Avigdor Lieberman Avigdor Lieberman, the current Foreign Minister of Israel, is on the far right on the spectrum of Israeli politics. His political party, Yisrael Beiteinu, which Mr. Lieberman founded and leads, has been described as ultra-nationalist, and argues that Israel should take an aggressive stance in protecting itself from terrorism. Mr. Lieberman believes that Israel is a Jewish state, and many of his political stands have been viewed as hostile not only to the Palestinians living in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, but to the Arabs and Palestinians who are citizens of Israel. He believes that the conflict of the last fifty years should be viewed as between Jews and Arabs, instead of between Israelis and Palestinians. Mr. Lieberman
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In 1978, he immigrated to Israel to pursue a career in politics. In 1999, he established what would become the fifth largest parliamentary faction in the Knesset, Yisrael Beiteinu, which means “Israel Our Home.” He has always been the leader of this party. He was elected into the Knesset, which is Israel’s legislative branch, in 1998. Since then, Mr. Lieberman has served as Minister of Transportation, Minister of National Infrastructures, Minister of Strategic Affairs, Chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and Director-General of the Prime Minister’s office. He is currently serving his second term as the Foreign Affairs Minister. Although Mr. Lieberman has been quite successful in his career, he has also struggled with multiple criminal charges for corruption, and his party is currently being investigated for corruption with more than 30 people already being charged. As a result of this investigation, it appears that Mr. Lieberman’s party is falling behind in the polls for the next …show more content…
Lieberman has often expressed hostility toward Arabs and Palestinians, even the ones who are citizens of Israel. An old slogan from Yisrael Beiteinu states “no citizenship without loyalty.” He once demanded that Israeli Arab citizens be required to take a “loyalty oath” and once argued that Arab members of the Knesset who met with Hamas or Hezbollah should be executed. He has often said that he believes that the opponents of Israel are anti-Semitic. Mr. Lieberman believes that the best path to peace is to separate Jews from Arabs and Palestinians. He has recently proposed that the one million Arab-Israelis (about 20% of Israel’s population) should be given financial incentives to move to a future Palestinian state. He has also proposed that Israel give up some of its territory where large numbers of Israeli Arabs live. Finally, Mr. Lieberman strongly supported the recent bill in the Knesset that declared Israel an official “Jewish State.” Thus, a major part of Mr. Lieberman’s peace proposals has involved the separation of Jews and
In 1978, he immigrated to Israel to pursue a career in politics. In 1999, he established what would become the fifth largest parliamentary faction in the Knesset, Yisrael Beiteinu, which means “Israel Our Home.” He has always been the leader of this party. He was elected into the Knesset, which is Israel’s legislative branch, in 1998. Since then, Mr. Lieberman has served as Minister of Transportation, Minister of National Infrastructures, Minister of Strategic Affairs, Chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and Director-General of the Prime Minister’s office. He is currently serving his second term as the Foreign Affairs Minister. Although Mr. Lieberman has been quite successful in his career, he has also struggled with multiple criminal charges for corruption, and his party is currently being investigated for corruption with more than 30 people already being charged. As a result of this investigation, it appears that Mr. Lieberman’s party is falling behind in the polls for the next …show more content…
Lieberman has often expressed hostility toward Arabs and Palestinians, even the ones who are citizens of Israel. An old slogan from Yisrael Beiteinu states “no citizenship without loyalty.” He once demanded that Israeli Arab citizens be required to take a “loyalty oath” and once argued that Arab members of the Knesset who met with Hamas or Hezbollah should be executed. He has often said that he believes that the opponents of Israel are anti-Semitic. Mr. Lieberman believes that the best path to peace is to separate Jews from Arabs and Palestinians. He has recently proposed that the one million Arab-Israelis (about 20% of Israel’s population) should be given financial incentives to move to a future Palestinian state. He has also proposed that Israel give up some of its territory where large numbers of Israeli Arabs live. Finally, Mr. Lieberman strongly supported the recent bill in the Knesset that declared Israel an official “Jewish State.” Thus, a major part of Mr. Lieberman’s peace proposals has involved the separation of Jews and