Israel: Avigdor Lieberman ends partnership with Netanyahu

Israel’s foreign minister says he plans to end a political alliance with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,

Ultra-nationalist Avigdor Lieberman said he and Netanyahu had “significant differences” on many key issues.

However, he added his party would stay in the government coalition, meaning he keeps his job as foreign minister.

“It’s not a secret, unfortunately, that differences between the prime minister and me have lately become substantial and fundamental. They no longer enable the existence of a joint framework,” Lieberman said.

The two men merged their parties ahead of a 2013 national election to work together as a dominant right-wing bloc, giving them a two seat majority.

Since then, Lieberman has called for a ground invasion of Gaza whereas Netanyahu has favoured air strikes.

Although the coalition stays in place for now, it will make it much more difficult for Netanyahu to pass any new policies through his Cabinet.