Israeli Police Recommend Indictment of Lieberman

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Far right Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is probably going to be indicted on bribery and fraud charges: Israeli Police Recommend Indictment of Foreign Minister.

JERUSALEM, Aug. 2 — Israeli police Sunday recommended that the state indict Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on charges of bribery, fraud, money laundering, witness harassment and obstruction of justice.

A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said the file now moves to the state prosecutor’s office and then to attorney General Menachem Mazuz who must approve the recommendation before Lieberman is formally indicted. That process could take weeks or even months. If the foreign minister is indicted he will have to resign, according to Israeli law.

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83 comments
1 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 10:55:46am

I got a bit confused, wondering how the Israelis could indict a US Senator.

2 doppelganglander  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 10:55:50am

At first I thought they meant Joe Lieberman, and I was very confused.

3 doppelganglander  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 10:56:05am

EmmmieG, GMTA!

4 wahabicorridor  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 10:56:42am

Is there a politician in Israel who isn't corrupt? I mean, jeez, I thought the U.S. was bad - and we only know about the ones that have been caught.

5 FurryOldGuyJeans  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 10:56:58am

re: #2 doppelganglander

At first I thought they meant Joe Lieberman, and I was very confused.

I thought the same thing just reading the headline.

6 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 10:57:07am

re: #3 doppelganglander

EmmmieG, GMTA!

Yeah, you should have gone before me. I missed the chance to sleep a sly "First" into the post.

7 lawhawk  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 10:57:13am

There are times when Israeli politics makes New Jersey or Illinois politics seem downright genteel in comparison.

This is one of those times.

8 [deleted]  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 10:57:52am
9 Baier  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 10:58:39am

Israel is still the only country in the Middle East where fraud and bribery are actual crimes that leaders can be held accountable for.

10 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 10:58:52am

*Keeping an eye out for the wrench*

11 Crimsonfisted  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 10:58:53am

re: #1 EmmmieG

I got a bit confused, wondering how the Israelis could indict a US Senator.

My very thought. You beat me to the punch.

12 Sharmuta  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 10:59:27am

Why does it seem politician and crook go together like a horse and carriage?

13 John Neverbend  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 10:59:39am

re: #11 Crimsonfisted

My very thought. You beat me to the punch.

A quid pro quo for American interference with Israeli settlements?
/

14 DaddyG  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:00:15am

re: #12 Sharmuta

Why does it seem politician and crook go together like a horse and carriage road apples?

FIFY

15 FurryOldGuyJeans  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:00:19am

re: #9 Baier

Israel is still the only country in the Middle East where fraud and bribery are actual crimes that leaders can be held accountable for.

Certainly that concept is losing out here.

16 Randall Gross  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:00:26am

I'm no fan of Lieberman, but Israel could do without this right now.

17 midwestgak  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:00:53am

re: #1 EmmmieG

I got a bit confused, wondering how the Israelis could indict a US Senator.

No sarc. So I'll point out that it's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. An official in the Israeli government.

18 Kragar  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:00:54am

re: #9 Baier

Israel is still the only country in the Middle East where fraud and bribery are actual crimes that leaders can be held accountable for.

Makes it a step up from Illinois too.

19 FurryOldGuyJeans  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:01:13am

re: #16 Thanos

I'm no fan of Lieberman, but Israel could do without this right now.

Better to do it now than to implicitly condone corruption. That way would be worse.

20 FurryOldGuyJeans  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:01:54am

re: #18 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Makes it a step up from Illinois too.

Chicago makes it a prerequisite for office.

21 Vicious Michigan Union Thug  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:02:39am

How come Olmert isn't in jail?

22 CIA Reject  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:03:30am

re: #18 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Makes it a step up from Illinois too.

I'm not too familiar with Illinois (or New Jersey for that matter) but it does seem that corruption is more of a sport than a crime out there...

23 doppelganglander  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:04:12am

re: #6 EmmmieG

Yeah, you should have gone before me. I missed the chance to sleep a sly "First" into the post.

Oh, then it's just as well, because I would have been deleted. I didn't even think about that.

