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Last update - 02:05 06/03/2009
Lieberman demanding 'full autonomy' as foreign minister
By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Netanyahu, Lieberman, Knesset 

Avigdor Lieberman, who Thursday emerged as the most likely candidate to replace Tzipi Livni as Israel's foreign minister, intends to demand that Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu grants him "full autonomy" in the new post, Haaretz has learned.

Lieberman, who heads the country's third largest party, Yisrael Beiteinu, met with prime minister-designate Netanyahu Thursday at the Knesset. Neither party leader divulged information about the meeting or the issues discussed.

However, a source involved in talks between Yisrael Beiteinu and Likud said that "Lieberman wants to make sure that Netanyahu doesn't let another minister receive tasks that belong to the Foreign Ministry."
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The source indicated that Lieberman is interested in establishing sole and independent responsibility in Netanyahu's future government over Foreign Ministry-related affairs, and will strive to have a clause to that effect incorporated into the coalition agreement between Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu. "Lieberman wants to ensure that Netanyahu doesn't let Silvan Shalom handle negotiations with Syria in order to placate Shalom," the source said.

Shalom, a former foreign minister for Likud, is rumored to be highly interested in returning to his old post.

A laconic announcement released after the meeting said that the two strongest men in Israeli politics discussed "security and defense issues, and above all the need to pass the national budget for the years 2009 and 2010 in light of the financial crisis."

According to the announcement, the allotment of government portfolios "will be discussed at a later time." The announcement also noted that "the two parties do not believe this issue will be an obstacle."

Relations between Lieberman and Netanyahu have reportedly become tenser than usual following Netanyahu's talks with Labor chairman Ehud Barak over Barak's possible inclusion in a future government. Labor has a nucleus of prominent members who said they will not accept their party's entry into a coalition with Lieberman, whom they accuse of racism against Arab Israelis. Lieberman, for his part, was reportedly offended by Netanyahu's attempts to reach a deal with Barak. But prominent Labor members have harshly criticized Barak over the negotiations, saying Netanyahu's regional vision does not match Labor's.

With Kadima heading for the opposition benches and Labor's hard core leaning in the same direction, Lieberman is a crucial partner for Netanyahu if he is to form a coalition, as he was instructed to do by President Shimon Peres following the February 10 elections. Peres entrusted Netanyahu with the task instead of Kadima's Livni, based on a recommendation by Lieberman, whose party clinched 15 seats in parliament.

