Liberman appoints party allies to top defense industry posts

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman on Monday appointed two members of his Yisrael Beytenu party as the heads of two key Israeli defense industry companies.

Former agricultural minister Yair Shamir was named chairman of the government-owned Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI), while former public security minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch was tapped as chairman of Israel Military Industries (IMI).

Liberman’s office said the two had been appointed with the approval of Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (Kulanu).

“The men appointed are the most suitable for the positions, and they will take the companies they head forward,” the defense minister said.

Yair Shamir (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Shamir, the son of former prime minister Yitzhak Shamir, previously served as IAI chairman from 2005 to 2011.

Aharonovitch is a former Israel Police deputy commissioner and minister of tourism.

IMI is currently in the process of being privatized.