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Avigdor Levi Lieberman (Template:Lang-he, also spelled Liberman, born 5 June 1958) is an Israeli politician and leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party.

In October 2006, Lieberman and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert signed a coalition agreement. Under the agreement, Lieberman became the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategic Affairs, a new position with a focus towards the strategic threat from Iran. However, he left the cabinet when Yisrael Beiteinu resigned from the coalition in January 2008.

Lieberman is viewed by many, including himself, as controversial for his political positions.

Biography

Born in Kishinev in the Soviet Union (today Chişinău, Moldova), Lieberman worked as a nightclub bouncer in Moldavia, and as a broadcaster in Baku before emigrating to Israel in 1978 at the age of 21. In Israel he served in the Israel Defense Forces, and received a BA in International Relations and Political Science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

From 1983 to 1988 Lieberman helped found the Zionist Forum for Soviet Jewry and was a member of the Board of the Jerusalem Economic Corporation and the Secretary of the Jerusalem branch of the Histadrut Ovdim Le'umit ("National Workers' Union"). From 1993 to 1996 he served as Director-General of the Likud party, and from 1996 to 1997 was Director-General of the Prime Minister's office serving Benjamin Netanyahu. In 1999 he founded the Yisrael Beiteinu party, and was the editor of the newspaper Yoman Yisraeli (Israeli Diary). Lieberman supports Israeli membership of the European Union and NATO.

Lieberman was elected to the Knesset in 1999, and served as Chairman of the Israel-Moldova Parliamentary Friendship League. In March 2001 Lieberman was appointed as Israel's Minister of National Infrastructures, but resigned the post in March 2002. He was re-elected in January 2003 as part of a joint National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu list, and in February was appointed Minister of Transportation. However, he was sacked from the cabinet by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in May 2004 due to his opposition to the disengagement plan.

Lieberman is married, with three children, and resides in Nokdim in the West Bank.

Lieberman Plan

In late May 2004, Lieberman proposed a plan in which the populations and territories of Israeli Jews and Arabs, including some Israeli Arabs, would be "separated". According to the plan, Israeli Arab town adjacent to Palestinian Authority areas would be transferred to Palestinian Authority, and only those Arabs who felt a connection with the State of Israel and were loyal to it would be allowed to remain. On May 30 Prime Minister Ariel Sharon condemned Lieberman's statements, stating "We regard Israeli Arabs as part of the State of Israel." On 4 June 2004, as the disputes over the up-coming disengagement plan grew more intense, Sharon dismissed Lieberman from the cabinet.

Many Israelis see Lieberman's plan as a form of forced population transfer similar to proposals by the far-right Israeli political parties such as Moledet, Herut or Hayil. Though Lieberman's plan would not uproot Arab residents from their homes, it would forcibly revoke their Israeli citizenship and transfer their sovereignty to the Palestinian Authority. The plan has drawn sharp criticism from both Left and Right of Israeli politics; by the former for its discriminatory overtones, and by the latter for the idea of ceding parts of the Land of Israel.

According to Lieberman, "The peace process is based on three false basic assumptions; that Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the main cause of instability in the Middle East, that the conflict is territorial and not ideological, and that the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders will end the conflict."

Popularity and constituency

In a poll published by Yedioth Ahronoth on September 21, 2006, Lieberman had more support than any other politician except for Netanyahu to be the next Prime Minister of Israel. Olmert came in fifth with 7%. Some Druze support Lieberman, one third of the Druze holding Israeli citizenship and living in Golan Heights voted for him. The majority of his constituency are secular Russian-speaking Israelis as well as former Likud supporters, who feel that party has drifted from its founding Jabotinskian principles.

Controversy

Population exchange and loyalty tests

Lieberman advocates giving the Palestinian Authority Arab-Israeli towns near the West Bank and having Arabs who remain Israeli citizens take loyalty tests.

Bombing commercial centers and drowning prisoners

On March 4 and 5 2002, following 9 Palestinian attacks on Israelis at the height of the Second Intifada, the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth quoted Lieberman in a Cabinet meeting as suggesting that "if it were up to me I would, for example, notify the Palestinian Authority that tomorrow at ten in the morning we will bomb all their places of business in Ramallah". Lieberman's proposal for an ultimatum to the Palestinians to halt all terror activity or face wide-ranging attacks on commercial centers, gas stations, and banks led Foreign Minister Shimon Peres to respond that excessive military measures could lead to accusations of war crimes.

In July 2003, reacting to a commitment made by Ariel Sharon to the US, where amnesty could be given to approximately 350 Palestinian prisoners including members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Lieberman said "It would be better to drown these prisoners in the Dead Sea if possible, since that's the lowest point in the world," According to one report, he offered to provide the buses to take them there. This led to a confrontation between Lieberman and Arab-Israeli MKs Jamal Zahalka (Balad), Taleb el-Sana, Abdelmalek Dahamsha (United Arab List) and also opposition leader, Shimon Peres.

Israeli Arab MKs as collaborators

In November 2006, Lieberman called for the execution of any Arab Knesset members who meet with representatives of the Palestinian government, saying, "World War II ended with the Nuremberg trials. The heads of the Nazi regime, along with their collaborators, were executed. I hope this will be the fate of the collaborators in ." In response, Ahmad Tibi demanded that "a criminal investigation be initiated against Lieberman for violating the law against incitement and racism". He called Lieberman "a very dangerous and sophisticated politician who has won his support through race hatred." Lieberman was cleared of racism charges by the Israeli Deputy State prosecutor, while admitting that the office objected to the content of his statement. Tibi strongly objected to Lieberman's ministerial appointment, describing him as "a racist and a fascist". Labour minister Ophir Pines-Paz, who resigned over Lieberman's appointment, echoed Tibi's remarks, saying that Lieberman was tainted "by racist declarations and declarations that harm the democratic character of Israel".

