JERUSALEM: Ultra-nationalist Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman'S possible indictment could be an opportunity for Israel's Netanyahu to make political changes, analyst says

Record ID: 751518

  • Title: JERUSALEM: Ultra-nationalist Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman'S possible indictment could be an opportunity for Israel's Netanyahu to make political changes, analyst says
  • Date: 14th April 2011
  • Summary: MAN HOLDING NEWSPAPER HEADLINE READING 'AG PLAN TO CHARGE LIEBERMAN WITH FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING'
  • Embargoed: 29th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem
  • City:
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA3K9ZX6T4TNZVB2NNJXSZ5XWC
  • Story Text: Israeli news on Thursday (April 14) was dominated by the possible indictment of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, on graft charges that would likely force his resignation and shake up the rightist coalition government.
    Some Jerusalem residents, interviewed by Reuters, expressed concern over the Wednesday (April 13) announcement of Israel's attorney-general, saying the controversial minister will be allowed to personally plead his case before a decision is made whether to file charges including fraud, money laundering and witness tampering.
    "Its a sad day seeing that Avigdor Lieberman might be charged with fraud and money laundering. What we want in this country is peace and if we keep on sending our leaders to the courts and to jails, its not going to solve any problems," one resident said as he sipped his morning coffee.
    Others, were bothered by the option Lieberman will stay in office during the continuation of legal procedures.
    "In my opinion he should leave the government, go to the trial, and if he is guilty he should go, you know where. And if he is innocent, all the country has to ask for excuse (ask for his forgiveness) and he can continue and be, in my opinion, even the Prime Minister, I don't care," another resident said.
    In a speech to his Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel is Our Home) party convention on Wednesday, Lieberman said he has nothing to worry about, and was happy for the chance to prove his innocence after 15 years of investigations.
    The Justice Ministry said Lieberman was suspected of using shell companies and third-party accounts to receive more than $1,200,000 illicitly while in public office, including from foreign magnates with business interests in Israel.
    Lieberman and confidants were suspected of trying to cover up these dealings "through methodical and protracted actions defrauding the public and national institutions," the ministry said in a written statement.
    It further accused Lieberman of trying to promote Israel's ambassador to Belarus after the envoy leaked him privileged information about police investigation against him dating back to the 1990s.
    Israeli analyst Amots Asael feels the new legal circumstances could turn out to be an opportunity for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
    "The U.S., completely regardless of Lieberman's legal situation, expects or very unabashedly is pressuring Netanyahu to make new overturns on the Palestinian front which are very disagreeable to the ultra-nationalist Lieberman. It means that the legal circumstances right now have made an opportune for Netanyahu to consider reshuffling his entire political situation. Letting Lieberman's faction leave and inviting in its place into his coalition the much more moderate Kadima faction," Asael told Reuters television.
    U.S.-sponsored peace negotiations with the Palestinians collapsed last year after Netanyahu refused to renew a freeze on West Bank settlements taking up land they want for a state. While Netanyahu has pledged to continue trying to secure an accord for Palestinian independence, Lieberman -- himself a West Bank settler -- has publicly written off the talks as pointless.
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