends in Israel suggestive of "nauseating processes" that occurred in 1930s Nazi Germany. Right-wing political figures have also criticised Mr Yaalon for backing a decision to charge an Israeli soldier who killed a wounded Palestinian attacker in March, in a case which split opinion in Israel.
Mr Netanyahu said Gen Golan's remarks were "utterly mistaken and unacceptable". At a news conference on Friday, Mr Yaalon said: "I fought with all my might against manifestations of extremism, violence and racism in Israeli society, which are threatening its sturdiness and also trickling into the IDF [Israel Defence Forces], hurting it already," Haaretz newspaper reports.
If Mr Lieberman's appointment is confirmed, it would mark a return to government for the controversial politician who stepped down in 2012 when he was investigated for breach of trust. He was charged and later acquitted. If Mr Lieberman's appointment is confirmed, it will mark a return to government for the controversial politician who stepped down in 2012 when he was investigated for breach of trust. He was charged and later acquitted.
Moldova-born Mr Lieberman, who lives in an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, advocates a tough line towards dealing with the Palestinians, including the overthrow of Gaza's Hamas rulers. Moldovan-born Mr Lieberman, who lives in an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, advocates a tough line towards dealing with the Palestinians, including the overthrow of Gaza's Hamas rulers.
The development follows an announcement by France that it will host an international conference on 3 June to try to revive Israel-Palestinian peace talks, which collapsed amid acrimony in 2014. France recently announced it would host an international conference on 3 June to try to revive Israel-Palestinian peace talks, which collapsed amid acrimony in 2014.