Lieberman lives in the Jewish community of Nokdim, south of Bethlehem. A
former minister, he has for years come under the protection of the Israel
Security Agency, which drove Lieberman home in an armored vehicle.
The sources said Lieberman would spend his week in the foreign
minister's residence in Jerusalem. But they said the foreign minister would
seek to return home to Nokdim Ñ surrounded by villages aligned with Hamas Ñ
for the weekend.
"The question is how do we improve security now?" the source asked. "Do
we supply him with a convoy. Do we fly him home by helicopter?"
ISA has outsourced most protection assignments for ministers and other
prominent Israelis. In 2007, the agency contracted Moked for VIP duties
while ISA concentrated on protecting the prime minister.
The sources said ISA would require the employment of at least 250 guards
to protect Israel's new 30-member Cabinet. They said any Cabinet minister,
regardless of his importance, would be a target for insurgency groups.
"ISA plans to recruit a lot more people, mostly through private firms,"
the source said.