As expected, the cabinet on Sunday voted to close down the Ministry of Strategic Planning, an office that was created to provide a working budget and powerbase for Avigdor Lieberman upon his entry to the coalition government.

In January, Lieberman�s Yisrael Beitenu Party broke away from the coalition over objections regarding the government�s widespread good will gestures and concessions to the Palestinian Authority.

Since that time, the responsibilities for the ministry were divided among the Prime Minister�s Office and other ministries.

(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)