Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman in massive corruption scandal

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Fans of corrupt politicians apparently need look no further than the Middle East. Avigdor Lieberman, the race-baiting and wildly jingoistic Israeli foreign minister, will most likely be indicted on multiple fraud charges in coming days. A statement issued by the Israeli police recommends that Lieberman face formal criminal counts for money laundering, accepting bribes, obstruction of justice and harassing a witness.

The foreign minister worked as the head of an import-export business for years while pursuing a political career based on representing Russian-Israelis and anti-Arab racism. Apparently, he left behind a paper trail in the process that leaves clear proof of massive financial wrongdoing. It also appears that disenchanted former Lieberman allies played a part in the investigation; an envelope containing records from a series of secret Cypriot bank accounts was given to the police by a former aide to Lieberman and a ex-member of the Knesset from his political party.

Lieberman has been under police investigation for more than a decade:

Since 1996, when he was tapped as director general of the Prime Minister’s Office, Lieberman has been under police investigation on many issues. All ended with nothing. He was suspected of receiving bribes from businessman David Appel, of scheming to have Roni Bar-On become attorney general, of fraud involving the Israel Broadcast Authority, and much more.[...] In 2006 the documents found their way to the office of Mazuz, who ordered the police to begin yet another investigation against Lieberman.

The documents, in English, listed private accounts held by Lieberman, as well as commercial accounts handled at the Cyprus Popular Bank. The documents showed data on Lieberman from 2001, when he was an MK and national infrastructure minister in Sharon’s government.

The documents had been sent from a Cypriot attorney’s office to Lieberman’s attorney, Yoav Many, and showed the movement of $500,000 from MCG Holdings to Mountain View Assets. The latter is a company held by a Lieberman associate, Michael Chernoy.

For his part, Lieberman is claiming that the entire criminal investigation against him is motivated by a coalition of political liberals, anti-Russian racists and right-wing politicians jealous of his success. Lieberman is further claiming that he will immediately resign if indicted; however, Lieberman would be able to name his successor under Israeli law.

The shady foreign minister has been on a conveniently-timed diplomatic trip to Latin America all this week. Oddly enough, this was the same week Middle East envoy George Mitchell and Defense Secretary Robert Gates visited Israel.