Avigdor Lieberman
Date of birth	June 5, 1958
Year of Aliyah	1978
Knesset(s)	15th, 16th, 17th (current)
Party	Yisrael Beiteinu
Former parties	National Union
Gov't roles (current in bold)	Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Strategic Affairs Minister of Transportation Minister of National Infrastructure

Avigdor Lieberman (Hebrew: אביגדור ליברמן), also Liberman (born on 5 June 1958 in Kishinev, Moldavian SSR, Soviet Union) is an Israeli politician and leader of the Yisrael Beytenu party. He has served as the Minister of Strategic Affairs and as a Deputy Prime Minister of Israel since November 2006. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... June 5 is the 156th day of the year (157th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... The Elections for the 15th Knesset were held on 17 May, 1999 alongside elections for Prime Minister. ... Elections for the 16th Knesset were held in Israel on 28 January 2003. ... The Elections for the 17th Knesset were held in Israel on 28 March 2006. ... Yisrael Beytenu ( Hebrew: Israel Our Home) is a right-wing political party in Israel with support from Jewish Russian immigrants to Israel who came from the lands of the former Soviet Union. ... National Union (Hebrew: Haihud HaLeumi האיחוד הלאומי) is an Israeli right-wing party list (סיעה) formed from the merger of three parties: Moledet (homeland), Tkuma (revival) and Renewed National Religious Zionist party. The three parties still operate somewhat independently, but run as one party list in Israeli elections. ... In the State of Israel, there are currently three positions of deputy executive leaders: Vice Premier, Vice Prime Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister. ... “Hebrew” redirects here. ... June 5 is the 156th day of the year (157th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... County ChiÅŸinău Status Municipality Mayor Veaceslav Iordan, since 2007 Area 635 km² Population (2004) 647,513 [1] Density 1114 inh/km² Geographical coordinates Founded in 1436 Dialing code +373 22 Web site http://www. ... State motto: Пролетарь дин тоате цэриле, униць-вэ! Official language None. ... Yisrael Beytenu (Hebrew: ישראל ביתנו, Israel Our Home) is a right-of-center political party in Israel with support from immigrants to Israel who came from the lands of the former Soviet Union. ... In the State of Israel, there are currently three positions of deputy executive leaders: Vice Premier, Vice Prime Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister. ... 67 die and about 300,000 people are affected by floods in Ethiopias Somali Region of Ogaden after the Shabelle River bursts its banks. ...

In October 2006 Lieberman and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert signed a coalition agreement. Under the agreement, Lieberman became the Deputy-Prime Minister and Minister of Strategic Affairs, a new position with a focus towards the strategic threat from Iran.^[1] October 2006 is the tenth month of that year and has yet to occur. ... The Prime Minister of Israel is the elected head of the Israeli government. ... Ehud Olmert (IPA ; Hebrew:אהוד אולמרט; born September 30, 1945) is the 12th and current Prime Minister of Israel. ... This article is about Iran and weapons of mass destruction. ...

Biography

Lieberman worked as a broadcaster in Baku, Azerbaijan and emigrated to Israel in 1978 at the age of 21. In Israel he served in the Israel Defense Forces, and received a BA in International Relations and Political Science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Municipality: Baku Area: 260 km² Altitude: -28 m Population: 2,074,300 census 2003 Population density: 1280 persons/km² Postal Code: AZ10 Area code: +99412 Municipality code: BA Latitude: 40° 23 N Longitude: 49° 52 E Mayor: Hajibala Abutalybov The Baku region. ... Aliyah (Hebrew: עלייה, ascent or going up) is a term widely used to mean Jewish immigration to the Land of Israel (and since its establishment in 1948, the State of Israel). ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... The Israel Defense Forces are part of the Israeli Security Forces. ... A B.A. issused as a certificate Bachelor of Arts (B.A., BA or A.B.), from the Latin Artium Baccalaureus is an undergraduate bachelors degree awarded for either a course or a program in the liberal arts or the sciences, or both. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      International relations (IR), a branch of political science, is the study of foreign affairs and global issues among states within the international system, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations (IGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and multinational corporations (MNCs). ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Political Science is the field concerning the theory and practice of politics and the description and analysis of political systems and political behaviour. ... The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is one of Israels oldest, largest, and most important institutes of higher learning and research. ...

