Nationalist Israeli Foreign Minister Returns
The Israeli cabinet has approved the reinstatement of ultranationalist politician Avigdor Lieberman as foreign minister nearly a year after he resigned to fight corruption charges.
The approval follows his acquittal last week. The reappointment will become official on November 11 after he is sworn in.
Lieberman, 55, quit in December 2012 after being charged with fraud and breach of trust for appointing diplomat Zeev Ben Aryeh as ambassador to Latvia. Aryeh had tipped off Lieberman about a police probe into his affairs.
Pending the outcome of Lieberman's trial, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had taken on the Foreign Ministry portfolio as a temporary solution after elections in January. Lieberman heads the Israel Beiteinu party, which is allied with Netanyahu's Likud party.
The approval follows his acquittal last week. The reappointment will become official on November 11 after he is sworn in.
Lieberman, 55, quit in December 2012 after being charged with fraud and breach of trust for appointing diplomat Zeev Ben Aryeh as ambassador to Latvia. Aryeh had tipped off Lieberman about a police probe into his affairs.
Pending the outcome of Lieberman's trial, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had taken on the Foreign Ministry portfolio as a temporary solution after elections in January. Lieberman heads the Israel Beiteinu party, which is allied with Netanyahu's Likud party.
