Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

Middle East

Israeli ultranationalist sworn in as defense minister

Associated Press
Published | Updated
  • 4bbae78a-
    Image 1 of 3

    Newly-appointed Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman walks at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, ahead of his swearing-in ceremony in Jerusalem, Monday, May 30, 2016. Lieberman, one of Israel's most polarizing politicians, takes over as defense chief in place for former military chief Moshe Yaalon, who resigned last week following talks to expand the government by adding Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu party. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) (The Associated Press)

  • 5b4d3bca-
    Image 2 of 3

    Newly-appointed Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman walks at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, ahead of his swearing-in ceremony in Jerusalem, Monday, May 30, 2016. Lieberman, one of Israel's most polarizing politicians, takes over as defense chief in place for former military chief Moshe Yaalon, who resigned last week following talks to expand the government by adding Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu party. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) (The Associated Press)

  • d8916587-
    Image 3 of 3

    Newly-appointed Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman walks at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, ahead of his swearing-in ceremony in Jerusalem, Monday, May 30, 2016. Lieberman, one of Israel's most polarizing politicians, takes over as defense chief in place for former military chief Moshe Yaalon, who resigned last week following talks to expand the government by adding Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu party. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) (The Associated Press)

JERUSALEM – Israeli ultranationalist Avigdor Lieberman has been sworn in as defense minister after his appointment was confirmed by parliament.

Lieberman, one of Israel's most polarizing politicians, assumed the office on Monday. The post was previously held by former military chief Moshe Yaalon, who resigned last week following talks to expand the government by adding Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party.

The move solidifies Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's parliamentary majority but comes at the risk of antagonizing the international community and the Israeli military, as well as clouding already slim hopes for resuming peace efforts with the Palestinians.

Netanyahu's Cabinet is now dominated by religious and nationalist hard-liners who oppose Palestinian independence — a key goal of the international community and the U.S.-led peace process. Lieberman is a West Bank settler.