Avigdor Lieberman is expected to return to the post of Israeli foreign minister next week following his dramatic acquittal yesterday on corruption charges.
In a unanimous verdict, a three-judge panel at the Jerusalem magistrates’ court acquitted the former foreign minister and leader of the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party on charges of breach of trust and fraud.
Mr Lieberman, one of the most outspoken and controversial figures on the Israeli political scene, stepped down as foreign minister last year to face the charges against him. After the elections in January, prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu decided to keep the foreign ministry portfolio open, pending the outcome of Mr Lieberman’s trial. It is expected that the cabinet will vote to reinstate him on Sunday.
Yesterday’s verdict brings to an end a staggering 17 years of police investigations against Mr Lieberman. The main investigation involved suspicion of significant fraud and money-laundering with Mr Lieberman allegedly setting up a number of straw companies abroad. However, last year, the attorney general decided to close the case, citing lack of compelling evidence.
Ambassador post
Yesterday's case involved allegations that Mr Lieberman as foreign minister had promoted the candidacy of Zeev Ben Arieh for the position of Israel's ambassador to Latvia after Mr Ben Arieh had handed Mr Lieberman an envelope with classified information about the police investigation against him However, the court ruled that Mr Lieberman did not push for the appointment and that Mr Ben Arieh, who previously served as ambassador to Belarus, was qualified for the job.
The judges determined that Mr Lieberman was taken by surprise when he received the information from Mr Ben Arieh and that he committed no crime, even though he was criticised for failing to make a full disclosure about the incident.
Leaving the courtroom Mr Lieberman said: “Seventeen years are finally over. This chapter is now behind me, and I will now focus on the challenges that lie ahead.”
In the short term his acquittal will stabilise the government coalition, but Mr Netanyahu is aware that Mr Lieberman’s long-term goal is to replace him as the leader of the Israeli right.
In the coming weeks both parties will need to decide whether or not to continue their political co-operation.
Mr Lieberman’s expected return to the government is also likely to have a negative impact on peace prospects. He believes there is no chance of reaching a peace agreement with the current Palestinian leadership, labelling President Mahmoud Abbas as a “diplomatic terrorist” and an obstacle to peace.
