Strategic Affairs Ministry to be dismantled
Senior State official confirms prime minister has already decided to end brief run of ministry formerly headed by Avigdor Lieberman – who has slammed move as erroneous. Ministry's responsibilities will be transferred to National Security Council
A senior State official in Jerusalem confirmed on Wednesday evening that the government is set to decide on the dismantling of the short-lived Ministry of Strategic Affairs within several weeks' time.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has already ruled on the matter and the ministry's office in Kiryat Shaul has been gradually abandoned in recent days. The lone employees still working in the office expect to close shop in the near future.
Six of the employees are already in the process of transferring to the National Security Council, which operates as part of the Prime Minister's Office.
Former Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who is currently attending a conference in Greece, has yet to address the closure of the ministry he once headed. Behind closed doors however, he has reportedly said the decision was erroneous.
Not only has the ministry proven itself necessary, said Lieberman, but it will be sorely missed as a second viewpoint to challenge the National Security Council on matters such as the Iranian nuclear threat.
The ministry, which was formed upon Yisrael Beitenu's decision to join the coalition in October 2006, operated several forums dealing with Israel's strategic concerns.
The forum dealing with the Iranian nuclear threat included the chairman of the National Security Council, the head of the Mossad, senior IDF officers, officials from Israel's Atomic Energy Commission and leading experts on Iran and other relevant fields.
Similar forums covered topics such as the threat of extremist Islam in the world and al-Qaeda, among others.
