Tom Segev: Lieberman wrongly stirring scandal over Sweden article

The diplomatic scandal that Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman stirred over the article in the Swedish daily Aftonbladet is wrong since the government of a state that respects the freedom of the press is not responsible for what newspapers publish. That there was a demand for the Swedish government to “condemn” the article in question suggests Lieberman must still be thinking in Soviet terms.

For full article, visit http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1109429.html

Police: Lieberman probe likely to result in corruption charges

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman

The corruption investigation into Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is likely to produce charges of money laundering, fraud and breach of trust, police sources said Saturday, adding that questioning of the Yisrael Beiteinu leader was nearing an end.

Unless additional testimony is needed, the police will submit their recommendations on filing an indictment in the coming weeks, the sources said.

For full article, visit http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1076401.html

Police grill Lieberman for second time in three days

About 1,000 of these documents were confiscated from Lieberman’s attorney’s office. Some 2,500 additional ones were gathered by the investigation team in Cyprus. These detail the activities of various companies that constituted part of Lieberman and his colleagues’ laundering network. They include bank documents listing money transfers and several accounts allegedly opened by Lieberman’s associates.

The detectives believe they have evidence tying Lieberman to the money transfers made to the Cyprus accounts.

For full article, visit http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1076264.html

Likud in turmoil after Netanyahu-Shalom meeting canceled

The chasm between Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu and Likud MK and chief party rival Silvan Shalom is growing ever wider Tuesday after a meeting scheduled to resolve the row over the latter’s role in the next government was postponed indefinitely.

Hours before Netanyahu’s government is to be sworn in at the Knesset in Jerusalem, it is unclear if and when the two will meet to patch up their differences.

For full article, visit http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1075193.html

Israel Election Results

Source:  http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1061917.html

Nimer Sultany: Lieberman is no abnormality

“Likewise, it would be mistaken to think of the rise of Avigdor Lieberman and his party, Yisrael Beiteinu, as a major development or as the main source of concern for the Palestinians. Focusing on Lieberman (charitably called by the Guardian a “hardliner”) distracts the discussion from the real issues to the person of one unpleasant politician who says ignominious things others are generally unwilling to say. This logic seems to suggest that the political disappearance of Lieberman will bring about a serendipitous resolution of major problems in the Middle East. Lieberman, however, only exacerbates an already existing problem, and he cannot be easily dismissed as a marginal case of excess or abnormality of the Israeli political system.”

It would be mistaken to think of the rise of Avigdor Lieberman as a major development or as the main source of concern for the Palestinians.

Source: http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10420.shtml