24 DaddyG  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:04:45am

re: #22 CIA Reject

I'm not too familiar with Illinois...

You will be when the Obama administration is done with you.

25 FurryOldGuyJeans  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:05:05am

re: #17 midwestgak

No sarc. So I'll point out that it's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. An official in the Israeli government.

The headline could be less confusing, the article clears it up.

26 DaddyG  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:05:31am

re: #25 FurryOldGuyJeans

The headline could be less confusing, the article clears it up.

But, but... that would require reading the article. /

27 [deleted]  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:05:37am
28 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:05:48am

re: #23 doppelganglander

Oh, then it's just as well, because I would have been deleted. I didn't even think about that.

Actually *whispering so that Stinky won't hear* you can get away with it, or even a second, third, etc. if its a natural part of the comment, and not the comment.

29 VegasRick  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:05:50am

re: #21 Alouette

How come Olmert isn't in jail?

Same reason Dodd, Fwanks, Reid, Murtha and all the rest are not.

30 FurryOldGuyJeans  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:06:19am

re: #26 DaddyG

But, but... that would require reading the article. /

Yeah, that would confuse the talking heads.

31 FurryOldGuyJeans  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:06:40am

re: #29 VegasRick

Same reason Dodd, Fwanks, Reid, Murtha and all the rest are not.

Idiot voters?

32 DaddyG  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:06:51am

re: #28 EmmmieG

Actually *whispering so that Stinky won't hear* you can get away with it, or even a second, third, etc. if its a natural part of the comment, and not the comment.

Thats some thirty two logic there.

33 CIA Reject  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:07:21am

re: #24 DaddyG

You will be when the Obama administration is done with you.

Oh, so Illinois is just like NYC during the Dinkins administration?

34 sattv4u2  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:07:25am

BAD news for Israel in general and Leiberman in particular

GOOD news for the democratic process and the rule of law

I'll bet miscreants in countries lets say not friendly to Israel and the USA would hang the accused 1st, then have the indictment and trail;

35 VegasRick  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:07:58am

re: #31 FurryOldGuyJeans

Idiot voters?

Above the laws those folks are.

36 FurryOldGuyJeans  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:08:08am

re: #34 sattv4u2

BAD news for Israel in general and Leiberman in particular

GOOD news for the democratic process and the rule of law

I'll bet miscreants in countries lets say not friendly to Israel and the USA would hang the accused 1st, then have the indictment and trail;

BAD news would be keeping Leiberman in office if he truly is corrupt.

37 martinsmithy  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:08:13am

Here's the difference between Israel and the Arab world in a nutshell.

A (maybe) corrupt Israeli politician gets called out by the police and must answer for large sums of money made available to him.

When was the last time this happened to a member of the Saudi royal family? One of the hangers on to the President of Egypt?

38 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:08:25am

re: #32 DaddyG

Thats some thirty two logic there.

Groan. Try "That comment is thirty-two steps away from correct."

39 FurryOldGuyJeans  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:08:47am

re: #35 VegasRick

Above the laws those folks are.

Not hard to understand since THEY make the laws.

40 Wendya  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:09:20am

re: #31 FurryOldGuyJeans

Idiot voters?

If the voters receive plenty of goodies, they don't give a rat's ass about corruption.

41 sattv4u2  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:09:32am

re: #36 FurryOldGuyJeans

BAD news would be keeping Leiberman in office if he truly is corrupt.

GOOD news is that the system affords both sides to make their case and find out!

42 VegasRick  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:10:04am

re: #39 FurryOldGuyJeans

Not hard to understand since THEY make the laws.

They make the laws for us to follow, not them. They ALL cover for each other.

43 FurryOldGuyJeans  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:10:18am

re: #41 sattv4u2

GOOD news is that the system affords both sides to make their case and find out!

That truly is the good news. Wish that we could get a dose or 12 of that here.

44 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:10:25am

re: #40 Wendya

If the voters receive plenty of goodies, they don't give a rat's ass about corruption.

Right up until the hurricane hits and the levies break because the politicians were spending the funds for maintenance on themselves.

But don't worry, the MSM will find someone else to blame it on.

