Avigdor Lieberman

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Israel Utterly Deadlocked After Election

'Kingmaker' says he will only accept national unity government

(Newser) - Israel's two main political parties were deadlocked Wednesday after an unprecedented repeat election , with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing an uphill battle to hold on to his job. The election's seeming political kingmaker, Avigdor Lieberman, said he'll insist upon a secular unity government between Netanyahu's Likud...

Hamas, Fatah to Reunite

 Hamas, Fatah to Reunite 

Hamas, Fatah to Reunite

Israel says it will end peace process

(Newser) - Palestine's long-feuding Hamas and Fatah factions have agreed to reunite, they announced today, following a meeting in Gaza yesterday. The groups plan to form a unity government in the next five weeks, and then hold national elections in six months, the Jerusalem Post reports. This isn't the first...

Arabs Outraged Over Israel's Loyalty Oath

Bill would force non-Jews to pledge loyalty to Jewish state

(Newser) - Israel’s Arab minority is decrying a new law that would force new citizens who are not Jewish to pledge a loyalty oath to the “Jewish and democratic” state. Critics say the bill is yet another move intended to stifle dissent and marginalize the country’s Arabs, who already...

Israel-Hamas Prisoner Swap May Be Imminent

But German FM tight-lipped on deal to free Gilad Shalit

(Newser) - German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle won’t say a word about the maybe-impending deal to free Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, afraid to jinx the proceedings. Westerwelle met with counterpart Avigdor Lieberman in Israel today, in part to discuss the prisoner swap, which German officials are brokering in Cairo. Reports are...

Israeli Foreign Minister Faces Raft of Corruption Charges

(Newser) - Israeli police have recommended the indictment of the country's foreign minister for bribery, money laundering, and other corruption charges, Haaretz reports. Avigdor Lieberman, who leads the ultranationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party and was kingmaker in February's closely-run election, has been under investigation for years and is accused of funneling cash to...

Mitchell Pushes Two-State Solution in Israel

Palestinians must first accept Jewish state, Netanyahu responds

(Newser) - The Obama administration’s envoy to the Middle East told the Israeli government today that Washington will “vigorously pursue” the creation of a Palestinian state, Reuters reports. George Mitchell stated America’s purpose as a means to organize statehood talks with Israel; PM Benjamin Netanyahu said it would first...

Prepare for War: New Israeli Foreign Minister

Lieberman douses Palestinian peace hopes in debut speech

(Newser) - Israel’s new foreign minister, a renowned hawk, wasted no time in drumming up war rhetoric. On his first day on the job, Avigdor Lieberman said, “Those who want peace should prepare for war,” as he dismissed his predecessor’s negotiations with the Palestinians, the New York Times...

New Israeli Government on Collision Course With US
New Israeli Government on Collision Course With US
ANALYSIS

New Israeli Government on Collision Course With US

Is confrontation ahead between Obama and Netanyahu?

(Newser) - Israel’s incoming governing coalition is expected to take a harder line on a Palestinian state than its predecessors, even as the US may be moving more toward a conciliatory position, reports the Washington Post. Incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thinks American-backed talks are a waste of time, and he...

Ultranationalist Will Be Israel's Foreign Minister

Coalition deal to make Avigdor Lieberman country's top diplomat

(Newser) - Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister-designate of Israel, signed a deal last night that will see hard-right politician Avigdor Lieberman become the country's foreign minister. As Haaretz reports, Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party will receive several other major portfolios in the new government, including internal security. Lieberman advocates forcing Arab Israelis to...

Netanyahu Will Be Israel's PM
 Netanyahu Will Be Israel's PM 
UPDATED

Netanyahu Will Be Israel's PM

Likud leader secures support of ultranationalist Lieberman

(Newser) - Benjamin Netanyahu is now all but certain to become Israel's prime minister after winning the backing of Avigdor Lieberman, whose far-right Yisrael Beiteinu party came in third in last week's election. Centrist Tzipi Livni edged out hawkish Netanyahu in the Feb. 10 poll, but Netanyahu has garnered the endorsement of...

Israeli Rivals Move Toward Consensus

Livni will join a Netanyahu-led government, parties say

(Newser) - While Israel's two possible leaders continued negotiations with smaller parties, a consensus has grown that Likud and Kadima will join forces in a national unity government. According to senior sources in both parties, Benjamin Netanyahu will serve as prime minister, while Tzipi Livni will remain foreign minister. Haaretz also suggests...

Peace Is Big Loser in Israeli Election
 Peace Is Big Loser 
 in Israeli Election 

ANALYSIS

Peace Is Big Loser in Israeli Election

(Newser) - The indecisive Israeli election will likely produce weeks of wrangling and coalition building, frustrating both Israelis and the Obama administration, which had hoped for an immediate partner in Mideast peace talks, Time reports. Though Tzipi Livni’s centrist Kadima party slightly edged out Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud, he is...

Israeli Pols Scramble for Tiebreaker Coalitions

After near-tie, Livni, Netanyahu scramble to form coalitions

(Newser) - Israel's two would-be prime ministers began meeting with possible coalition partners today as the country prepared for weeks of squabbling to resolve last night's inconclusive election, Haaretz reports. With 99% of the votes counted, Tzipi Livni's centrist Kadima has won 28 seats in the 120-member parliament, while Benjamin Netanyahu's hawkish...

'Demagogue' Makes Waves in Israeli Race

Wants oath of loyalty to Jewish state from Israeli Arabs

(Newser) - A Russian immigrant dead set on loyalty to a Jewish state is gaining ground in Israel's parliamentary elections, the New York Times reports. While he won’t likely be the next prime minister, Avigdor Lieberman is “the story of this election,” says a local journalist. Focusing on Israeli...

'Indict Olmert,' Israeli Cops Urge

Resignation expected soon

(Newser) - Israeli police are recommending that embattled Prime Minister Ehud Olmert be indicted for bribery, money laundering and fraud, reports the Guardian. The final decision on what action to take after the 18-month investigation rests with the nation's attorney general. Olmert has already indicated he will resign within days.  

Israeli Right Wingers Abandon Olmert
Israeli Right Wingers Abandon Olmert

Israeli Right Wingers Abandon Olmert

Group withdraws from coalition, condemns peace talks

(Newser) - Ehud Olmert’s coalition government is hanging by a thread today after the defection of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, a hardline right-wing faction staunchly opposed to peace talks with the Palestinians. “Negotiations on the basis of land for peace are a critical mistake and will destroy us,” said...

Bush in Israel on Peace Mission
Bush in Israel on Peace Mission

Bush in Israel on Peace Mission

President hopes to accelerate talks, but Olmert's position is fragile

(Newser) - George W. Bush has arrived in Tel Aviv for his first presidential visit to Israel, where he hopes to boost momentum on the peace talks launched in Annapolis. Haaretz reports that both President Shimon Peres and PM Ehud Olmert met the president at the airport. Overshadowing the visit, though, is...

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