Avigdor Lieberman Faces New Charges:
Netanyahu And Likeminded Israeli Hardliners Lawless
Rogues
30 December 2012
By Stephen Lendman
He's Netanyahu's main coalition partner. He represents
the lunatic fringe of Israeli governance. He's a
serial felon. He's ideologically anti-democratic and
hardcore racist.
Weeks ahead of general elections, he resigned. In
January, he plans running for reelection anyway. At
least so far. Information discussed below may preclude
him.
He stands criminally indicted. He deserves prison, not
high office. A decade earlier plea bargain avoided
harsh punishment. He assaulted a young boy. He copped
a plea, paid a small fine, and got off virtually
scot-free.
Clear evidence shows he's guilty of bribery,
embezzlement, money laundering, obstruction of
justice, and breach of trust.
In mid-December, Israeli Attorney General Yehuda
Weinstein dropped major charges. Fraud and breach of
trust remained. At the same time, Weinstein said
"suspicions" about Lieberman remain. Further action
can't be ruled out.
On December 27, Haaretz headlined "Israel's AG
intensifies indictment against Lieberman over
ambassador affair."
It relates to Israel's former Belarus ambassador,
Ze'ev Ben Aryeh. Documents show Lieberman secured his
appointment in return for services rendered. He
promoted his ambassadorship to Latvia. Bribery was
involved.
Initial Lieberman charges included allegations about
not disclosing what happened. On Sunday, a follow-up
indictment will be submitted in Jerusalem's Magistrate
Court.
Fraud and breach of trust will be included. So will
moral turpitude. It's very close to charging bribery.
Key language says "a form of recompense for someone
who had committed grave acts on his behalf."
Ben Aryeh admitted telling Israel's Justice Ministry
and Lieberman about asking Belarus authorities to help
with his police investigation.
At the time, Lieberman was a MK. After his foreign
ministerial appointment, he repaid Ben Aryeh for
services rendered.
Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon, gave testimony.
He's a key prosecution witness. He did so after
Lieberman spurned him. He excluded him from Yisrael
Beiteinu's upcoming Knesset list.
A deputy scorned retaliated. Ayalon heads the Foreign
Ministry's appointment process. He knows where the
bodies are buried. He provided evidence against
Lieberman.
Amended charges say he named Ze'ev Ben Aryeh ministry
diplomatic advisor. He urged his appointment as
Latvian ambassador.
Prior to appointment committee deliberations,
Lieberman told Ayalon he was "the most fitting
candidate and should thus be granted the position."
Ayalon knew little about him. He followed through on
Lieberman's behalf. Ben Aryeh was one of 10 candidates
considered.
Lieberman withheld vital information about him. He
said nothing about about their personal relationship.
Ben Aryeh lost out after background check facts
revealed what Lieberman concealed.
Haaretz said "recent testimonies strengthen the
evidence (that) Lieberman actively promoted Ben
Aryeh's appointment" process.
Doing so "is likely to influence the court's position"
on how severely to stiffen charges against him. He
won't get what he deserves.
At the same time, he'll face more than he bargained
for. It remains to be seen how things play out. It
also places his future more in doubt.
On December 27, Haaretz discussed it. It called his
"temporary departure" a "potential turning point."
What originally seemed "a minor legal road bump,"
could end up being "permanent exile." Other party
faithful wait to replace him.
Before resigning, Lieberman served 44 months as
foreign minister and deputy prime minister. His
political future is now on hold. Perhaps he has none.
It's increasingly clear, said Haaretz, that he "won't
return to a ministerial seat anytime soon." Attorney
General Weinstein faced harsh criticism for dropping
key charges. Clear evidence proved guilt.
Major charges are still dropped. Moral turpitude will
accompany others fraud and breach of trust. Doing so
bans him from politics for seven years. Continuing
investigation may add more.
Things aren't yet resolved. Haaretz sums up
Lieberman's senior diplomatic tenure as follows:
"He was effectively banned from many Western
capitals." He "focused his attention between Prague
and (former Bessarabia capital/now Moldova capital)
Kishinev."
According to Lieberman, doing so "helped garner
support from nations (that) stood by Israel, or at
least didn't" support recognizing Palestine's UN
upgrade.
Western refusal to recognize him as a legitimate
partner "left him sidelined from central arenas."
He and Netanyahu share blame. Prime ministerial
support lets him off the hook. Lieberman's not as
fortunate. He greatly harmed Israel's international
standing by "stubbornly oppos(ing) any Israeli
apology" for murdering nine Mavi Mamara Turkish
nationals.
That and more made him damaged goods. Perhaps his time
came and left. Israel's Maariv daily said Netanyahu
may assume foreign ministerial duties post-election.
He did so after Lieberman resigned. Perhaps he'll
maintain portfolio responsibilities until his status
is resolved. It could take weeks or months.
Other party faithful want their say. Expect foreign
ministerial authority scrambling post-elections.
Perhaps Lieberman will be dumped in the process.
It bears repeating. He deserves prison, not high
office. The same goes for Netanyahu and likeminded
Israeli hardliners. They're lawless rogues.
They shame legitimate government. Israeli voters
aren't likely to replace them. Regional peace hangs in
the balance.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached
at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book is
titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized
Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"
http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html Visit his
blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to
cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on
the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive
Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and
Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are
archived for easy listening. http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour
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