Avigdor Lieberman

The cabinet on Sunday unanimously approved a new attorney general, Yehuda Weinstein, a senior criminal lawyer who has represented some of Israel's top politicians in graft cases. The 65-year-old will replace the current attorney general, Menachem Mazuz, from early February for a six-year term. Weinstein is considered one of Israel's top criminal attorneys specialising in white collar crime and has in the past represented current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ex-premier Ehud Olmert. The latter is currently on trial for graft, the first ex-premier to face corruption charges, and is due to enter a plea later in the month. Israeli media said that in ... Read Full Story

Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman laid a wreath Thursday at Uganda's Old Entebbe airport to pay tribute to a hostage rescue bid there by Israeli commandos in 1976. Lieberman stood in silence as he read a plaque explaining the events of July 4, 1976 at the airport, which still bears bullet holes from the firefight to free scores of hijacked Israeli nationals. "It is difficult to say something at such a moment," he told a small gathering at the commemoration ceremony. "For the people of Israel, Entebbe is one of the most important pages in our history. It best proves our desire to fight ... Read Full Story

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Monday vowed to stand down if indicted on graft charges, raising the spectre of disarray in the four-month-old right-wing coalition government. But the English-language Jerusalem Post said an indictment would have little direct impact on Israel's foreign relations and Middle East peace efforts because of the limited diplomatic role it said Lieberman has played. If Attorney General Menahem Mazuz "decides to indict me after hearing me out, I will step down (as foreign minister) and within the next four or five months I will quit as a member of parliament," the ultra-nationalist Lieberman told journalists. But he added. ... Read Full Story

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Monday vowed to stand down if indicted on graft charges, raising the spectre of disarray in the four-month-old right-wing coalition government. But the English-language Jerusalem Post said an indictment would have little direct impact on Israel's foreign relations and Middle East peace efforts because of the limited diplomatic role Lieberman has played. If Attorney General Menahem Mazuz "decides to indict me after hearing me out, I will step down (as foreign minister) and within the next four or five months I will quit as a member of parliament," Lieberman told journalists. But he remained upbeat. "I am convinced ... Read Full Story

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman held talks Monday with Ghana's President John Atta-Mills focusing on trade and agriculture on the latest leg of a five-nation tour of Africa. Lieberman described his meeting with Atta-Mills as "very successful". "We look forward to further enhanced trade relations between the two countries for speedy economic development," the Israeli minister told journalists after the meeting. Lieberman, who arrived in Ghana on Monday, left Accra in the evening for Nigerian capital Abuja, the next stop on his week-long African visit. He said that both countries looked forward to enhanced cooperation, especially in agriculture, water and agro-technology but also in ... Read Full Story