View source for Avigdor Lieberman

{{Short description|Israeli politician (born 1958)}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Avigdor Lieberman
| image               = Avigdor Lieberman 2017.jpg
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1958|7|5|df=y}}
| birth_name          = Evet L'vovich Liberman<br/>(Эвет Львович Либерман)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.avigdorliberman.info/biography/semya-liberman-dolgaya-doroga-domoj.html |title=Семья Либерман: долгая дорога домой |access-date=2015-11-19 |archive-date=2015-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118175549/http://www.avigdorliberman.info/biography/semya-liberman-dolgaya-doroga-domoj.html |website=avigdorliberman.info|url-status=live }}</ref>
| birth_place         = [[Chișinău]], [[Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic|Moldavian SSR]], [[Soviet Union]]
| residence           = [[Nokdim]], [[West Bank]]
| education           = [[State Agrarian University of Moldova|Chișinău Agriculture Institute]] (no degree)<br/>[[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| spouse              = Ella Tzipkin
| children            = 3
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| occupation          = Politician
| office1             = Ministerial roles
| suboffice1          = [[Energy and Water Resources Ministry|Minister of National Infrastructure]]
| subterm1            = 2001–2002
| suboffice2          = [[Ministry of Transport and Road Safety|Minister of Transportation]]
| subterm2            = 2003–2004
| suboffice3          = [[Deputy leaders of Israel#Deputy Prime Minister|Deputy Prime Minister]]
| subterm3            = 2006–2008
| suboffice4          = [[Strategic Affairs Minister of Israel|Minister of Strategic Affairs]]
| subterm4            = 2006–2008
| suboffice5          = [[Deputy leaders of Israel#Deputy Prime Minister|Deputy Prime Minister]]
| subterm5            = 2009–2012
| suboffice6          = [[Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]
| subterm6            = 2009–2012
| suboffice7          = [[Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]
| subterm7            = 2013–2015
| suboffice8          = [[Ministry of Defense (Israel)|Minister of Defense]]
| subterm8            = 2016–2018
| suboffice9          = [[Ministry of Finance (Israel)|Minister of Finance]]
| subterm9            = 2021–2022
| office10            = Faction represented in the [[Knesset]]
| suboffice10         = [[Yisrael Beiteinu]]
| subterm10           = 1999–2003
| suboffice11         = [[National Union (Israel)|National Union]]
| subterm11           = 2003–2006
| suboffice12         = [[Yisrael Beiteinu]]
| subterm12           = 2006–2016
| suboffice13         = [[Yisrael Beiteinu]]
| subterm13           = 2019–2021
| suboffice14         = [[Yisrael Beiteinu]]
| subterm14           = 2022–
| caption             = Lieberman in 2017
| native_name         = {{Nobold|אביגדור ליברמן}}
| native_name_lang    = he
| party               = [[Yisrael Beiteinu]] (since 1999)
}}

'''Avigdor Lieberman''' ({{Langx|he|אביגדור ליברמן|Avigdor Liberman}}, {{IPA|he|aviɡˈdor ˈliberman|IPA}} <small>{{Audio|Avigdor lieberman.ogg|(audio)}}</small>; born 5 June 1958)<ref name=box>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL9314428 |title=Factbox – Israel's Avigdor Lieberman |access-date=9 February 2009 |date=9 February 2009 |work=Reuters |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090212130746/https://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL9314428 |archive-date=12 February 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> is a Soviet-born Israeli politician who served as [[Ministry of Finance (Israel)|Minister of Finance]] between 2021 and 2022, having previously served twice as [[Deputy Prime Minister of Israel]] from 2006 to 2008 and 2009 to 2012.