45 doppelganglander  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:11:52am

re: #28 EmmmieG

Actually *whispering so that Stinky won't hear* you can get away with it, or even a second, third, etc. if its a natural part of the comment, and not the comment.

Thanks. I won't press my luck. I get upset when I'm deleted, even though the only times it's happened (twice, I think) were because I quoted a post that was subsequently deleted.

46 FurryOldGuyJeans  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:12:15am

re: #44 EmmmieG

Right up until the hurricane hits and the levies break because the politicians were spending the funds for maintenance on themselves.

But don't worry, the MSM will find someone else to blame it on.

They will always have Bush, FMSM and Dems.

47 VegasRick  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:12:29am

re: #44 EmmmieG

Right up until the hurricane hits and the levies break because the politicians were spending the funds for maintenance on themselves.

But don't worry, the MSM will find someone else to blame it on.

Well there is always BUSH!!!

48 LionofDixon  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:13:01am

I heard Roland Burris is actively lobbying for the job...

49 VegasRick  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:13:59am

re: #46 FurryOldGuyJeans

They will always have Bush, FMSM and Dems.

14 seconds (I should not have bolded and italicized)!

50 VegasRick  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:15:04am

re: #48 LionofDixon

I heard Roland Burris is actively lobbying for the job...

Bribes and favors

51 Honorary Yooper  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:15:24am

re: #20 FurryOldGuyJeans

Chicago makes it a prerequisite for office.

Hey, jail time is just an occupational hazard for Chicago Aldermen.

52 DaddyG  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:15:34am

The problem with corruption is that it undermines and saps energy from just political fights. Given the Alynski rule of holding others to their own code of conduct this is particularly damaging for conservative movements that espouse rule of law.

This is never a good thing and another reason the founding fathers saw wisdom in limited government by the consent of the governed.

53 Honorary Yooper  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:15:41am

re: #48 LionofDixon

I heard Roland Burris is actively lobbying for the job...

He wants it on his tombstone.

54 sattv4u2  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:17:02am

re: #51 Honorary Yooper

Hey, jail time is just an occupational hazard for Chicago Aldermen.

They don't call it JAIL TIME

They call it "meeting the constituency"

55 FurryOldGuyJeans  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:17:05am

re: #53 Honorary Yooper

He wants it on his tombstone.

He wants it on his pyramid.

56 FurryOldGuyJeans  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:18:10am

re: #49 VegasRick

14 seconds (I should not have bolded and italicized)!

And I was able to include a link! Neener, neener, neener! ;)

57 Honorary Yooper  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:18:14am

re: #55 FurryOldGuyJeans

He wants it on his pyramid.

No, on his masoleum. It reads like a fricking job resume.

58 [deleted]  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:18:50am
59 FurryOldGuyJeans  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:19:15am

re: #57 Honorary Yooper

No, on his masoleum. It reads like a fricking job resume.

Isn't that death monument of his shaped like a pyramid?

60 FurryOldGuyJeans  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:19:40am

re: #58 buzzsawmonkey

He wants to make sure he gets a good position in the afterlife.

Oh, he becomes a long-term Democratic voter, right?

61 BlueCanuck  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:19:54am

re: #58 buzzsawmonkey

He wants to make sure he gets a good position in the afterlife.

Upside down? Final political statement to the whole state of Illinois. :)

63 lawhawk  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:22:23am

This will also put the governing coalition in danger, which may be part of the reason for the indictments to have been filed in the first place.

Remember, no single party has ever managed to govern in Israel without forming a coalition. Here, Likud is in a coalition with Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu. If the coalition cracks, it could force another election.

64 Oh no...Sand People!  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:48:29am

re: #29 VegasRick

Same reason Dodd, Fwanks, Reid, Murtha and all the rest are not.

In that we are complete idiots for letting it happen?

Seriously, I am here in the Philippines and I can see how the politicians can be corrupt..infrastructure sucks, easy to hide, plenty of 'out of the way' places to be etc, weak communication outlets.

But in the states? Those circus clowns do it out in the open and we don't do a thing about it, well..if voting them back into office again constitutes 'a thing about it'...