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      1.   From Ex club bouner to foreign minister 02:22  |  Dan 06/03/09
      2.   Hilarious demand 02:38  |  anony 06/03/09
      3.   autonomy fine but 02:50  |  Paul Freedman 06/03/09
      4.   Bring On the Bouncer 02:53  |  Binyamin 06/03/09
      5.   sure, just what we need...NOT! (end) 02:54  |  Danny 06/03/09
      6.   Oh, my God, the foreign ministers in Bruxelles will have...... 03:02  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/03/09
      7.   jewish state politics go from really bad to worse :) 03:13  |  hahahaha:) 06/03/09
      8.   Avi will make a good FM. he can be deceivingly charming. 03:18  |  Sarah 06/03/09
      9.   Israel will be paria 03:22  |  John 06/03/09
      10.   GRRREAT - Lieberman as FM 03:29  |  germanjew 06/03/09
      11.   Lieberman as FM 04:25  |  MichaelF 06/03/09
      12.   Lieberman wants to disarm Netanyahu with `full autonomy` status ! 04:47  |  Akram Zekaria 06/03/09
      13.   DINO AND BRUXELLES 04:59  |  Brant 06/03/09
      14.   Too good to be true 05:00  |  Colin Wright 06/03/09
      15.   Ein reich, Ein Volk, Ein Liberman! 05:04  |  Mark Lincoln 06/03/09
      16.   #10: it`s the neighborhood 05:10  |  Paul Freedman 06/03/09
      17.   For real? 06:41  |  Baruch Gold 06/03/09
      18.   #10 Germanjew 08:11  |  Guenther 06/03/09
      19.   2nd try to point this out.... 08:16  |  Johnboy 06/03/09
      20.   I will be really afraid, in a panic... 08:18  |  Esther 06/03/09
      21.   Swiss Dino #6 You made me laugh hard! That`s a one time post... 09:13  |  S 06/03/09
      22.   Obama will admire Lieberman 09:20  |  Dan 06/03/09
      23.   Lieberman as a foreign minister 09:25  |  apl 06/03/09
      24.   I like Lieberman, but stupid choice 09:39  |  Ephraim 06/03/09
      25.   Give Lieberman a chance. He certainly can do no worse than Tzippy 09:43  |  Reuben 06/03/09
      26.   Shuffle the cards again 10:10  |  JW 06/03/09
      27.   No, please no 10:31  |  Elianah 06/03/09
      28.   If Lieberman becomes Foreign Minister 10:36  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/03/09
      29.   # 25 all of these posts have given me chuckle, reuben 10:40  |  eric 06/03/09
      30.   Lieberman is a fitting PM 10:49  |  Mike 06/03/09
      31.   A good choice. 11:03  |  Wise Saba 06/03/09
      32.   NOW does everyone see WHY bibi wanted kadima so bad? 11:08  |  eric 06/03/09
      33.   #21, S 11:10  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/03/09
      34.   Amazing Israel !! 11:59  |  Sam Soul 06/03/09
      35.   NO NO BO 12:11  |  Avi Steinberg 06/03/09
      36.   a Hezbollah-led alliance 12:35  |  Akiva P 06/03/09
      37.   Wise Saba re Lieberman 16:40  |  Joan 06/03/09
      38.   Lieberman is the "One" to be either 18:32  |  JP 06/03/09
      39.   Give the Eurowimps hell Lieberman! 19:10  |  Mongo 06/03/09
      40.   Cipora #33... "lieberman does not fraternise with terrorists" 19:20  |  Esther 06/03/09
      41.   Ciopora re: fraternise with terrorists 20:48  |  KR 06/03/09
      42.   There will be riots on the streets if he becomes FM 21:08  |  Dutch 06/03/09
      43.   Weirdest demand in politics I ever heard 21:17  |  Mark B. 06/03/09
      44.   #39, Esther 21:38  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/03/09
      45.   Cipora #41..."...be happy he is not given defence". 22:51  |  Esther 06/03/09
      46.   I hate Lieberman but great choice 03:17  |  newageblues 07/03/09
      47.   #31 Yes, I agree, Wise Saba 05:45  |  Johnboy 07/03/09
      48.   The right perspective.... 07:53  |  Palestinian Brit 07/03/09
      49.   Bring him on 08:13  |  Student 07/03/09
      50.   Plus, Bibi has it coming 08:16  |  Student 07/03/09
      51.   To Cipora and Esther - You are, of course, both right! 09:54  |  S 07/03/09
      52.   #46, S 10:11  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 07/03/09
      53.   # 13 Brant, and I`m of course looking forward.... 10:34  |  Swiss (Dino) 07/03/09
      54.   Re: #25 "He can, but he won 10:36  |  Miron 07/03/09
      55.   Re: #25 he can, but he won`t, he is a lot better 10:36  |  Miron 07/03/09
      56.   # 21 S, I`m glad that you had some fun..... 10:37  |  Swiss (Dino) 07/03/09
      57.   If Lieberman becomes FM he will be banned across the world 11:24  |  Dutch 07/03/09
      58.   # 42 newageblues 12:34  |  Axel 07/03/09
      59.   #1Esther,why panic-you advocated Livni go to opposition 15:04  |  Susanna/shoshana 07/03/09
      60.   Esther can you please name the.... 19:04  |  Miriam 07/03/09
      61.   to German Jew 19:08  |  Miriam 07/03/09
      62.   What the heck is going on there? 20:38  |  Hindy 07/03/09
      63.   Lieberman is needded is that the world understands Israel 22:46  |  American in NY 07/03/09
      64.   To Sam Soul #34 01:21  |  Colin Wright 08/03/09
      65.   eretz shenohav / hi lanu em va`av 01:21  |  christoph 08/03/09
      66.   #6,Swiss (Dino), Lieberman vs. Zahar 02:38  |  Bruce 08/03/09
      67.   # 59 can you please define a "real jew", miriam? (3rd try) 07:26  |  eric 08/03/09
      68.   # 50 "no one in israel can be compared to hamas", cipora? (3rd tr 07:28  |  eric 08/03/09
      69.   # 65 Bruce 11:59  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/03/09
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