Born and raised in [[Soviet Moldova]], Lieberman [[1970s Soviet Union aliyah|immigrated to Israel]] with his family in 1978. He entered the Knesset in 1999, and has served in numerous roles in the [[Israeli government|government]], including as [[National Infrastructure Minister of Israel|Minister of National Infrastructure]], [[Transportation Minister of Israel|Minister of Transportation]], and [[Strategic Affairs Minister of Israel|Minister of Strategic Affairs]]. He served as [[Deputy leaders of Israel#Deputy Prime Minister|Deputy Prime Minister]] under Prime Ministers [[Ehud Olmert]] and [[Benjamin Netanyahu]]. He served under Netanyahu as [[Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] from 2009 to 2012 and 2013 to 2015 and as [[Ministry of Defense (Israel)|Minister of Defense]] from 2016 to 2018. On 14 November 2018, he resigned as Defense Minister because of [[Gaza–Israel clashes (November 2018)|a ceasefire in Gaza]] which he characterized as "surrendering to terror."<ref name="jpost.com">{{Cite web |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Defense-Minister-Avigdor-Liberman-resigns-over-Hamas-cease-fire-571890 |title=Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman announced his resignation from his position at a meeting of the Yisrael Beytenu faction meeting at Knesset Wednesday. |date=14 November 2018 |access-date=14 November 2018}}</ref>

He is the founder and leader of the [[Secularism in Israel|secular]] [[Nationalism|nationalist]] [[Yisrael Beiteinu]] (Israel Our Home) party, whose electoral base initially consisted overwhelmingly of [[Russian Jews in Israel|Russian-speaking immigrants]] from the former [[Soviet Union]], but later attracted broader support. Lieberman has stated his opposition to forming a coalition with religious parties and refused to join [[Benjamin Netanyahu]]'s coalition in April 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet Israel's New Kingmaker |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/08/18/meet-israel-new-kingmaker-avigdor-lieberman-profile/ |website=Foreign Policy |date=18 August 2019 |access-date=28 August 2019}}</ref> As a result of the arrival in Israel during the 1990s of about one million Russian-speaking immigrants, Yisrael Beiteinu has regularly played the "king-maker" role in Israel's coalition governments.<ref>{{cite web|title=Israel election: profile of 'kingmaker' Avigdor Lieberman|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/4603474/Israel-election-profile-of-kingmaker-Avigdor-Lieberman.html|website=The Telegraph|date=12 February 2009 |access-date=14 November 2016}}</ref> He was replaced in the Knesset by [[Elina Bardach-Yalov]] when he became the finance minister.

Lieberman is a polarizing figure in Israeli politics due to his [[hardliner]] positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His name is associated with the 2004 [[Lieberman Plan]], which advocates land swaps between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and the barring of [[Arab Israelis]] from [[Israeli citizenship]] unless they swear a [[loyalty oath]] to Israel. While this has been decried as discriminatory, this however makes him unique among right-wing Israeli figures in that he is not categorically opposed to any form of [[two-state solution]] and even ready to cede land from [[Green Line (Israel)|the pre-1967 borders]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200704u/avigdor-lieberman |title=Israel Is Our Home |first=Jennie|last=Rothenberg Gritz |work=[[The Atlantic]] |date=14 March 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513145700/http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200704u/avigdor-lieberman |archive-date=13 May 2008}}</ref> He is nonetheless also known for rhetoric considered violent and [[hawkish]] in times of military escalation. During the [[2018–2019 Gaza border protests]] and the [[Gaza war]], he iterated that there are "no innocents in Gaza".<ref name="jpost">{{cite news |last=Lazaroff|first=Tovah|url=https://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/There-are-no-innocents-in-Gaza-says-Israeli-defense-minister-549173|title='The Arabs have to be afraid of us'|newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=8 April 2018|access-date=1 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet| user=AvigdorLiberman| number=1730297081959530685| title=אין חפים מפשע בעזה| author=Avigdor Lieberman| date=30 November 2023}}</ref>

