Outgoing Environment Minister: Netanyahu, Wake Up. Israelis Don't Want an Extremist Government
Avi Gabbay delivers a searing indictment of the prime minister as he resigns from cabinet in protest of the appointment of Avigdor Lieberman as defense minister.
Jonathan Lis May 27, 2016
Israel's environmental protection minister delivered a searing indictment of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government on Friday as he resigned from the cabinet.
In a press conference on Friday morning, Avi Gabbay said he found it difficult to remain part of a government that undermined the ties with the U.S., broadened the rift within Israeli society and tried to silence critical voices.
Gabbay also slammed the natural gas deal that was approved by the government earlier this week, saying that it was driven by "lack of knowledge and fundamental understanding in finance and managing negotiations," as well as "weakness and pandering to the interests of powerful individuals." He said he considered quitting the cabinet after voting against the deal.
The straw that broke the camel's back and finally led him to resign, he said, was the dismissal of Moshe Ya'alon as defense minister and his replacement with Avigdor Lieberman.
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