Israel is being taken over by extremists, warns distinguished defence minister

ISRAEL’S departing defence minister has denounced the “extremist and dangerous elements” that “have overrun Israel and the Likud party” as he left office.

Moshe Ya’alon was speaking at the military headquarters of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) in Tel Aviv amid a growing political storm over the country’s leadership.

He was forced to stand down to make way for Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the hard-Right Yisrael Beitenu party, whose decision to join the Likud partyled cabinet has created what newspapers are calling the most Right-wing government in Israel’s history. He is now quitting the Knesset, the parliament.

Mr Ya’alon said he had spent his career fighting extremism, violence and racism, but that they were threatening the “sturdiness” of society and trickling into the IDF. He said: “To my great regret extremist and dangerous elements have overrun Israel as well as the Likud party, shaking up our home and threatening harm to those in it.” He added that he had “recently found myself in strong disagreement on moral and professional issues with the prime minister, a number of ministers and several MPs”.

Last Sunday, Mr Ya’alon was summoned for a meeting with the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, after a speech in which he urged IDF generals to voice their opinions, even if they contradict government policy, while warning of militant views creeping into mainstream Israeli society.

Mr Lieberman, a former nightclub bouncer who held the post of foreign minister, is spearheading a Bill to enable the death penalty for terrorists, as part of a deal to have his six-seat party join the coalition. Mr Ya’alon’s seat in parliament is expected to be taken by Rabbi Yehuda Glick, an extremist activist who campaigns to expand Jewish presence on the Al Aqsa compound, also called the Temple Mount.

Mr Netanyahu defended the appointment of Mr Lieberman as “bringing greater stability” to Israel.

Before being joined by Yisrael Beiten, the coalition had just 61 seats out of 120 in the Knesset.

‘To my great regret extremist and dangerous elements have overrun Israel and the Likud party’