MOSCOW (Sputnik) – All six of Yisrael Beiteinu’s lawmakers are poised to join the Netanyahu coalition to expand its majority from 61 to 67 in the 120-member Knesset (Israeli Parliament). Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman is later expected to replace Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, resigned this week citing distrust toward Netanyahu and his right-wing policies.
"I want to clarify that the government will continue to strive for a diplomatic process with the Palestinians, with the help of regional actors," Netanyahu said as quoted by the Jerusalem Post daily.
Netanyahu rejected pundits’ assessment that a coalition with Lieberman would complicate the Palestinian peace deal.
"It is important for Israel to have as broad a coalition as possible," he stressed.
Nearly two months after the March 17, 2015, parliamentary elections and as Netanyahu faced a looming deadline to form a coalition, Lieberman declined to join forces with the prime minister. The Russian-speaking Soviet emigre resigned from his foreign ministerial post and joined the opposition.
