Benjamin Netanyahu set to form ‘most right-wing govt’ in Israel ever

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looked set to form the most right-wing government in Israeli history on Thursday, with Avigdor Lieberman, a hardliner loathed by Palestinians, expected to join as defence minister.

Mr Netanyahu’s allies were set for fresh negotiations with representatives of Mr Lieberman’s far-right Yisrael Beitenu party to try to entice it to join the governing coalition and boost its currently wafer-thin majority in parliament.

Leaks to the Israeli media from both sides said a deal was close to being finalised.

Yisrael Beitenu holds six of the 120 seats in Parliament and its entry into government would be a major boost for Mr Netanyahu, who has not concealed his ambition to expand on the coalition’s current 61 seats.

The return to government of Mr Lieberman, who served as foreign minister under Mr Netanyahu from 2009 to 2012 and again from 2013 to 2015, could raise international concern about his government’s policies — especially on the conflict with the Palestinians.

As defence minister, Mr Lieberman, who himself lives in a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, would oversee military operations in the Palestinian territories and have a major say in policy towards the settlements.