Former Israeli Finance Minister joins emergency government led by Netanyahu

By Mucahit Aydemir

JERUSALEM (AA) - Former Israeli Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman has reportedly joined the "emergency government" led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Israeli media.

It said Netanyahu invited Liberman, the leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu Party, to join the security cabinet that forms the emergency government and offered him a ministerial position.

Lieberman is said to have accepted the invitation.

The Knesset approved the formation Friday of an emergency government.

The "emergency government to operate during the Gaza conflict was approved with the support of 64 members of parliament and four votes against," it said in a statement.

The government was formed through an agreement between Netanyahu and opposition member Benny Gantz, with five members of Gantz's Blue and White party serving as ministers, according to Israeli state television channel, KAN.

The leader of the main opposition in Israel and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid rejected joining the government.