BICOM

The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court will tomorrow morning deliver its verdict on the charges of fraud and breach of trust brought against former-Foreign Minister and Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Lieberman.

Lieberman, who remains an MK and currently chairs the influential Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, is accused of failing to disclose the receipt of illicit information relating to separate allegations against him, from Israel’s former ambassador to Belarus Zeev Ben Aryeh. It is alleged that Lieberman pushed through the appointment of Ben Aryeh as envoy to Latvia as reward for his actions.

Should Lieberman be found guilty of charges deemed to carry moral turpitude or handed a prison sentence of three months or longer, he will be barred from running for Knesset or serving as a government minister for seven years. If found guilty tomorrow, it will take at least one month for Lieberman’s sentence to be announced. This development could have an impact on Israel’s coalition, with Yisrael Beitenu having run on a joint ticket with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud Party in January’s election.

Lieberman attended a Likud-Beitenu faction meeting yesterday at the Knesset. When asked by a reporter if he was anxious ahead of the decision, Lieberman dryly replied “The judges have another debate after mine at 10 o’clock, so it’s clear this shouldn’t take long.”

Reports in the Israeli media suggest several government ministers have made it known that they wish to become foreign minister should Lieberman be forced to leave politics. Likud ministers Yuval Steinitz, Silvan Shalom, Gilad Erdan and Gideon Saar are thought to be the front-runners. The position has been left vacant by Prime Minister Netanyahu since Lieberman’s resignation in December ahead of the trial, on the understanding that he will return to office if acquitted. Lieberman could also resume his duties if found guilty but exonerated of moral turpitude.