Former Military Chief Appointed as Israeli Defense Minister

Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu appointed Moshe Ya’alon on Sunday as Israel’s new defense minister. Ya’alon has long opposed the freezing of settlement building, and has said in the past that Israel must focus on defense before diplomacy in the conflict. Ya’alon headed the Israeli army during the 2nd intifada, or Palestinian uprising. He also took a controversial stance in opposing the 2005 Israeli withdrawal from settlements within the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu chose Ya’alon because the position requires someone with military experience. “At such a decisive time for the security of the State of Israel, when the region all around…