In remarks aimed at Arab MKs during a Knesset session on 10 March 2008, Lieberman said that "a new administration will be established and then we will take care of you." The comments came just a few days after he held Arab MKs culpable for the 6 March attack at Jerusalem's Mercaz HaRav yeshiva. At the time he stated,"yesterday's attack can not be disconnected from the Arab MKs incitement, which we hear daily in the Knesset."

Coalition agreement

Yisrael Beiteinu agreed to join Ehud Olmert's government on 23 October 2006, with Lieberman offered the post of Minister of Strategic Affairs. Although many in the Labour Party expressed opposition to Yisrael Beiteinu joining the coalition, the party's central committee approved the new coalition and on October 30, the Knesset voted the party be included in the government by a margin of 61 to 38. In response, Ophir Pines-Paz, who led the opposition camp in the Labour party, announced his resignation, stating that "Lieberman is himself a strategic threat."

However, the party left the coalition on 16 January 2008 in protest at peace talks with the Palestinian National Authority.

References

1. ^ PM, Lieberman sign coalition deal Ynetnews, October 23, 2006.
2. A hard-line Israeli official, Avigdor Lieberman, stakes out extreme positions, Lieberman is quoted as saying: "I've always been controversial because I offer new ideas, For me to be controversial, I think this is positive."
3. The Father of Palestine (subscribers-only access), The New Republic, 13 February 2008
4. Avigdor Lieberman: Israel should press to join NATO, EU, Ha'aretz, January 1, 2007.
5. Lieberman presents to Russia plan to expel 'disloyal' Arabs Ha'aretz, May 30, 2004.
6. PM sacks National Union ministers, Ha'aretz, June 5, 2004.
7. Sharon sacks hardliners who stand in his way The Guardian, June 5, 2004.
8. Lieberman: The unfaithful cannot be citizens Ynetnews, December 10, 2006.
9. Poll: Only 7 percent want Olmert as PM Ynetnews, September 21, 2006.
10. Nobody's citizens Ynetnews, October 16, 2006.
11. Myre, Greg. (2006, December 7.) Israeli Official Discusses Iran and His Controversial Agenda. New York Times.
12. New Cabinet minister Lieberman calls on government to separate Jews and Arabs. Associated Press, 5 November 2006.
    Quote: Under Lieberman's proposal, Arabs permitted to remain in Israel would have to pass a loyalty test to keep their citizenship. Arabs make up roughly one-fifth of Israel's population.
13. Israel's new politics: Shutting itself in, hoping for the best (subscribers-only access), The Economist, March 23, 2006.
14. 
    - 'Weekend of terror leaves 23 Israelis dead', March 4, 2002.
    - On March 4, the first Qassam rocket attack of March 2002 was made into Israel, there were no casualties. (Source: IDF Spokesperson Statistics).
    - Palestinian gunmen took up a position on a pedestrian bridge above Petach Tikva Road at the center of Tel-Aviv and attacked two restaurants below, "The Steak Gathering" and "Sea Food Market" killing 3 Israelis and injuring 31 (four severely).
    - suicide bomber detonated in an Egged No. 823 bus.
    - Bethlehem bypass "tunnel" attack.
    - Qassam rocket attack on Sderot injured a 16 month-old baby.
15. 
    - Following terrorist acts in recent days right wing politicians suggest to open war, bomb civilian targets in the Palestinian Authority and conquer the West Bank.
    Template:Lang-he
    - Minister of Infrastructure Avigdor Lieberman said: "If it were up to me I would, for example, notify the Palestinian Authority that tomorrow at ten in the morning we will bomb all their places of business in Ramallah"
    Template:Lang-he
16. Paul Peachey: We risk charges of war crimes, Peres tells Cabinet The Independent, March 7, 2002.
17. McGreal, Chris. Palestinian PM's leadership at stake when he pleads with Bush to help free detainees. The Guardian, 25 July 2003.
18. Abu Toameh, Khaled. (2003, 21 July.) PA prepares own dossier on 'incitement'.
19. Chazan, Guy. Hawkish Palestinian TV Starts to Incubate Doves. Wall Street Journal
20. Lieberman blasted for suggesting drowning Palestinian prisoners Ha'aretz, July 8, 2006.
21. Lieberman calls Arab MKs who meet with Hamas 'collaborators' Jerusalem Post, May 4, 2006.
22. Prosecution: Lieberman's anti-Arab remarks kosher Ynetnews, November 2, 2006.
23. Labour minister quits over Lieberman's role The Independent, October 31, 2006.
24. Shahar Ilan:Lieberman to Arab MKs: One day we will 'take care of you'
25. Haaretz Service:Lieberman: Jerusalem attack is product of Arab MK incitement
26. Olmert gets hardline partner United Press International, October 30, 2006.
27. Lieberman blasts Arab MKs, pulls party out of government Ha'aretz, January 16, 2008.

External links

Avigdor Lieberman on the Knesset website

• The appointment of Israel’s new deputy PM raises fears of a new catastrophe, says Robert Fox
• Gilad Katz: Avigdor Liberman – Politician or Statesman? (Omedia, 22 October 2006)
• Akiva Eldar: Let's hear it for the Haiders Ha'aretz, October 31, 2006.
• PM: Lieberman opinion on trading Arabs not my own Ha'aretz, November 5, 2006.
• Official website of Yisrael Beiteinu

Template:Yisrael Beiteinu Knesset members

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• Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from March 2008
• 1958 births
• Anti-Arabism
• Hebrew University of Jerusalem alumni
• Immigrants to Israel
• Israeli party leaders
• Living people
• Members of the Knesset
• Russian Israelis