Sources close to Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said on Wednesday night that, despite various reports in the media, he was never offered the role of Foreign Minister by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

According to the sources, who spoke with Army Radio, the subject of Ya’alon being appointed Foreign Minister did not come up in his conversation with Netanyahu earlier Wednesday, though the sources did confirm that Ya’alon was told that Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman asked for the Defense Ministry during his coalition talks with Netanyahu.

On Wednesday, Liberman held a press conference laying out his terms for joining Netanyahu’s governing coalition.

Shortly thereafter the Prime Minister extended an invitation to Liberman to discuss the possibility of bringing the Yisrael Beytenu party into the coalition.

While the talks have not yet concluded, sources said on Wednesday night that barring any last minute surprises, a coalition agreement could be signed as soon as Thursday.

Aides to the Prime Minister confirmed that the two sides were very close to sealing a deal.