Government dismantles Strategic Affairs Ministry
Cabinet annuls ministry, which was founded after Yisrael Beiteinu joined coalition in 2006. Former Minister Avigdor Lieberman: This is a strategic mistake
The government decided Sunday to dismantle the Ministry for Strategic Affairs, which was founded after the Yisrael Beiteinu faction joined the coalition and was headed by former Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Lieberman said he laments the decision and called it "a strategic mistake." The problem in Israel, he added "is that there is no 'second opinion,' only one opinion – that of the defense Ministry."
According to Lieberman, "The prime minister is preoccupied with political matters like the primaries, and needs someone to assemble all government data for him. Now there will be no such body."
Several forums on strategic affairs had operated under the auspices of the ministry, which was founded in December 2006.
These forums included Israel's most senior experts and focused on concrete threats and issues, such as the Iranian nuclear program and the threat posed by global radical Islamist movements like al-Qaeda.
