Avigdor Lieberman Photo by Olivier Fitoussi
Facing fraud charges in connection with an ambassador’s promotion, Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced his resignation as Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister today just weeks before Israel’s parliamentary elections.
After a long-running investigation involving major allegation of money laundering, aggravated fraud and witness tampering Israel’s Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein decided to indict him on lesser charges of fraud and breach of trust. The main case against Lieberman, involving harassing witnesses, accepting bribes and the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars, has been dropped due to lack of sufficient evidence. Lieberman has denied all charges and accused legal authorities of going on a political witch hunt.
Lieberman suggested that he will try to secure a plea bargain before the upcoming elections in January, and added that he made the decision following deliberations with his lawyers, despite the fact that he was told he was not obligated to resign from his position as foreign minister.
“Even though I know I did not commit any crime… I decided to resign from my post as foreign minister and deputy prime minister,” Lieberman announced Friday. “Following 16 years of investigations against me, I will now be able to end this matter quickly and without delays, and finally clear my name.”
Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein on Thursday said he was closing the main case against Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, concluding a 12-year investigation into allegations of money laundering and fraud. However, Weinstein said he would indict Lieberman on lesser charges of fraud and breach of trust, in the case concerning Israel’s former ambassador to Belarus.
Bizarre.
So, he’s going to try to get a plea bargain eventhough he claims he didn’t do anything wrong.
Makes sense to me.
From what I can see being convicted or at least accused of fraud is practically a rite of passage for anyone wanting to be head of state in that crazy republic.
“Lieberman has denied all charges and accused legal authorities of going on a political witch hunt.”
In that case, DING-DONG, THE WITCH IS DEAD; THE WITCH IS DEAD…!
Couldn’t happen to a “nicer” guy, unfortunately, Zionists always have another witch waiting in the wings to take this ones place.
Couldn’t have happen to a better man(Sarcasm off)
So I checked NPR to see how NPR would handle this? NPR refered to AP checked Both were to busy tieing NK Rocket Lanch to Iran.
Here’s how AP described Liberman
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=167245614
“Israel’s powerful foreign minister ”
“The Soviet-born Lieberman is head of Yisrael Beitenu, an ultranationalist party that is especially popular with immigrants from the former Soviet Union. With a tough-talking message that has questioned the loyalty of Israel’s Arab minority, sharply criticized the Palestinians and confronted Israel’s foreign critics, he has at times alienated Israel’s allies while becoming an influential voice in Israeli politics.”
Calling a Israeli Jew a racist is still Taboo both by NPR and AP instead it’s “proposals that critics said were anti-Arab”. This was the guy on his way to be P.M. (still could be)
“Lieberman is known for inflammatory rhetoric that has at times agitated his partners in government. He has called for executing Israeli Arab lawmakers who met with leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas”
“More recently, Lieberman pushed a series of legislative proposals that critics said were anti-Arab,”
“He has also called for redrawing Israel’s border to place Arab towns under Palestinian jurisdiction.”
Anyone want to take a shot what the media would be calling someone who advocated the above against Jews? inflammatory would be the last word used
I’m speculating, but there is the possibility — though slim — that Natanyahu pressured him to resign so as not to damage his chances of getting re-elected, with the promise of bringing him back on after the elections as a cabinet minister again.