BICOM

Facing charges of bribery and breach of trust, Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman formally submitted a letter of resignation from his ministerial post to Israel’s cabinet yesterday, though the whether a plea bargain might allow an early resumption of his political career remains unclear.

On Thursday, Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein announced that Lieberman would not be charged with money laundering and fraudulently receiving millions of shekels from international businessmen through nominal companies. However, Lieberman will face lesser charges of fraud and breach of trust. He is accused of receiving confidential information from Israel’s former ambassador to Belarus relating to the investigation into his business dealings and subsequently rewarding the ambassador through career advancement.

Speaking yesterday, Lieberman claimed that he was not legally bound to resign his ministerial position, but had chosen to do so to, “end this issue quickly without delay and completely clear my name.” As a result he said, “I am saying goodbye temporarily… I suppose the break will be very brief this time.”

However, it would seem unlikely that the case will be concluded before the election on 22 January, unless Lieberman is prepared to agree a plea bargain. Haaretz and Maariv this morning report that such an agreement may be reached if the crimes Lieberman is accused of do not constitute moral turpitude. According to Israel’s Basic Laws, a person cannot be appointed minister for seven years after completion of a sentence for an offence bearing moral turpitude. However, a conviction of such crimes would not necessarily prevent Lieberman from taking up a seat in the Knesset. Whether or not Lieberman’s alleged offence would constitute one of moral turpitude is unclear.

It seems likely that the portfolio of foreign minister will be overseen by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu until January’s election, although it remains possible that Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon or Vice Prime Minister Moshe Ya’alon could temporarily oversee the role.