Thursday, 19 March 2009

Five portfolios tempt Labor's Barak to join Netanyahu's government

DEBKAfile Exclusive Report

March 19, 2009, 7:20 PM (GMT+02:00)

Ehud Barak believes he can swing his Labor round to government

Ehud Barak believes he can swing his Labor round to government

Ehud Barak, defense minister in the outgoing administration, is close to a decision to take his Labor party into Binyamin Netanyahu's coalition government, tempted by his latest offer, according to DEBKAfile's political sources. Netanyahu will next week ask the president for more time for coalition negotiations.

He is offering Labor defense, social welfare, pensioners, a department without portfolio, two deputy ministers and two parliamentary chairs – Finance and Constitution. 
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Incoming Israeli FM urges strategic partnership with Russia

DEBKAfile Special Report

March 19, 2009, 8:36 AM (GMT+02:00)

Avigdor Lieberman knows the ropes in Moscow

Avigdor Lieberman knows the ropes in Moscow

Tapped as foreign minister in the future Netanyahu government, Avigdor Lieberman says relations between Israeli and Russia "must and can rise to a level of strategic partnership." This refers also to military-technical cooperation, where Israel has a few things to offer, he told the Russian news agency Interfax. 
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