65 funky chicken  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 11:53:23am

I remember a bunch of accusations against Netanyahu a while back that helped Ehud Barak to win. Didn't most of those prove to be false? It's possible that these accusations are also false.

66 ISraelite  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 12:49:31pm

What's Far Right about Lieberman? I mean, of course the lefty media attaches this tag on him every time, but why do you, specifically?

67 Archangelus  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 12:55:02pm

re: #65 funky chicken

I remember a bunch of accusations against Netanyahu a while back that helped Ehud Barak to win. Didn't most of those prove to be false? It's possible that these accusations are also false.

I'm assuming you're referring to the Bar'on-Hebron case - it was dismissed due to lack of enough concrete evidence to continue with filing criminal charges. Either way, i don't recall it helping Barak win, since the elections were years later and at any rate wasn't much of an elections issue , if at all...

As for these, i doubt they'd be going so far with it if they were false, and not really that surprised either; Even among right wing Israelis, many think he's corrupt and problematic - the ones I know that voted for him in the elections did so because of his support for secular views and issues such as the secular "Marriage Pact" far more than his right winged views, and none of them seem surprised with the charges as they figured it was a matter of time anyways (kind of a "well, he's gonna get kicked out and imprisoned later, might as well have him do some good work in the meantime" attitude)...

68 Ward Cleaver  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 2:42:00pm

I like Lieberman, so this saddens me.

69 Shai  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 3:07:07pm

What makes him far right? That he wants loyalty tests for Israeli Arabs? I mean, that's just common sense.

70 Charles Johnson  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 5:17:02pm

re: #66 ISraelite

What's Far Right about Lieberman? I mean, of course the lefty media attaches this tag on him every time, but why do you, specifically?

Avigdor Lieberman has been associated with the Kach movement of Meir Kahane, for one thing.

71 zeir  Mon, Aug 3, 2009 9:01:29pm

Lieberman was always corrupt, back when he was a student leader his organization were basically gangsters. But remember, Lieberman wants a Palestinean state! He just wants to give back heavily populated areas full of Israeli arabs, who are citizens of Israel (or require a loyalty oath).

The problem with Liebrman is that once you enter his reasoning, it is very intoxicating:

The arabs will outnumber us, demographic time bomb.
They are not loyal to the State of Israel.
But if they were loyal that would be ok.
So make them take an oath that they are loyal.
Otherwise give their communities to Palestine.

Once you enter the mind set, it makes some sense, and a lot of young people are into it. Unfortunately, most people think that citizens shouldn't be stripped of their citizenship even if they don't believe in the loftier conception of the state.

72 ISraelite  Tue, Aug 4, 2009 12:13:29am

re: #70 Charles

Avigdor Lieberman has been associated with the Kach movement of Meir Kahane, for one thing.

Guilt by association? come on, we can do better than that..
I mean, if someone who agrees to a 2-state solution is far right, what is median right? what is left? Could you please explain your axis system?

73 Ariel  Tue, Aug 4, 2009 6:09:35am

I agree that Lieberman is not far right. I would call the folks who believe in transfer far right. (I include myself in that group.)

I wouldn't put too much weight into these indictments. Before the Gaza pullout, Ariel Sharon was supposedly on the verge of being indicted. The left-wing AG-equivalent decided to forebear from the prosecution as long as Ariel Sharon moved forward with the Gaza pullout. This is a way for the left to control the decisions made by the government, even when they have lost the elections. Even if Lieberman is corrupt, I doubt he is moreso than any other Israeli politician. As was noted above, Olmert was never indicted, because he was the best the left could get.

74 Charles Johnson  Tue, Aug 4, 2009 9:22:27am

re: #72 ISraelite

Guilt by association? come on, we can do better than that..
I mean, if someone who agrees to a 2-state solution is far right, what is median right? what is left? Could you please explain your axis system?

Yes, that's right, guilt by association. If you associate with a group like Kach, it's not wrong to call you "far right." Kach is listed as a terrorist group by the US State Department.

