Netanyahu, Liberman divorce finalized by Knesset House Committee
The Knesset House Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to finalize the break-up of the Likud Beytenu faction, ending the political partnership between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman.
Netanyahu and Liberman announced their alliance with great fanfare on October 25, 2012, leading to their two parties running together in the general election three months later. But Likud Beytenu won a disappointing 31 seats, and Liberman told Netanyahu Monday that the two factions would be splitting up.
Following the political divorce, Likud will remain with 20 seats and Yisrael Beytenu with 11. Liberman is expected to appoint Likud MK Carmel Shama-Hacohen as ambassador to the OECD in Paris in two weeks. Former Yisrael Beytenu MK Alex Miller will enter in his place, leaving Likud with only 19 seats, the same as Yesh Atid.
The House Committee decided that Likud and Yisrael Beytenu MKs would keep their places on Knesset committees despite the break-up. Yesh Atid or Bayit Yehudi may still decide to demand political posts in place of Yisrael Beytenu MKs, but they did not do so yet, in part because of the ongoing security situation.
http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Netanyahu-Liberman-divorce-finalized-by-Knesset-House-Committee-362130