Has a hawk become a dove? Israel's new defence minister draws scrutiny

If Israeli politics were a makeover show, the latest subject would be the country's new defence minister.

There's an effort to dress up Avigdor Lieberman — a Soviet-born man who has called Arab politicians "traitors" and recently threatened  the leader of Hamas — in the clothes of someone who's all for peace with the Palestinians.

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Lieberman, a former nightclub bouncer and political aide turned hardline politician, stood in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on Monday night after being sworn in and pledged his support for "two states for two peoples" — meaning a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

But given the hawkish stance Lieberman has been known for, there are some observers who have trouble believing he means what he says.

"With the merest of utterances, Lieberman transitioned from a bird of prey into an immaculate white dove," wrote veteran Israeli political commentator Shalom Yerushalmi.

"It turns out that Lieberman has a bag full of statements for every place and every situation."

Lieberman was appointed defence minister by Benjamin Netanyahu in an effort to shore up the Israeli prime minister's razor-thin coalition.

Netanyahu's right-wing government held 61 of the 120 seats in the Knesset. Bringing Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party on board boosts the coalition to 66 seats.

Political analysts here say this is now the most right-wing government Israel has ever seen.

Bringing Lieberman on side caps months of at-times secret negotiations by Netanyahu to bolster his coalition.

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It had appeared that the prime minister was looking more to the left in efforts to bring Israel's Labour party into the fold.

Those discussions broke down, leaving Labour Leader Isaac Herzog — as the opposition leader — feeling burned.

"I am very, very worried today, and I think the residents of Israel should be worried, about an extreme right-wing coalition, which will lead Israel in a very dangerous direction on all levels."

As defence minister — considered to be the second most powerful position in the Israeli government — Lieberman will oversee policies relating to Palestinians living in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. He would guide any military campaign against militants in the Gaza Strip.

Last month, before his appointment, Lieberman resorted to his trademark bellicose rhetoric to threaten Ismail Haniya, the leader of Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza.

"If I were defence minister I would give Haniya 48 hours. Either you return the bodies and the civilians," he said, referring to the bodies of two Israeli soldiers and two men being held in Gaza, "or you are dead. From my point of view, simply reserve yourself a plot in the nearest cemetery."

Multiple targets

Statements from Lieberman, a former foreign minister, have taken aim at Israelis of Palestinian descent, the Arab world and Palestinians themselves.

Israel, he said, should "cut off the head" of disloyal Arab citizens. He called Arab members of the Knesset "traitors." Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, is a "diplomatic terrorist" in Lieberman's eyes.

But his supporters point out that Lieberman, who resides in a West Bank settlement, has proposed the transfer of Arab parts of Israel to a future Palestinian state. Canada, along with other countries, views West Bank settlements as illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.

Peace talks with the Palestinians collapsed in 2014. Efforts are underway by France, and more recently Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, to try to get the Israelis and Palestinians talking again.

But the chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, said the appointment of Lieberman hinders the chances of peace, adding that the new coalition will result "in apartheid, racism and religious and political extremism."

Since Lieberman's appointment, politicians and commentators have lined up to criticize the perceived rightward movement of a government already considered by analysts to be quite right wing.

PM plays down appointment

Israel "has been infected by the seeds of fascism," former prime minister Ehud Barak said on Israeli television. "This government needs to be brought down before it brings all of us down."

But Netanyahu tried to play down Lieberman's appointment.

"In the end, the prime minister is the one who navigates all the campaigns, along with the defence minister and the chief of staff."

Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to a two-state solution with the Palestinians, although his critics have long said this is little more than lip service.