75 omnys  Tue, Aug 4, 2009 7:17:16pm

re: #74 Charles

Lieberman was allegedly associated for a brief time with Kach in 1979 (before it was listed a terrorist group) when he was a student. He himself rejected these claims. Even if assuming that he was in some way involved with Kach as claimed in 1979, why do you use "associate" in present tense. How does this reflect on your assertion that he's "far-right"?

76 Age Of Freedom  Tue, Aug 4, 2009 7:51:34pm

Far-right? as in fascist?

What's far-right about annexing "Israeli-arabs" who by the vast majority regard themselves as Palestinian before anything else, and staunchly sympathize with the actual Palestinians politically, religiously and culturally?

By annexing, they remain where they are, in their homes, their villages, trees and what not, to be under a "true" Palestinian state they so yearn to be part of.

The only reason the "Israeli-arabs" are calling Lieberman a fascist because of that is because that would validate Israel's existence on a permanent basis, among other reasons like losing their living benefits of a western country they hatefully feel comfortable in.

Calling on Israeli citizens to be loyal to their country, and that goes for orthodox jews like Neturei Karta or else they can get lost, isn't fascist.

In the U.S., an immigrant who's reached the status of citizenship has to swear allegiance to the flag and the country. Is that far-right?

I call BS on the "far-right" title Charles wrote in this post.

77 Age Of Freedom  Tue, Aug 4, 2009 7:52:36pm

re: #70 Charles

Avigdor Lieberman has been associated with the Kach movement of Meir Kahane, for one thing.

where? when? the Israel Beitenu charts are light years far from Kach.

78 Age Of Freedom  Tue, Aug 4, 2009 8:15:21pm

re: #74 Charles

Yes, that's right, guilt by association. If you associate with a group like Kach, it's not wrong to call you "far right." Kach is listed as a terrorist group by the US State Department.

Is he still associating himself with Kach? Is he aligned with them?

79 Charles Johnson  Tue, Aug 4, 2009 9:12:58pm

OK, there are no far right people anywhere. Not in the US, and not in Israel. Nope. No such thing as "far right" at all. That whole label is just a left-wing media trick.

/dripping

80 Age Of Freedom  Tue, Aug 4, 2009 10:26:34pm

re: #79 Charles

OK, there are no far right people anywhere. Not in the US, and not in Israel. Nope. No such thing as "far right" at all. That whole label is just a left-wing media trick.

/dripping

Come on, Charles, why?
You toss crap back as if I & those who come in Lieberman's defense are deniers to far-right groups in the U.S. and Israel or are semi-fascists themselves. Why not try to answer regularly, I mean, why the immediately dismissive attitude?

You put this post up along with deserving stories about the truly far-right BNP and other similar groups elsewhere - and I really wonder why you haven't been consistently vocal about Israel Beitenu "far-right" party since the last elections in Israel or years ago when they (some members) were also part of the shitty 'disengagement plan' -- all along, they were an influential force in the Knesset. If you were posting about Kach -- I'd understand, although they are pretty much marginalized to be getting any attention.

15 mandates in Israel are a HUGE populace in Israel (about 300,000 people, that's in comparison to Kadima, the second biggest party that received around 450,000 votes), that's a big populace to label "far-right". That's more than the Labor party. So what are you saying?

81 [deleted]  Wed, Aug 5, 2009 3:37:49am
82 [deleted]  Wed, Aug 5, 2009 5:51:29am
83 Charles Johnson  Wed, Aug 5, 2009 8:14:36am

re: #80 Age Of Freedom

Come on, Charles, why?
You toss crap back as if I & those who come in Lieberman's defense are deniers to far-right groups in the U.S. and Israel or are semi-fascists themselves. Why not try to answer regularly, I mean, why the immediately dismissive attitude?

Because this point is just really, really, dumb. It's utterly uncontroversial, even in Israel, to put Avigdor Lieberman in the "far right" camp. Even the Jerusalem Post describes him that way. And he has ... gasp! ... far right views, too. It's not "attacking" him to state this simple fact.

Apparently this point is so important to some people, they're willing to spew insults and lose their LGF accounts over it.


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