OCCUPIED-AL-QUDS: Israel´s
defence minister resigned on Friday, saying the nation was being taken over by "extremist and dangerous elements" after Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu moved to replace him with a far-right politician in an effort to strengthen his coalition.
Political sources say
Netanyahu has offered long-time rival Avigdor Lieberman the
defence portfolio, a post crucial for a country on a perennial war footing.
The
defence Ministry also runs civil affairs in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians struggling for statehood live in friction with Jewish settlers.
"To my great regret, I have recently found myself in difficult disputes over matters of principle and professionalism with the prime minister, a number of cabinet members and some lawmakers," outgoing
defence Minister Moshe Yaalon said, reading, grim-faced, from a statement at his Tel Aviv ******.
"The State of
Israel is patient and tolerant toward the weak among it and mi**rities. But to my great regret extremist and dangerous elements have overrun
Israel as well as the Likud party, shaking up our home and threatening harm to those in it," he said, hinting he might quit the ruling party.
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