Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon responded on Thursday afternoon to Yisrael Beytenu joining the government and Avigdor Liberman being appointed Defense Minister.
Kahlon said that he had attempted to expand the government immediately following the previous elections, and that “I still believe that we need an expanded government. We have seen how hard it is to function with a coalition of 61. Negotiations with Labor did not succeed. I really wanted them to, but they did not succeed. Talks with Yisrael Beytenu are moving in the direction of succeeding and I hope that they will continue in the right direction.”
Kahlon added that “I reject any attempt to personally disqualify Avigdor Liberman or any other MK for a role. That being said, it must be clear that this government was founded on a commitment to safeguard the ruling power, the Supreme Court and nationalism.”