Former foreign minister of Israel Avigdor Lieberman has been brought up on charges of fraud and breach of trust by a court in Jerusalem.
The right-wing leader of the Yisrael Beitenu party firmly denied the validity of the accusations, telling reporters:
“All rumors about a plea bargain, as well as other rumors, are without foundation, and the truth will emerge in the court.”
One of the primary counts stems from Lieberman’s alleged assistance of Israel’s former ambassador to Belarus, Ze’ev Ben-Aryeh, in attaining a new post as chief diplomat for Tel Aviv in Latvia. Ben Aryeh was also named in the court’s indictment.
If convicted, Lieberman could be barred from holding office in Israel, a development which might hurt Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party, which depends on Yisrael Beitenu for coalition support.
Lieberman has a long career in Israeli politics, beginning with his election to the Knesset in 1999. He served as a minister of transportation, energy, strategic affairs, and finally foreign affairs, from which he resigned last month after becoming embroiled in the political controversy.
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