Cabinet members who oppose a strike on Iran said Kadima head Shaul Mofaz might backtrack and align with the more hawkish Benjamin Netanyahu, now that the two are in the same government.
Mofaz, who has consistently opposed an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, joined the Netanyahu government on Tuesday despite having called the prime minister a liar. After taking over as Kadima head this spring, he repeatedly pledged to lead the opposition.
“How can one know for sure that he won’t be equally fickle on Iran?” a cabinet minister said.
Mofaz is to become a member of the forum of senior ministers, alongside Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Interior Minister Eli Yishai, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz and ministers Moshe Ya’alon, Dan Meridor and Benny Begin.
Mofaz may tilt the balance in the forum, which is divided on how to deal with Iran. Steinitz, Lieberman, Netanyahu and Barak are considered part of the hawkish camp, whereas Ya’alon, Meridor, Yishai and Begin are considered opponents of an Israeli strike they deem a dangerous mistake.
For more, go to Haaretz.com
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