Lieberman: No portfolio will be an obstacle to joining unity gov't

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Following confirmation that Kadima and Likud had renewed discussions on a possible national unity government, Israel Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman told Israel Radio on Sunday that "no portfolio will be an obstacle" to his party joining such a coalition, indicating that he would be willing to let Kadima head Tzipi Livni have the Foreign Ministry. He said however that Kadima should acknowledge that without Likud and Israel Beiteinu it had "gone ahead with the Annapolis process and the Gaza disengagement" and "not got anywhere." The Israel Beiteinu head noted that Kadima had in the past voted against changes to the electoral system, which his party was pushing for. The Likud and Israel Beiteinu are set to renew their talks later Sunday, and Lieberman said his party intended to sign a coalition deal with Binyamin Netnayhu's party. He stressed that the country needed a stable government as soon as possible, calling the current situation in which a transitional government continued to be in power "irresponsible."