"We cannot take risks with defense," former Defense Minister Moshe Arens, an elder statesman of the ruling Likud party, told the Ynet website after Lieberman's upcoming appointment was disclosed last week. As Israel's defense minister, he will be responsible for overseeing military policy and handling delicate security matters with international allies whom he has antagonized in the past. Former minister Benny Begin, son of Israel's first right-wing prime minister, called the appointment "bizarre." Lieberman is to be formally sworn into office next week as defense minister. As Netanyahu's foreign minister, Lieberman criticized the handling of Israel's 2014 war against Gaza militants, saying the army should have taken a more forceful action.

Source: ABC News May 25, 2016 05:56 UTC