Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon notified Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his resignation from the government on Friday morning

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon notified Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his resignation from the government on Friday morning, after Netanyahu offered his post to hardliner Avigdor Lieberman to expand his governing coalition.

"I told the prime minister this morning that due to his conduct in recent developments, and in light of my lack of trust in him, I am resigning from the government and Knesset (parliament) and taking a break from political life," the former Israeli armed forces chief of staff said on Twitter.

Yaalon's surprise resignation comes two days after former foreign minister Lieberman said he would be open to bringing his far-right Yisrael Beitenu party into Netanyahu's coalition if a number of conditions were met, including being named defense minister.

Reports said Netanyahu had been considering offering the retired lieutenant general the foreign ministry as a consolation although the offer was never made.

Netanyahu and Yaalon had sparred over the defense minister’s support for embattled IOF Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Yair Golan and Netanyahu’s support for a soldier who opened fire on an already “neutralized” Palestinian in Hebron on March 24.

Last week Netanyahu summoned Yaalon after he said Israeli commanders should continue to "speak their minds" on issues of morality and ethics.