The Ministry of Strategic Affairs is an Israeli government ministry. The ministry was created in 2006 for Avigdor Lieberman, whose Yisrael Beiteinu party had just joined the governing coalition. Lieberman had demanded the Internal Security post, but at the time was under police investigation, and the post was already held by Avi Dichter. As a result, a new post and ministry were created, with the role of co-ordinating security, intelligence and diplomatic initiatives regarding Iran and other strategic threats, reporting to Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert. Lieberman left the government on 18 January 2008, and the ministry was closed down in April 2008. In 2009, it was resurrected and repurposed under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.