From 1983 to 1988 Lieberman helped found the Zionist Forum for Soviet Jewry and was a member of the Board of the Jerusalem Economic Corporation and the Secretary of the Jerusalem branch of the Histadrut Ovdim Le'umit ("National Workers' Union"). From 1993 to 1996 he served as Director-General of the Likud party, and from 1996 to 1997 was Director-General of the Prime Minister's office. In 1999, he founded and led the Yisrael Beytenu party, and was the editor of the newspaper Yoman Yisraeli. Lieberman was elected to the Knesset in 1999, and served as Chairman of the Israel-Moldova Parliamentary Friendship League. Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Likud (Hebrew: ליכוד, literally means consolidation) is a centre-right political party in Israel. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... Yisrael Beytenu (Hebrew: ישראל ביתנו, Israel Our Home) is a right-of-center political party in Israel with support from immigrants to Israel who came from the lands of the former Soviet Union. ... The modern Knesset building, Israels parliament, in Jerusalem Though similar-sounding, Beit Knesset (בית כנסת) literally means House of Assembly, and refers to a synagogue. ...

Lieberman resides in the West Bank settlement of Nokdim where he lives with his wife and three children Nokdim Nokdim (; Hebrew: ), is an Israeli settlement located south of Bethlehem in the northern Judean hills of the West Bank. ...

Population exchange Plan

In March 2001 Lieberman was appointed as Israel's Minister of National Infrastructures, but resigned the post in March 2002. In February 2003 he was appointed Minister of Transportation. Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In late May of 2004 proposed a plan in which the populations and territories of Jews and Arabs, including some Israeli Arabs, would be "separated". According to the plan, Israeli Arab town adjacent to Palestinian Authority areas would be transferred to Palestian Authority, and only those Arabs who felt a connection with the State of Israel and were loyal to it would be allowed to remain. On May 30 Prime Minister Ariel Sharon condemned Lieberman's statements, stating "We regard Israeli Arabs as part of the State of Israel." On 4 June 2004, as the disputes over the up-coming disengagement plan grew more intense, Sharon dismissed Lieberman from the cabinet.^[2] shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Languages Arabic other minority languages Religions Predomiantly Sunni Islam, as well as Shia Islam, Greek Orthodoxy, Greek Catholicism, Maronite, Alawite Islam, Druze, Ibadi Islam, and Judaism An Arab (Arabic: ) is any member of the Semitic group of people whose cultural, linguistic, and in certain cases, ancestral origins trace back to... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The West Bank The Palestinian National Authority (PNA or PA) is a semi-autonomous state institution nominally governing the bulk of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (which it calls the Palestinian Territories). It was established as a part of Oslo accords between the PLO and Israel. ... May 30 is the 150th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (151st in leap years). ...   (Hebrew: , also known by his diminutive Arik אָרִיק) (born February 27, 1928) is a former Israeli politician and general. ... The Israeli Arabs, or 1948 Palestinians, are those Arabs who remained inside the borders of what would become Israel after 1948, when most Arabs fled the country in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War (see also Nakba). They make up roughly 20% of Israels population. ... June 4 is the 155th day of the year (156th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Gaza Disengagement Plan describes the move to withdraw all Jewish Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip unilaterally as soon as possible, lead by Ariel Sharon. ...

Lieberman is the leader of Yisrael Beytenu, a party largely consisting of immigrants from the former Soviet Union countries, disenchanted former Likud voters and some Druze Israelis. Lieberman advocates giving the Palestinian Authority Arab-Israeli towns near the West Bank and having Arabs who remain Israeli citizens take loyalty tests.^[3] With the help of an American political consultant, Arthur Finkelstein, Yisrael Beytenu received 11 seats (out of 120) in the March 2006 Knesset elections, a very large gain. This is partly because of a catchy slogan: "Nyet, Nyet, Da": No, No, Yes as a guide for voting for Netanyahu, Olmert, and Liberman, respectively.^[4] Yisrael Beytenu (Hebrew: ישראל ביתנו, Israel Our Home) is a right-of-center political party in Israel with support from immigrants to Israel who came from the lands of the former Soviet Union. ... Likud (Hebrew: ליכוד, literally means consolidation) is a centre-right political party in Israel. ... Religions Druzism Scriptures Languages Arabic, Hebrew The Druze (Arabic: درزي, derzī or durzī, plural دروز, durūz; Hebrew: , Druzim; also transliterated Druz or Druse) are a Middle Eastern religious community whose traditional religion began as an offshoot of the Ismaili sect of Islam, but is unique in its incorporation of Gnostic, neo... The only known photo of Arthur J. Finkelstein Arthur J. Finkelstein (born 1946) is a United States Republican Party political operative. ... The Elections for the 17th Knesset were held in Israel on 28 March 2006, following an agreement between the Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, and the new Leader of the Israel Labour Party, Amir Peretz. ...

