Likud member named Israel public security minister

The Israeli cabinet has approved the appointment of senior Likud Party member Gilad Erdan as minister of public security, strategic affairs and public diplomacy, Israel’s public radio reported yesterday.

The broadcaster said that Erdan, a former interior minister, was expected to be sworn in yesterday before the Knesset.

The radio station reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed with Erdan that the latter would lead Israeli efforts to block Iran’s nuclear programme and resist worldwide boycott campaigns against Israel following the Palestinian Authority’s recent accession to several international bodies.

Erdan’s delayed addition to Israel’s new cabinet – which comes ten days after the new government was sworn in before the Knesset – was due to a row with Netanyahu over which cabinet portfolio the influential Likud figure would be given.

Earlier this month, Knesset members gave a vote of confidence to the new government – which is led by Netanyahu, who is also leader of the Likud party – with 61 out of 120 voting in favour of the motion.