Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has decided to dismantle the Strategic Affairs Ministry that was created for Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the National Union party, when he brought his party into the coalition government almost two years ago, according to government sources quoted by the Hebrew newspaper Yediot Aharonot.

The party quit the coalition several months ago because of it's polices concerning negotiations with the Palestinian Authority (PA). Prime Minister Olmert had claimed when he created the ministry that it was necessary in the fight against terrorism and the struggle to keep Iran from becoming a nuclear power. MK Lieberman also was part of the Security Cabinet until he resigned from the government.