==Biography==
Evet Lvovich Lieberman (later Avigdor Lieberman) was born to a Russian-speaking Jewish family in [[Chișinău]], [[Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic|Moldavian SSR]], [[Soviet Union]] (now Chișinău, [[Moldova]]). His father Lev (18 May 1921 – 2 July 2007) was a writer who had served in the [[Red Army]] and spent seven years in a [[Siberian]] exile under [[Joseph Stalin]]'s rule,<ref name=box/> where he met his wife Esther (2 July 1923 – 4 December 2014).<ref name="JPNB"/> His parents imbued him with a strong secular Jewish identity and consciously taught him only [[Yiddish]] up until the age of three. They were not afraid to speak Yiddish in public, even on crowded buses.<ref name="Lily Galili">{{cite web |first=Lily|last=Galili |date=28 June 2010 |url=https://www.patheos.com/resources/additional-resources/2010/06/all-is-heaven-with-avigdor-lieberman |title=All Is Heaven with Avigdor Lieberman |publisher=[[Patheos]] |access-date=17 January 2023}}</ref> Inheriting a love of Russian literature from his father, Lieberman had dreamed of becoming a poet.<ref>[http://www.iimes.ru/rus/stat/2005/15-12-05.htm Авигдор Либерман - человек, сделавший себя] К.А. Капитонов</ref> Lieberman attributes his forthright personality to his youth in the large Jewish community of 1970s Chișinău, saying: "Jews were 25 percent of the population of Kishinev [Chișinău] [during the 1970s]... We were more affluent, better educated, and we showed it... [[History of the Jews in Bessarabia|The Jews of Moldova]] have this no-nonsense streak. They are 'doers,' not idle philosophers. No wonder [[Meir Dizengoff]], another Jew from Moldova, established [[Tel Aviv]]".<ref name="Lily Galili"/>

After high school, Lieberman enrolled at the [[Agricultural State University of Moldova|Chișinău Agriculture Institute]] majoring in  [[hydrology|hydrological]] [[land improvement]].<ref>[http://www.dorledor.info/magazin/index.php?mag_id=2&art_id=19&pg_no=11 Dor le Dor interview], in [[Russian language|Russian]] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211172058/http://www.dorledor.info/magazin/index.php?mag_id=2&art_id=19&pg_no=11 |date=11 February 2009 }}</ref> As a student in Moldova, his passion for Russian literary classics continued, as he won first prize for a play he wrote, and dreamed of a literary career.<ref name="Lily Galili"/>

Lieberman and his family [[Aliyah|immigrated]] to [[Israel]] on 18 June 1978.  Lieberman studied [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] at an [[ulpan]] and changed his first name to Avigdor.<ref name=box/> He was conscripted into the [[Israel Defense Forces]], and was only obligated to do one year of active service instead of three, during which he served in the IDF military government in [[Hebron]]. Following his discharge from active duty, he continued to be called up for the reserves. After undergoing an artillery course, he served in the [[Artillery Corps (Israel)|Artillery Corps]].<ref>{{cite journal |journal=[[Bamahane]] |title=Five Questions/Five Answers |page=5 |issue=2984 |date=3 April 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.israeldefense.co.il/he/content/%D7%9E%D7%9E%D7%A1%D7%A4%D7%A8-4-%D7%91%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%AA-%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%A1%D7%A4%D7%A8-1-%D7%91%D7%91%D7%99%D7%98%D7%97%D7%95%D7%9F|author=Amir Rapaport|author-link=Amir Rapaport|date=2016|website=www.israeldefense.co.il|language=he|script-title=he: ממספר 4 בתומ"ת- למספר 1 בביטחון|access-date=18 June 2018}}</ref> He attained the [[Military rank|rank]] of [[Corporal]].<ref name=box/>

Upon his release from the army, he earned a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] in International Relations and Political Science from the [[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]].<ref name=watch>{{cite news |url=http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/yazarDetay.do?haberno=166971 |title=Avigdor Lieberman: a man to watch |newspaper=[[Today's Zaman]] |date=5 February 2009}}{{dead link|date=September 2014}}</ref>

On campus he was active in the student group "Kastel," associated with the [[Likud]]. Relations between Kastel and Arab student groups were tense and often deteriorated into violence. According to ''[[Maariv (newspaper)|Maariv]]'', based on the testimony of a witness who was a student at the time, Lieberman participated in a few of the violent clashes. Lieberman said that he was involved in two. [[Jamal Zahalka]], an Arab Knesset member from [[Balad (political party)|Balad]] who was also a student at the time and active in Arab groups, claimed that he remembers Lieberman as yelling a lot but avoiding any of the rough action.<ref name=student>{{cite news |url=http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART1/865/489.html |script-title=he:ליברמן הסטודנט: מבט לדמותו |trans-title=Lieberman the student: view his image |last=Leibowitz-Dar |first=Sarah |publisher=[[nrg Maariv]] |language=he |date=14 March 2009 |access-date=22 September 2014}}  Includes photo of Lieberman as a student in 1980.</ref>

