If Benjamin Netanyahu is tapped to form Israel's next governing coalition, he will not appoint Yisrael Beiteinu chief Avigdor Lieberman as his defense minister, the Likud chairman told Channel 1 on Monday, just hours before Israelis go to the polls.
"If I am elected, I will approach all the Zionist parties to join a coalition headed by the Likud," Netanyahu said. "We will take all these parties - Kadima, Labor, Yisrael Beiteinu."
Netanyahu added that he is not ready to commit to holding negotiations with the Syrians.
"The Olmert government's understandings with the Syrians do not obligate me," he said. "Rather, Israel's security [obligates me]."
