JERUSALEM
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman did not nominate his deputy Danny Ayalon for the upcoming general elections in January.
Lieberman, head of Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel is Our Home) Party, did not put Ayalon and two other major figures in his list of candidates for parliament on Tuesday, shocking many Israelis with his decision.
Lieberman did not comment on his decision and said his list was "measured, nationalist and responsible".
Meanwhile, Ayalon said "he would continue to serve Israel" on Twitter.
Ayalon made headlines when he forced Turkey's ambassador to Israel to sit on a lower chair than his as an insult during a televised meeting in 2010. He then explained that nothing in the meeting, which provoked harsh criticism from the Turkish government, was planned in advance. He added that he had sent a letter of apology to the ambassador after the incident in which he explained that he had no intention to humiliate him. Israeli government also apologized for the act of Ayalon.
