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Lieberman, left, stands beside Netanyahu after being sworn in as foreign minister [Reuters]
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The hard-line Israeli politician
Avigdor Lieberman has been sworn in by parliament as the country's
foreign minister, a development that could complicate peace talks with
Palestinians.
The leader of the far-right Yisrael Beitenu party was
reappointed to the ministry on Monday after being cleared last week of
all charges in a corruption case. He had stepped down as foreign minister last year to defend the charges.
The prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had left the post vacant for Lieberman while he awaited the verdict. The two men warmly hugged after the foreign minister was sworn in by parliament.
An Israeli court acquitted him on Wednesday of fraud and breach of
trust stemming from allegations he had given an Israeli diplomat an
ambassador's post in exchange for a tip-off about a police inquiry into
his affairs.The court agreed he had engaged in "inappropriate conduct" but did not find it warranted a criminal conviction. Labour MP Micky Rosenthal said in the parliamentary debate that accompanied Lieberman's confirmation on Monday that although the court had cleared him of breaking the law, there was still "a giant shadow over his public behaviour". Political wildcard Lieberman will likely use his significant political clout to argue against concessions to the Palestinians, making him an unpredictable player in already troubled US-backed peace efforts. As head of the far-right Yisrael Beitenu party, which is allied with Netanyahu's Likud, Lieberman has been outspoken in his scepticism about the negotiations, saying reaching a permanent peace deal is impossible. Lieberman has been accused of racism, stirring controversy by questioning the loyalty of Israel's Arab citizens and proposing some Arab communities in Israel be shifted to Palestinian control in a land-for-peace deal. He has also called for the removal of the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, describing him as an obstacle to peace. |
NORTON META TAG
11 November 2013
Lieberman (RIBBENTROP) sworn in as Israel foreign minister 11NOV13
This headline might as well been "Joachim von Ribbentrop sworn in as
Israel Foreign Minister". Lieberman's attitude toward Israeli Arabs as
well as Palestinians is little different than Ribbentrop's toward Jews.
This proves the present Israeli government is not seriously negotiating
with the Palestinians in the current peace talks and that their plans
are to continue their gestapo like occupation of the West Bank. The
American government is wasting it's time and our tax dollars on this
Israeli government. Best would be for America to remain committed to
protecting Israel's existence but end the loans, subsidies and aid that
allows Israel to continue it's illegal and immoral West Bank settlement
policies and brutal occupation of the West Bank until the Israeli people
elect a government that is sincere in it's desire for peace and capable
of honest negotiations wit the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/11/lieberman-sworn-as-israel-foreign-minister-20131111192549418445.html
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