Lieberman Will Run Despite Corruption Charge
Image by getty images
Avigdor Lieberman confirmed on Saturday that he would run in next month’s Israeli election, despite a corruption charge that prompted him to resign from the post of foreign minister.
Authorities have said Lieberman will be charged over alleged irregularities in the promotion of an Israeli diplomat who leaked information to him about a police investigation into his activities.
“He is only resigning his post as foreign minister and deputy prime minister, but not as chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu or number two on the Likud Beiteinu list,” Lieberman’s spokesman Ashley Perry said.
Lieberman’s right-wing party Yisrael Beiteinu (Our Home is Israel) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud merged into one list ahead of the Jan. 22 poll to form Likud Beiteinu, which opinion polls have predicted will win the election.
Lieberman is second on the party list after Netanyahu and, before his indictment, was widely expected to retain a top cabinet position if the alliance won the election.
A conviction could disqualify him from serving as a minister, but the law does not prohibit Lieberman from running in the election.
On his Facebook page, Lieberman wrote that he hoped his case would be settled before the vote and that he would return to public office.
It is highly unlikely a trial could be concluded in little over a month and some commentators have said he might seek a swift plea deal instead.
An aide to Lieberman said he would hand in his letter resigning as foreign minister on Sunday, and that it would take effect 48 hours later.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we still need 300 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Only 300 more gifts needed by April 30
