Photo: Ido Erez
Photo: Ido Erez
Erdan to join government as Internal Security Minister
Senior Likud member agrees to join government despite unfulfilled demands to recieve the foreign ministry portfolio.
Knesset Member Gilad Erdan gave into Prime Minister Benjmanin Netanyahu's demands and joined the government on Monday without receiving the post of foreign minister. Instead, government ministers are expected to discuss Erdan's appointment as Minister of Internal Security, Hasbarah, and Strategic Matters.
During coalition negotiations, senior Likud member Erdan originally demanded the Foreign Ministry from Netanyahu and then insisted on being Minister of the Interior and Minister of Internal Security. He had also said that he would accept a large budget increase for internal security rather than being named internal security minister.
Gilad Erdan - soon to be Minister of Interior Security. (Photo: Kobe Gidon)
To allow Erdan's entrance into the government, Benny Begin will resign as a minister without a portfolio since, according to coalition agreements, Likud can only post 12 ministers to the government.
According to local reports, Netanyahu also announced Monday that Nissim Ben Sheetrit, Foreign Ministry Director, had been fired and will be replaced by Dore Gold, currently head of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.
Gold has a long history of public service, including as an important adviser to Netanyahu. Gold was Netanyahu's foreign policy advisor in 1996-1997, after which the prime minister appointed him ambassador to the UN, a role he held until 1999.
"I am aware of the various significant challenges facing Israel in this time, and my duty is to protect the country's interest," said Gold.
