Monday, August 03, 2009

Lieberman to be Indicted: Middle East Peace Possible

From the Washington Post:

Israeli police Sunday recommended that the state indict Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on charges of bribery, fraud, money laundering, witness harassment and obstruction of justice.
Lieberman, a Russian immigrant to Israel, is the Joseph McCarthy of Israeli politics, an anti-Arab bigot and founder and leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel is our home) party.

He has served (and in some cases been removed) from ministerial positions in other Israeli governments as his party has gained strength, but now he is the foreign minister under his old boss Benjamin Netanyahu. His presence there has caused nothing but indignation from Israel's neighbors -- imagine what Mexico might think of Tom Tancredo or Lou Dobbs as Secretary of State -- and governments from Europe have refused to meet with him. French President Sarkozy told Netanyahu point blank that he needs to "get rid of him." When Netanyahu responded that he is sounds different one on one, Sarkozy responded that Jean-Marie Le Pen, leader of the racist National front party, "is a very nice man" in person. Even the Obama administration has steered clear of him.

Lieberman is not a hurdle, but a brick wall in front of the revival of the peace process (so is Netanyahu, but that's another issue). His indictment and subsequent resignation can only be a good thing.