In May 2006 he called for the execution of Israeli Arab politicians who had had contacts with Hamas or marked the Palestinian Nakba day (which views the creation of Israel as a disaster) instead of Israel's Yom Ha'atzmaut (Independence Day). Lieberman likened these politicians with Nazi supporters during World War II, many of whom were sentenced and hanged in the Nuremberg trials. He has also been quoted as saying the Israeli Arabs should "take their packages and go to hell."^[5] Nakba Day (Arabic: يوم النكبة yawm al-nakba — 15 May)[1] is the annual day of commemoration by Palestinian Arabs of the anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. ... Yom Haatzmaut (Hebrew: ), Israeli Independence Day, commemorates the declaration of independence of Israel in 1948. ... The Süddeutsche Zeitung announces The Verdict in Nuremberg. ...

Lieberman Plan

Main article: Lieberman Plan

In May 2004, Lieberman proposed a plan, under which the Arab-populated "Triangle" area of the Wadi 'Ara region — transferred to Israel by Jordan as part of the 1949 Armistice Agreement — would be handed over to the Palestinian Authority in exchange for keeping large Jewish-populated settlement blocs in the West Bank. // The Lieberman Plan is named after Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of the Israeli political party Yisrael Beytenu. ... The Little Triangle (Hebrew: , Arabic: ) is a concentration of Israeli Arab towns and villages adjacent to the Green Line, located in the eastern Sharon plain among the Samarian foothills. ... Wadi Ara or Nahal Iron (Arabic: , Hebrew: ), refers to an area within Israel that is mostly populated by Israeli Arabs. ... The 1949 Armistice Agreements are a set of agreements signed during 1949 between Israel and its neighbors Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. ... The West Bank The Palestinian National Authority (PNA or PA) is a semi-autonomous state institution nominally governing the bulk of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (which it calls the Palestinian Territories). It was established as a part of Oslo accords between the PLO and Israel. ...

He argues that the residents of the Triangle are Arabs who see themselves as Palestinians and therefore should be re-united with them as part of establishing two separate national entities: one for Israelis and one for Palestinians. Many Israelis see Lieberman's plan as a form of forced population transfer similar to proposals by the far-right Israeli political parties such as Moledet, Herut or Hayil. Though Lieberman's plan would not uproot Arab residents from their homes, it would forcibly revoke their Israeli citizenship and transfer their sovereignty to the Palestinian Authority. Moledet (Hebrew מולדת, literally homeland) is a small right-wing political party in Israel. ... Herut (Hebrew: חרות Freedom) was the political party of the Revisionist Zionist movement in Israel. ... The Chayil Party is the Right Wing Israeli political party founded by Baruch Marzel. ...

The Lieberman Plan, also known as the "Population Exchange Plan", has drawn sharp criticism from both Left and Right of Israeli politics; by the former for its discriminatory overtones, and by the latter for the idea of ceding parts of the Land of Israel. // The Lieberman Plan is named after Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of the Israeli political party Yisrael Beytenu. ... Kingdom of Israel: Early ancient historical Israel — land in pink is the approximate area under direct central royal administration during the United Monarchy. ...

According to Lieberman, "The peace process is based on three false basic assumptions; the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the main fact of instability in the Middle East, that the conflict is territorial and not ideological, and that the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders will end the conflict."[1]

Popularity and constituency

In a poll published by Yedioth Ahronoth on September 21, 2006, Lieberman had more support than any other politician except for Netanyahu to be the next Prime Minister of Israel. Olmert came in fifth with 7%.^[6] Some Druze support Lieberman, one third of the Druze holding Israeli citizenship and living in Golan Heights voted for him.^[7] The majority of his constituency are secular Russian-speaking Israelis as well as former Likud supporters, who feel that party has drifted from its founding Jabotinskian principles. Yedioth Ahronoth (Hebrew: ידיעות אחרונות, meaning latest news) is a major daily Israeli newspaper, written in Hebrew. ... September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Prime Minister of Israel (Hebrew: ראש הממשלה, Rosh HaMemshala, lit. ... Religions Druzism Scriptures Languages Arabic, Hebrew The Druze (Arabic: درزي, derzī or durzī, plural دروز, durūz; Hebrew: , Druzim; also transliterated Druz or Druse) are a Middle Eastern religious community whose traditional religion began as an offshoot of the Ismaili sect of Islam, but is unique in its incorporation of Gnostic, neo... The Golan Heights (Hebrew: Ramat HaGolan, Arabic: Habat al-ūlān) or Golan is a plateau on the border of Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. ... Likud (Hebrew: ליכוד, literally means consolidation) is a centre-right political party in Israel. ... Zeev Jabotinsky in military uniform Zeev Vladimir (Evgenevich) Jabotinsky (or Zhabotinski) (October 18, 1880 - August 4, 1940) was a Zionist leader, author, orator, and founder of the Jewish Legion in World War I. During World War II a similar and larger unit known as the Jewish Brigade would follow. ...

