There’s a joke in Israel that former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon wakes up from his coma. He asks the nurse to send him his number two, Ehud Olmert. “Unfortunately,” the nurse responds, “police suspect Olmert of accepting bribes.” “OK,” Sharon responds, “then send me President Moshe Katsav.” The nurse informs Sharon that Katzav resigned in disgrace because of accusations that he raped a subordinate. “Fine,” Sharon says, “then send me Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson.” The nurse, embarrassed, tells Sharon that the Finance Minister was found guilty to embezzlement as well. Demoralized, Sharon puts his head down on the pillow and says, “I’m going back to sleep.”
Well, it appears that another rung to that joke may be added as the police recommended to the attorney general to indict Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman over charges of embezzling 10 million shekels ($2.5 million) through dummy companies. The investigation into Lieberman spans a decade and could also include obstruction of justice charges due to claims that Lieberman intimidated witnesses.
Lieberman said that he would step down as Foreign Minister in the event of an indictment and eventually relinquish his position as the chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party that received the third-highest number of votes in the last election. Lieberman maintains his innocence and said that his political career will assuredly continue in spite of the investigation and imminent indictment.
Photo taken from IMEMC.