Israel ex-FM Lieberman on trial for fraud

Source: Al Jazeera

Last Modified: 17 Feb 2013 15:49



Avignor Lieberman denies charges of fraud and breach of trust, allegations that prompted his resignation [Reuters]



Israel's former foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, has pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud and breach of trust at the start of a trial that has put the ultranationalist's political career in doubt.
The charges, handed down by the court on Sunday, relate to the promotion of an Israeli diplomat who admitted in a plea bargain he had illegally given Lieberman details of a police probe against the then-foreign minister.
The allegations led Lieberman, a key ally of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, to resign from the cabinet two months ago.
As head of the hard-line Yisrael Beitenu faction, he joined forces with Netanyahu's right-wing Likud in last month's general election. The joint list came first in the ballot but with fewer parliamentary seats than were forecast.


Read more: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/02/2013217143043118526.html

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Key ally of Binyamin Netanyahu accused of promoting diplomat in return for information on police probe into his affairs.