Israel’s former foreign minister cleared in graft trial
Hard-line right-winger Lieberman found innocent of all charges and free to return to post as Israel's top diplomat
An Israeli court on Wednesday found former foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman innocent of all charges in a corruption trial, clearing the way for the powerful hard-line politician to return to his post as the nation’s top diplomat.
The trial had threatened to reshape the make-up of the government. But in the end, Lieberman was handed a resounding victory that instantly raises his clout in a bitterly divided coalition.
“This chapter is behind me. And I am focusing on the challenges ahead, and there are plenty.”
The verdict was delivered inside a closed courtroom, and minutes later, a jubilant Lieberman appeared outside.
“This chapter is behind me. And I am focusing on the challenges ahead, and there are plenty,” he said, claiming he had been persecuted by overzealous prosecutors for 17 years.
Lieberman, an ally and sometime rival to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has long been dogged by allegations of corruption but this case was the first time he had been accused of criminal behaviour.
Lieberman was charged with fraud and breach of trust for allegedly trying to advance the career of a former diplomat who relayed information to him about a separate criminal investigation into Lieberman’s business dealings.
Prosecutors said they respected the court’s decision and would study it before deciding whether to appeal.