Israeli FM questioned over fraud

[cali]

Mr Lieberman was a controversial choice for foreign minister
Israel's new Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, has been questioned by police for at least seven hours over corruption allegations.

Police said Mr Lieberman was questioned under caution on suspicion of "bribery, money-laundering and breach of trust" as part of an ongoing investigation.

Mr Lieberman was sworn in as foreign minister on Tuesday.

He has previously denied any wrong-doing and says the corruption probe against him is politically motivated.

<snip>

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7979666.stm

[GoesTo11]

1. Hopefully this will sideline him and Netanyahu can go more centrist

Lieberman seems to be a real piece of work.

[Neo Atheist]

2. Hitchens wrote a wonderful piece on this asshole

http://www.slate.com/id/2211915/

The addition of a former follower of the fascist Meir Kahane to such a high profile position is nothing short of disappointing.

[GoesTo11]

3. more detail

He grew up in Russia, and he seems to have Russian attitudes toward statecraft. That explains a lot. Doesn't talk like Kahane, who was far more of a piece of work. His party won 15 seats in the knesset, behind Kadima and Likud, so that's why they're in the coalition - they provide the balance of power. Likud and Kadima both courted him. The parliament/coalition system makes it hard to marginalize him. My sense is that Netanyahu is savvy and figures he will give Lieberman minimal real power - being foreign minister has often been a booby prize in Israeli politics (ask Shimon Peres). Hopefully he's reached his peak and it's downhill from here.