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Israel’s Foreign Minister Returns, but Abrasive Style Appears Absent Israel’s Foreign Minister Returns, but Abrasive Style Appears Absent
(about 1 hour later)
JERUSALEM — Israel’s new-old foreign minister is a bit hard to recognize these days.JERUSALEM — Israel’s new-old foreign minister is a bit hard to recognize these days.
Gone, it appears, is the Avigdor Lieberman who accused the Palestinian president of “diplomatic terrorism,” dismissed the prospect of peace as “decades away” and called for Arab citizens of Israel to take a loyalty oath. Instead, Mr. Lieberman said in a recent speech that “we have to build an economy” for the Palestinians to pave the way for an agreement.Gone, it appears, is the Avigdor Lieberman who accused the Palestinian president of “diplomatic terrorism,” dismissed the prospect of peace as “decades away” and called for Arab citizens of Israel to take a loyalty oath. Instead, Mr. Lieberman said in a recent speech that “we have to build an economy” for the Palestinians to pave the way for an agreement.
Gone, for now at least, is the abrasive, blunt gadfly who was shunned by the White House and clashed publicly with former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton over Jewish settlements in the West Bank. In his place is a conciliatory diplomat urging calmer conversation with Washington over Iran’s nuclear program — Mr. Lieberman made a point of seeing the American ambassador to Israel the day he returned to his post and expects to meet Secretary of State John Kerry next weekend. Gone, for now at least, is the abrasive, blunt gadfly who was shunned by the White House and clashed publicly with former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton over Jewish settlements in the West Bank. In his place is a conciliatory diplomat urging calmer conversation with Washington over Iran’s nuclear program: Mr. Lieberman made a point of seeing the American ambassador to Israel the day he returned to his post and expects to meet with Secretary of State John Kerry next weekend.
Acquitted Nov. 6 in a corruption case that had hung over his head for 17 years, Mr. Lieberman told a visitor that he returned to the Foreign Ministry to find his pen lying on his desk exactly as it was when he resigned to face criminal charges 11 months before. But he is not just picking up where he left off: Mr. Lieberman sent a memo to the prime minister’s office saying that unlike in his first term, he intended to be intimately involved in the Palestinian issue, managing relations with the United States, and Iran. Acquitted Nov. 6 in a corruption case that had hung over his head for 17 years, Mr. Lieberman told a visitor that he returned to the Foreign Ministry to find his pen lying on his desk exactly as it was when he resigned to face criminal charges 11 months before. But he is not just picking up where he left off: Mr. Lieberman sent a memo to the prime minister’s office saying that, unlike in his first term, he intended to be intimately involved in the Palestinian issue, managing relations with the United States, and Iran.
Rivals and political analysts see the changes as a superficial pivot by an ambitious politician who needs to broaden his base and improve his international standing in hopes of soon seeking the premiership. Friends and aides say what seems like a transformation is really the emergence of the pragmatic, reasonable, even thoughtful man they know after years of unfair caricature.Rivals and political analysts see the changes as a superficial pivot by an ambitious politician who needs to broaden his base and improve his international standing in hopes of soon seeking the premiership. Friends and aides say what seems like a transformation is really the emergence of the pragmatic, reasonable, even thoughtful man they know after years of unfair caricature.
“He wants to be in the mainstream and not in the margin — it doesn’t mean that he wants to be moderate,” said Nahum Barnea, a columnist for the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot. “He doesn’t want to be a thug anymore, he wants to be a statesman. But he is so unpredictable, I’m not sure he can do it.” “He wants to be in the mainstream and not in the margin — it doesn’t mean that he wants to be moderate,” said Nahum Barnea, a columnist for the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot. “He doesn’t want to be a thug anymore; he wants to be a statesman. But he is so unpredictable, I’m not sure he can do it.”
