Israel’s tourism minister-designate withdrew over an accreditation scandal. Estherina Tartman announced her decision Wednesday following media revelations that she had falsely claimed to have a master’s degree in business. Tartman, with the backing of the chief of her Yisrael Beiteinu Party, Avigdor Lieberman, said she was the victim of a witch hunt. Yisrael Beiteinu was given the tourism portfolio as part of a Cabinet reshuffle involving the Labor Party. Replacing Tartman as the party’s nominee for the post will be Itzhak Aharonovitch, a former deputy commander of the national police force.
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