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MK Israel Hasson (right) speaking to reporters at the Western Wall earlier this year. (Pierre Turjeman / BauBau)
Last update - 18:46 01/03/2007
Lieberman says MK Hasson is overqualified for Tourism Ministry
By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service

Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman defended his decision to nominate MK Yitzhak Aharonovitz, and not his party's no. 2, MK Israel Hasson, as tourism minister Thursday, saying Hasson is overqualified for the position.

Lieberman held the press conference to explain his selection of Aharonovitz, number eight on the party list, in place of MK Esterina Tartman.

Lieberman denied accusations that Tartman opposed the nomination of Hasson, her political rival within the party, in her stead, and expressed surprise at the fact that Tartman's "time out" was referred to by the media as "a month of suspension."

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On Wednesday, Hasson publicly criticized Tartman, who was forced to step down from her appointment as tourism minister, after it was revealed that she boasted academic degrees that she does not actually possess.

Lieberman also said that he's certain his party will receive an additional ministerial portfolio in May.

Addressing Hasson's complaints, Lieberman said that "I don't judge a man in the hour of his grief and anger. I'm sorry if these things were said, and I'd prefer it if a person that has something to say would discuss it with his friends before running to the media."

"I'm unwilling to tolerate unbridled ambition on the part of people that have been MKs for under a year. There must be humility and modesty. I never promised anyone a ministerial portfolio when they joined Yisrael Beiteinu," he added.

Lieberman also reacted to the recent media reports concerning Tartman's fabricated academic degrees. "I'm not here to rant against the media, I'm here to speak citizen to citizen," he said.

Hasson said Thursday that the decision not to appoint him as tourism minister had been guided by "foreign, narrow and instinctual" considerations.

Lieberman is expected to hold a press conference later on Thursday, in order to elaborate on the considerations that led him to appoint as tourism minister Yisrael Beiteinu's no. 8 - MK Yitzhak Aharonovitch - under Hasson, who is the party's no. 2.

Party sources have pointed at several reasons for Lieberman's choice of Aharonovitch over Hasson. The move was probably initiated at Tartman's request, since she deems the latter to be her major rival within the party.

It is believed also that Lieberman chose not to promote Hasson, a former deputy head of the Shin Bet security service, because he wishes to curb his growing power within the party. Nevertheless, after appointing Tartman as tourism minister on Sunday, Lieberman promised Hasson he would be the party's next minister, once a portfolio became available.

Hasson told Army Radio on Thursday he was disappointed to learn of Aharonovitch's appointment. "I chose to join Yisrael Beiteinu because I believed wholeheartedly that I will join a different place [i.e., political environment] with a different culture whereby one stood by one's word," Hasson said.

"Regretfully, I misunderstood [the workings of the party]. I think that when someone is appointed as [the party's] no. 3 - and unfortunately MK Yuri Stern passed away so I became no. 2 - it means something."

Hasson added that "when this matter [ministerial appointment] is infused with considerations I deem foreign, it is very saddening."

Hasson was careful not to criticize the choice of Aharonovitch for the post, and even congratulated him personally. He said he would continue his parliamentarian activities and promote matters he deems as important. But party sources said they believe Hasson would operate from now on as Lieberman's opposition within the party.

Yisrael Betenu figures have been saying over the past two days that Hasson was possibly behind the exposure of Tartman's misconduct. It is also contended that this is constitutes another reason for Lieberman's choice of Aharonovitch for the appointment.

Hasson was the only party member to criticize Tartman publicly, saying "if the reports are not true it's sad and if they are true it's sad." Yisrael Beiteinu sources said Lieberman resented this statement.

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  1.   Wagner at the Knesset 14:40  |  Dani Reiss 01/03/07
  2.   Russian Jews. 14:51  |  sandra chitayat 01/03/07
  3.   To sandra chitayat 15:25  |  Mike 01/03/07
  4.   They need a Mahapakh 15:31  |  Charlie Benlolo 01/03/07
  5.   Dignity? 16:16  |  BP 01/03/07
  6.   Why "Russian"? 16:25  |  Ze`ev 01/03/07
  7.   Sandra Chitayat 16:43  |  JonathanInTelAviv 01/03/07
  8.   Hopefully This Will Bring Down Lieberman`s Party 17:19  |  Ben Israel 01/03/07
  9.   No one in Lieberman`s party is OVERqualified for anything! 17:49  |  David 01/03/07
  10.   To 1, 2 1n4 . Shame! 18:29  |  Vital 01/03/07
  11.   To 9, David. 18:38  |  Vital 01/03/07
  12.   David #9 18:47  |  Ari ben Yisrael 01/03/07
  13.   #11 The voice of David 20:18  |  Kate 01/03/07
  14.   #5 20:36  |  From the Moon 01/03/07
  15.   hasson 20:38  |  colin 01/03/07
  16.   Why is he overqualified? maybe he has a real degree 23:47  |  Bruno 01/03/07
  17.   I am a Russian Jew, so WHAT? 00:47  |  Dr. Ari Nir 02/03/07
  18.   Lieberman is underqualified for any responsibility 02:48  |  Mark Lincoln 02/03/07
  19.   When us, Russian Jews go to Israel 15:58  |  Dr. Ari Nir 02/03/07
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