Mr. Lieberman, 55, who has had a rocky relationship with reporters, declined to be interviewed for this article. Several people close to him said he was “not ready.”Mr. Lieberman, 55, who has had a rocky relationship with reporters, declined to be interviewed for this article. Several people close to him said he was “not ready.”
It is too early to assess what this second turn as foreign minister will mean for his impact on Israel’s internal politics or foreign policy. So far, he has moved to maintain the alliance formed a year ago between his Yisrael Beiteinu faction and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party, suggesting that he hopes to become Mr. Netanyahu’s heir rather than try to unseat him.It is too early to assess what this second turn as foreign minister will mean for his impact on Israel’s internal politics or foreign policy. So far, he has moved to maintain the alliance formed a year ago between his Yisrael Beiteinu faction and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party, suggesting that he hopes to become Mr. Netanyahu’s heir rather than try to unseat him.
When European envoys came to Israel last week to discuss the interim deal they had signed with Iran in Geneva, they briefed the minister of strategic affairs, not Mr. Lieberman. And other ministers were dispatched to diffuse a crisis with the European Union over funding for scientific research that concerned the contentious question of settlements. When European envoys came to Israel last week to discuss the interim deal they had signed with Iran in Geneva, they briefed the minister of strategic affairs, not Mr. Lieberman. And other ministers were dispatched to defuse a crisis with the European Union over funding for scientific research that concerned the contentious question of settlements.
In his first trip overseas since returning to his post, Mr. Lieberman left Sunday for Rome; from there he is scheduled to go to New York, Washington and Moscow. He said in the recent speech that he favored a “diverse, alternative, multidirectional policy” that relied less on the United States and that he would aim to expand ties with nations that did not rely on Muslim or Arab allies or seek foreign financial aid. In his first trip overseas since returning to his post, Mr. Lieberman left Sunday for Rome; from there he is scheduled to go to New York, Washington and Moscow. He said in the recent speech that he favored a “diverse, alternative, multidirectional policy” that relied less on the United States, and that he would aim to expand ties with nations that did not rely on Muslim or Arab allies or seek foreign financial aid.
Amid the headline-grabbing harshness of his first term, Mr. Lieberman opened eight new embassies and consulates, in lower-profile places like Wellington, New Zealand, and Accra, Ghana.Amid the headline-grabbing harshness of his first term, Mr. Lieberman opened eight new embassies and consulates, in lower-profile places like Wellington, New Zealand, and Accra, Ghana.
“To the world at large, O.K., he’s now again the foreign minister — I think doors will open,” said Abraham H. Foxman, director of the Anti-Defamation League, who in recent years urged diplomats abroad to meet with Mr. Lieberman and take him seriously. “One after another, they came back to me and they said, ‘Thank you.’ They found him someone who listens, articulates, debates, discusses.”“To the world at large, O.K., he’s now again the foreign minister — I think doors will open,” said Abraham H. Foxman, director of the Anti-Defamation League, who in recent years urged diplomats abroad to meet with Mr. Lieberman and take him seriously. “One after another, they came back to me and they said, ‘Thank you.’ They found him someone who listens, articulates, debates, discusses.”
Born in Moldova, Mr. Lieberman moved to Israel at age 20 and has lived the past quarter century in the West Bank settlement of Nokdim. He met the woman who would become his wife, Ella, an immigrant from Tajikistan, at an absorption program for new immigrants; she and their daughter — the oldest of three children — became observant Jews years ago.Born in Moldova, Mr. Lieberman moved to Israel at age 20 and has lived the past quarter century in the West Bank settlement of Nokdim. He met the woman who would become his wife, Ella, an immigrant from Tajikistan, at an absorption program for new immigrants; she and their daughter — the oldest of three children — became observant Jews years ago.
In a 2011 interview, Mr. Lieberman said he grew up in “a very Zionistic, Jabotinsky-oriented house” where his first language was Yiddish. He also speaks Russian, Romanian and English, and can understand Bulgarian and German.In a 2011 interview, Mr. Lieberman said he grew up in “a very Zionistic, Jabotinsky-oriented house” where his first language was Yiddish. He also speaks Russian, Romanian and English, and can understand Bulgarian and German.