Allegations of anti-Arabism

In 2002, at the height of the Palestinian al-Aqsa Intifada, the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth quoted Lieberman in a Cabinet meeting saying that the Palestinians should be given an ultimatum that "At 8am we'll bomb all the commercial centers...at noon we'll bomb their gas stations...at two we'll bomb their banks....”^[8] In 2003, Ha'aretz reported that Lieberman called for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel to be drowned in the Dead Sea and offered to provide the buses to take them there.^[9] In May 2004, he said that 90 percent of Israel's one million Arabs would "have to find a new Arab entity" in which to live beyond Israel's borders. "They have no place here. They can take their bundles and get lost," he said.^[10] For other uses, see al-Aqsa (disambiguation). ... Yedioth Ahronoth (Hebrew: ידיעות אחרונות, meaning latest news) is a major daily Israeli newspaper, written in Hebrew. ... Haaretz (הארץ, The Land) is an Israeli newspaper, founded in 1919. ... The Dead Sea ((Arabic: ), Hebrew: , translated as Sea of Salt), is a salt lake between Israel and Jordan. ...

In November 2006 Lieberman called for the execution of any Arab Members of Knesset who meet with representatives of the Palestinian government, saying, "World War II ended with the Nurenberg trials. The heads of the Nazi regime, along with their collaborators, were executed. I hope this will be the fate of the collaborators in [the Knesset]."^[11] In response, Arab Israeli Knesset member Ahmed Tibi, demanded that "a criminal investigation be initiated against Lieberman for violating the law against incitement and racism".^[12] He called Lieberman "a very dangerous and sophisticated politician who has won his support through race hatred." Lieberman was cleared of racism charges by the Israeli Deputy State prosecutor, while admitting that the office objected to the content of his statement. Tibi strongly objected to Lieberman's ministerial appointment, describing him as "a racist and a fascist". Labour minister Ophir Pines-Paz, who resigned over Lieberman's appointment, echoed Tibi's remarks, saying that Lieberman was tainted "by racist declarations and declarations that harm the democratic character of Israel".^[13] Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Ahmad Tibi, Israeli Arab politician. ... Ophir Pines-Paz (Hebrew: , born 11 July 1961) is an Israeli politician and former Interior Minister. ...

Coalition agreement

On 23 October 2006, the coalition agreement with Kadima placed coalition junior partner Labour party in an uneasy state, as many in the party expressed opposition to having Lieberman sit in the government. Minister of Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ophir Pines-Paz responded by saying that "a minister of strategic affairs is a joke. Lieberman is himself a strategic threat," saying "I will do everything in my power to prevent the entry of that party into the government."^[1] On October 29, the Labour central committee, however, approved Lieberman's entrance to the cabinet. On October 30, the Knesset voted in support of Lieberman joining the government 61 to 38. Ophir Pines-Paz, who led the opposition camp in the Labour party announced his resignation.^[14] Kadima (Hebrew: קדימה, Qādīmāh, forward) is an Israeli political party. ... Labour or Labor, (Hebrew: העבודה, ha-`Avōdāh) is a political party in Israel. ... Ophir Pines-Paz (Hebrew: , born 11 July 1961) is an Israeli politician and former Interior Minister. ...

References

Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) is a non-profit organisation that provides access to information about Palestine and the Palestinians, as well as expert sources, to reporters and journalists. ... For other uses, see The Independent (disambiguation). ... Haaretz (הארץ, The Land) is an Israeli newspaper, founded in 1919. ... Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) is a non-profit organisation that provides access to information about Palestine and the Palestinians, as well as expert sources, to reporters and journalists. ... The Jerusalem Post is an Israeli newspaper in the English language. ...

External links

• The appointment of Israel’s new deputy PM raises fears of a new catastrophe, says Robert Fox
• Gilad Katz: Avigdor Liberman – Politician or Statesman? (Omedia, 22 October 2006)
• Akiva Eldar: Let's hear it for the Haiders (Ha'aretz, 31 October 2006)
• PM: Lieberman opinion on trading Arabs not my own (Ha'aretz, 5 November 2006)