Israeli defense minister resigns in political shake-up
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe "Bogie" Ya'alon announces his resignation Friday in Tel Aviv.
Story highlights
- Moshe Ya'alon has been in battle with Benjamin Netanyahu over Israeli military
- Controversial right-wing politician Avigdor Liberman to replace Ya'alon
Jerusalem (CNN)Israeli
Defense Minister Moshe "Bogie" Ya'alon resigned Friday morning in the
midst of a government shake-up that would have seen him replaced.
"I
have lately found myself in difficult moral and professional
controversies with the Prime Minister, a number of other ministers, and
some members of Knesset," Ya'alon said at a Tel Aviv press conference
after his announcement.
"To my
great sorrow, they have taken over Israel, and the Likud movement,
dangerous and extremist elements, that upend the house and threaten it.
This is not the Likud movement that I joined."
Ya'alon
has been in a protracted public argument with Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu over the Israeli military. In recent weeks, Ya'alon has
encouraged military generals to speak out about moral issues and the
rules of engagement, even if they did not have the support of
politicians. The statement was seen as criticism of Netanyahu.
The two men met for an hour Monday to reconcile their differences, saying, "There is no quarrel."
Ya'alon resigned within the week.
Netanyahu
issued a statement lamenting Ya'alon's resignation. "I am sorry about
the decision of 'Bogie' Ya'alon. I believe that he needed to stay as a
full partner in the leadership of the state in the position of foreign
minister," Netanyahu said, referring to the post Ya'alon was offered
instead of defense minister.
"I
would like to thank him for years of service in the Israel Defense
Forces (IDF) and the defense establishment. The allocation of portfolios
did not emerge from a fallout of trust between us. It emerged from the
need to widen the government in order to bring stability to the State of
Israel as it faces significant challenges before it."
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