Avigdor Lieberman quit as Israel's foreign minister on Sunday but predicted that he would soon return to his post after fighting legal proceedings brought against him by the attorney general. Lieberman had announced Friday afternoon that he would resign after Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein said he would indict him on charges of fraud and breach of trust. However, Weinstein did not bring charges against Lieberman on more serious suspicions of illicitly receiving millions of dollars from foreign business tycoons while holding public office.
Lieberman is expected to remain a powerful force in Israeli politics and is running in upcoming elections. His party, Yisrael Beiteinu, the third-largest faction in parliament, is campaigning on a joint ticket with the Likud of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. After submitting his resignation letter Sunday to Netanyahu, who will handle the foreign affairs portfolio until the formation of a new government, Lieberman said that his departure from office would be brief. “I am leaving temporarily,” he told reporters. “I assume that this time the break will be very short.” Lieberman said he intended to argue his case in court.
Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein had announced last week that he would indict Lieberman for promoting Israel’s former ambassador to Belarus after the envoy gave the foreign minister confidential information on moves by the Israeli authorities to investigate his suspected financial dealings there. Lieberman has said he wants to settle the case before the elections. Although that is viewed as unlikely, he is legally permitted to run for parliament as long as he is not convicted. Even with a trial underway, Lieberman could take a seat in the elected parliament, but he could not be appointed minister, pending the result of the court proceedings.
Polls have shown that the combined list of Netanyahu’s and Lieberman’s parties could win between 35 to 40 seats in the 120-member legislature and emerge as the dominant faction. Originally from Moldova and living in a West Bank settlement, Lieberman has strong support among the estimated one million immigrants from the former Soviet Union countries in Israel.
Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon, whom Lieberman did not grant a place on the Yisrael Beiteinu list, will remain in office until the election.
