Israel cabinet to collapse: Ex-minister

An Israeli politician and former minister has predicted the breaking apart of Israel’s cabinet on the back of expected indictment of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

Israel’s judicial authorities are reportedly trying to find a way to haul Lieberman by the end of February. The far-right minister could face an indictment on charges of corruption, bribery, breach of trust and other allegations.

Former Trade and Labor Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer said the verdict would force the Lieberman to step down, leading to the disintegration of the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet, Hebrew-language Israeli daily Maariv wrote on Friday.

Ben-Eliezer, Welfare and Social Services Minister Isaac Herzog and Minorities Affairs Minister Avishay Braverman quit the Labor Party earlier in the week following the resignation of the party’s leader and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

The moves served both as an expression of dissatisfaction with Labor’s diminishing role in as a partner in the right-wing coalition of premier Netanyahu and a jumpstart the creation of a new faction.

Another member Daniel Ben-Simon has also left the party displeased with Barak’s staying in the cabinet despite calls on him to step down by some Labor members.

Four cabinet posts were, however, given to the five-member breakaway faction and Barak retained his defense ministry portfolio, prolonging the life of the cabinet.

The dissolution of Labor has inclined the new cabinet towards the right — a variation, which analysts say is set to further complicate Israel’s talks with the Palestinians.

Ben-Eliezer likewise said Barak’s departure as the Labor’s leader dealt a hefty blow to the talks.

A little more than three weeks into their resumption, the talks stalled on September 26 due to Tel Aviv’s refusal to extend a partial freeze on the construction of illegal Jewish settlements on the occupied Palestinian lands.