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Lieberman cleared of corruption | Lieberman cleared of corruption |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Israel's former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has been cleared of corruption charges by a court in Jerusalem. | Israel's former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has been cleared of corruption charges by a court in Jerusalem. |
Mr Lieberman will now return to the cabinet, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced. The pair are key allies. | |
The charges related to his alleged involvement in the promotion of Israel's former ambassador to Belarus. | The charges related to his alleged involvement in the promotion of Israel's former ambassador to Belarus. |
A guilty verdict had threatened to shake up Israel's ruling coalition. | A guilty verdict had threatened to shake up Israel's ruling coalition. |
Mr Lieberman, 55, who stepped down after the charges of fraud and breach of trust were filed, heads the right-wing Yisrael Beitenu party. | Mr Lieberman, 55, who stepped down after the charges of fraud and breach of trust were filed, heads the right-wing Yisrael Beitenu party. |
He had denied all counts and told reporters after the verdict that, after 17 years of allegations, "I want to put this chapter behind me". | He had denied all counts and told reporters after the verdict that, after 17 years of allegations, "I want to put this chapter behind me". |
Outspoken | |
His party ran on a list with Likud which narrowly won general elections in January. Since his resignation, Mr Netanyahu has served as interim foreign minister, keeping the post open. | |
In a statement, the prime minister told Mr Lieberman: "I congratulate you on the unanimous acquittal and am happy about your return to the Israeli government so we can continue working together for the good of the people of Israel." | |
Interior Minister Gideon Saar told Israeli media that he now expected Mr Lieberman to return to the foreign ministry. | |
Prosecutors had accused Mr Lieberman of intervening to promote Zeev Ben Aryeh, the former ambassador to Belarus, to a post in Latvia. | Prosecutors had accused Mr Lieberman of intervening to promote Zeev Ben Aryeh, the former ambassador to Belarus, to a post in Latvia. |
They argued it was a reward for a tip-off about a separate criminal investigation he was facing. | They argued it was a reward for a tip-off about a separate criminal investigation he was facing. |
If he had been convicted and sentenced to more than three months in prison, he would have been be forced to give up his parliamentary seat. | If he had been convicted and sentenced to more than three months in prison, he would have been be forced to give up his parliamentary seat. |
One of Israel's most outspoken politicians, Mr Lieberman was born in Moldova and was one of the million Israelis who immigrated from the former Soviet Union. | One of Israel's most outspoken politicians, Mr Lieberman was born in Moldova and was one of the million Israelis who immigrated from the former Soviet Union. |
To the right of Mr Netanyahu politically, he has been a staunch critic of the Palestinian Authority and its leader Mahmoud Abbas. | To the right of Mr Netanyahu politically, he has been a staunch critic of the Palestinian Authority and its leader Mahmoud Abbas. |