“I try to explain to my kids what it was like, how poor and miserable it was, that from 1920 to 1936 my father was stuck between Stalin and Hitler,” he said then. “My children do understand that this state did not just come to us from the sky.”“I try to explain to my kids what it was like, how poor and miserable it was, that from 1920 to 1936 my father was stuck between Stalin and Hitler,” he said then. “My children do understand that this state did not just come to us from the sky.”
He started in politics working for Mr. Netanyahu in the Likud, but in 1999 formed the hyper-nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu — Hebrew for “Israel is our home” — and became the voice of Israel’s one million immigrants from the former Soviet Union. His party won four of Parliament’s 120 seats that year and by 2009, with the campaign slogan, “No loyalty, no citizenship,” captured 15. He started in politics working for Mr. Netanyahu in the Likud, but in 1999 formed the hyper-nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu — Hebrew for “Israel is our home” — and became the voice of Israel’s one million immigrants from the former Soviet Union. His party won four of Parliament’s 120 seats that year and by 2009, with the campaign slogan “No loyalty, no citizenship,” captured 15.
Now he is at a political crossroads. As Russians — and their children and grandchildren — integrate into Israeli society, Yisrael Beiteinu has lost traction. His magic touch was tarnished by the October defeat of his chosen candidate for mayor of Jerusalem. Now he is at a political crossroads. As Russians, and their children and grandchildren, integrate into Israeli society, Yisrael Beiteinu has lost traction. Mr. Lieberman’s magic touch was tarnished by the October defeat of his chosen candidate for mayor of Jerusalem.
So he is expected to tack to the center and try to take over the Likud, given the abundance of challengers to Mr. Netanyahu already from the right. The question is whether the reasoned, respectful Mr. Lieberman on display since he regained office will have the same popular appeal as the comic-book-like villain.So he is expected to tack to the center and try to take over the Likud, given the abundance of challengers to Mr. Netanyahu already from the right. The question is whether the reasoned, respectful Mr. Lieberman on display since he regained office will have the same popular appeal as the comic-book-like villain.
“His main advantage is that he is seen as a strong man — the Israelis are dying for a strong man,” Baruch Leshem, a lecturer in media studies at Sapir College, said in a recent radio interview.“His main advantage is that he is seen as a strong man — the Israelis are dying for a strong man,” Baruch Leshem, a lecturer in media studies at Sapir College, said in a recent radio interview.
Those close to him say that the Mr. Lieberman they know is more realist than rabble-rouser. He drinks wine and loves theater, has (mostly) quit smoking cigars, diets perpetually, plays tennis and reads serious history books. He maintains trusting friendships with colleagues of opposing ideologies. He impresses visiting envoys with fluency in the particulars of their local politics.Those close to him say that the Mr. Lieberman they know is more realist than rabble-rouser. He drinks wine and loves theater, has (mostly) quit smoking cigars, diets perpetually, plays tennis and reads serious history books. He maintains trusting friendships with colleagues of opposing ideologies. He impresses visiting envoys with fluency in the particulars of their local politics.
He is also a tactician and a striver who fully plans to be Israel’s prime minister one day.He is also a tactician and a striver who fully plans to be Israel’s prime minister one day.
“His political views in general cannot be classified within the very acceptable measures of Israeli policy of right and left — it’s a mix,” said Dov Weissglas, who was Mr. Lieberman’s lawyer when the corruption case began and remains a confidant. “I think whenever, if at all, he will reach a real position of influence, something that he hasn’t got to, he might surprise.”“His political views in general cannot be classified within the very acceptable measures of Israeli policy of right and left — it’s a mix,” said Dov Weissglas, who was Mr. Lieberman’s lawyer when the corruption case began and remains a confidant. “I think whenever, if at all, he will reach a real position of influence, something that he hasn’t got to, he might surprise.”