Israeli prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud party signed his first coalition agreement overnight with the ultranationalist Israel Beiteinu party of Avigdor Lieberman, who would be foreign minister, Israel Radio reported.
The pact was signed five weeks after Israeli elections were held.
Netanyahu, of the hardline but mainstream Likud, continued to hold coalition negotiations with other parties.
Lieberman could become a controversial foreign minister. He was accused of racism in his election campaign, which focused on what he called Israeli Arabs’ lack of ”loyalty” to the state.
His party would also receive the tourism, infrastructure, immigrant absorption and internal security ministries.
Netanyahu is still seeking to persuade the centrist Kadima party of outgoing Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to join his coalition, but she is demanding a rotation of the premiership.
Likud and Israel Beiteinu noted that should a government of national unity be formed that includes Kadima, their agreement could undergo changes.
One of the key disagreements between Israel Beiteinu and other ultra-Orthodox and religious parties that Netanyahu wants to join his government was over civil unions between non-Jewish couples.
Lieberman’s party base includes many immigrants from the former Soviet Union, some of whom are not considered Jews under Jewish religious law. Lieberman himself was born in Moldovia and immigrated to Israel at the age of 20.
The sides agreed that legislation on civil marriages between Israeli non-Jews would be resolved within two months. A committee would then be formed to find a solution for other couples within 15 months. — Sapa-dpa