Former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who is not a member of the current Knesset, was sworn in today as Israel's Foreign Minister. The Knesset approved his appointment by a vote of 61-31. Netanyahu announced that his diplomatic advisor would be Uzi Arad, who served in the past as Head of the Investigative Division in the Mossad. Prime Minister Sharon expressed confidence in Netanyahu's abilities, but opposition MK Ophir Pines said that Netanyahu would concentrate more on his primaries race against Sharon at the expense of Israel's foreign policy matters.
Netanyahu said that he and Sharon would present a united front over the next 90 days (until the elections), but added that he believes he has solutions as to how to run the country for the next four years. The new Foreign Minister, who served as Deputy Foreign Minister and Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. in the past, received a warm welcome when he returned to the Foreign Ministry today. Offering veiled criticism of his predecessor, Shimon Peres, he said, "Our enemies succeeded in having the world community feel that they are right, even as they murder us. For too long we tried to make excuses; what we must do is insist on justice, and not let them rewrite history."
Netanyahu said that he and Sharon would present a united front over the next 90 days (until the elections), but added that he believes he has solutions as to how to run the country for the next four years. The new Foreign Minister, who served as Deputy Foreign Minister and Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. in the past, received a warm welcome when he returned to the Foreign Ministry today. Offering veiled criticism of his predecessor, Shimon Peres, he said, "Our enemies succeeded in having the world community feel that they are right, even as they murder us. For too long we tried to make excuses; what we must do is insist on justice, and not let them rewrite history."