Lieberman might Face Corruption Indictment

Local Editor

"Israel's" attorney general is to decide Thursday whether to press corruption charges against Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in a decision that could force his resignation and affect a looming general election.

On November 8, Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein promised a decision within a month on whether to press charges against Lieberman in a legal document sent to the High Court.
It came in response to a petition filed by the Movement for Quality Government in "Israel", which had demanded that Weinstein make the long-overdue decision before the January 22 general election.

The offences include "fraud, breach of trust, receiving something by deception, money laundering and tampering with a witness," a so-called "Israeli" justice ministry statement said at the time.
Lieberman has pledged to step down as both a minister and an MP if he is charged.
In cases in which an "Israeli" government minister or a judge is suspected of criminal activity, only the attorney general can decide whether or not to press charges.

Court papers said Lieberman was suspected of receiving "millions of dollars" between 2001 to 2008 when he served as an KM and then as a cabinet minister.
In parallel, the "Israeli" top official has been investigated several times since 1996 on corruption charges, but denies any wrongdoing, claiming the police investigations are politically motivated.

Lieberman's "Yisrael Beitenu" party is the second largest in "Israel's" governing coalition, and is running on a joint list with "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rightwing Likud party in next month's election.
Lieberman is running as number two on the list.


Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org