FORD
11-10-2013, 12:29 PM
Israeli cabinet approves Avigdor Lieberman's return as foreign mininster
Avigdor Lieberman has been reinstated as Israel's foreign minister after being cleared of corruption allegations
By Robert Tait, Jerusalem (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/10439150/Israeli-cabinet-approves-Avigdor-Liebermans-return-as-foreign-mininster.html)
3:15PM GMT 10 Nov 2013
Avigdor Lieberman, one of the most combative and uncompromising foreign ministers in Israel's history, is to return to his old job just as the country's ties with the outside world reach new levels of sensitivity over negotiations with the Palestinians and Iran's nuclear programme.
The Israeli cabinet voted on Sunday to reinstate Mr Lieberman, leader of the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party, after his acquittal last week on corruption charges. His appointment is expected to be confirmed by the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, on Monday.
Mr Lieberman, 55, a burly former nightclub bouncer, stepped aside as Israel's leading diplomatic representative last December to contest fraud and breach of trust charges. He had been accused of promoting an ambassador who improperly tipped him off concerning a separate corruption police inquiry into his affairs .
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, agreed to keep the foreign minister's portfolio open for Mr Lieberman while he fought to clear his name. Mr Lieberman once served as Mr Netanyahu's chief-of-staff and is thought to have ambitions to succeed him in the top job.
Having upset friend and foe with a succession of intemperate tirdes during his previous four-year tenure, his return will fuel fears of a nose dive in Israel's international standing.
His re-appointment comes despite fierce opposition crticism. Isaac Herzog, a Labour parliamentarian, called Mr Lieberman "the worst foreign minister in Israel's history" and added: "I don't understand why he should be returned to power."
Mr Lieberman, who lives in a settlement in the West Bank, has already bluntly criticised the current negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, predicting that it will be impossible to reach a final agreement.
He is renowned for his antipathy to Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, whom he denounced as a "diplomatic terrorist".
His outbursts against the Palestinians and Israel's Arab citizens have drawn accusations of racism. He has called for "loyalty tests" for the 1.5 million Arabs living in Israel and demanded the execution of Arab parliamentarians who meet with Hamas, the Islamist militant group that runs Gaza.
In 2001, he was fined and ordered to pay compensation after admitting assaulting a 12-year-old boy who allegedly hit his son.
Avigdor Lieberman has been reinstated as Israel's foreign minister after being cleared of corruption allegations
By Robert Tait, Jerusalem (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/10439150/Israeli-cabinet-approves-Avigdor-Liebermans-return-as-foreign-mininster.html)
3:15PM GMT 10 Nov 2013
Avigdor Lieberman, one of the most combative and uncompromising foreign ministers in Israel's history, is to return to his old job just as the country's ties with the outside world reach new levels of sensitivity over negotiations with the Palestinians and Iran's nuclear programme.
The Israeli cabinet voted on Sunday to reinstate Mr Lieberman, leader of the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party, after his acquittal last week on corruption charges. His appointment is expected to be confirmed by the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, on Monday.
Mr Lieberman, 55, a burly former nightclub bouncer, stepped aside as Israel's leading diplomatic representative last December to contest fraud and breach of trust charges. He had been accused of promoting an ambassador who improperly tipped him off concerning a separate corruption police inquiry into his affairs .
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, agreed to keep the foreign minister's portfolio open for Mr Lieberman while he fought to clear his name. Mr Lieberman once served as Mr Netanyahu's chief-of-staff and is thought to have ambitions to succeed him in the top job.
Having upset friend and foe with a succession of intemperate tirdes during his previous four-year tenure, his return will fuel fears of a nose dive in Israel's international standing.
His re-appointment comes despite fierce opposition crticism. Isaac Herzog, a Labour parliamentarian, called Mr Lieberman "the worst foreign minister in Israel's history" and added: "I don't understand why he should be returned to power."
Mr Lieberman, who lives in a settlement in the West Bank, has already bluntly criticised the current negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, predicting that it will be impossible to reach a final agreement.
He is renowned for his antipathy to Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, whom he denounced as a "diplomatic terrorist".
His outbursts against the Palestinians and Israel's Arab citizens have drawn accusations of racism. He has called for "loyalty tests" for the 1.5 million Arabs living in Israel and demanded the execution of Arab parliamentarians who meet with Hamas, the Islamist militant group that runs Gaza.
In 2001, he was fined and ordered to pay compensation after admitting assaulting a 12-year-old boy who allegedly hit his son.