''[[Haaretz]]'' reported that Lieberman was briefly involved with the [[Kach and Kahane Chai|Kach]] party founded by Rabbi [[Meir Kahane]] based on the testimony of two Kach activists, [[Avigdor Eskin]] and [[Yosef Dayan]]. Lieberman denied this<ref name=student/> and called the publication an "orchestrated provocation".<ref name="haaretz_kach">{{cite news |title=Lieberman was involved in radical right Kach movement |first=Lily |last=Galili |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |date=4 February 2009 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/lieberman-was-involved-in-radical-right-kach-movement-1.269330 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.inn.co.il/News/News.aspx/185129|title=Account: Lieberman was a Member of the Kach Movement|last=Tena|first=Samuel|date=4 February 2009|publisher=[[Arutz Sheva]]|access-date=29 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122140312/http://www.inn.co.il/News/News.aspx/185129|archive-date=22 January 2011|url-status=dead|language=he}}</ref> While studying at the Hebrew University, Lieberman worked as a bouncer<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5679395.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826095818/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5679395.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 August 2009 |title=Ex-bouncer Avigdor Lieberman muscles his way into Israeli politics |newspaper=[[The Times]]}}{{subscription required}}</ref> at the student club "Shablul" (''[[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]:'' "snail"), which is where he met his future wife. A year later, Lieberman was promoted to general manager, responsible for all the activities at the club.<ref name=student/>

Lieberman and his wife Ella [[née]] Tzipkin, also a Moldovan immigrant to Israel, have a daughter Michal (born 22 June 1983) and two sons, Yaakov (born 15 March 1988) and Amos (born 14 September 1990). They live in the [[Israeli settlement]] of [[Nokdim]], located in the [[Judean Desert]] of the [[West Bank]], where they have resided since 1988.<ref name=box/> Lieberman stated that despite having lived there for so long he is willing to leave his home as part of a peace agreement.<ref name=quit/>

In breaks between government stints, Lieberman has engaged in business endeavors such as importing [[wood]] from the [[former Soviet Union]] into Israel, through which he amassed a fortune.<ref name="Lily Galili"/> He speaks [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Romanian language|Romanian]], [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Yiddish]]<ref name="Lily Galili"/> and (less fluently) [[English language|English]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Lenoir |first=Francois |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-lieberman-factbox-idUSTRE73C5GA20110413 |title=Factbox: Facts about Israel's Avigdor Lieberman |work=Reuters |date=13 April 2011 }}</ref>

Lieberman's mother, Esther Lieberman, died on 4 December 2014 while Lieberman was in Switzerland.<ref name="JPNB">{{cite web|title=Mother of Avigdor Lieberman Dies|date=5 December 2014 |url=http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/mother-of-avigdor-lieberman-dies/2014/12/05/|publisher=Jewish Press|access-date=9 December 2014}}</ref>

==Political career==
{{Update section|date=April 2024|reason=Political career past 2018 not mentioned}}
[[File:Lieberman_et_Rice.jpg|thumb|Lieberman and US Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]]]]
In  1983–1988, 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"). In 1988, he started working with [[Benjamin Netanyahu]]. From 1993 to 1996, following Netanyahu's election as party leader, Lieberman served as Director-General of the Likud party. After Netanyahu was elected [[Prime Minister of Israel|Prime Minister]], Lieberman served as Director-General of the [[Office of the Prime Minister (Israel)|Prime Minister's Office]] from 1996 to 1997.<ref name=watch/>

In 1997, Lieberman resigned from Likud after Prime Minister Netanyahu granted concessions to the Palestinians in the [[Wye River Memorandum]], and expressed disappointment when [[Yisrael BaAliyah]], a new immigrant party headed by [[Natan Sharansky]]  did not quit the coalition government in protest. In 1999, Lieberman formed the [[Yisrael Beiteinu]] party to create a platform for Soviet immigrants who supported a hard line in negotiations with the Palestinians. The party ran for the [[Knesset]] during the [[1999 Israeli legislative election|1999 legislative election]], and ran on a joint list with [[Aliyah (political party)|Aliyah]], a party formed by [[Michael Nudelman]] and [[Yuri Stern]], who had broken away from Yisrael BaAliyah. The new party won four seats, one of which was taken by Lieberman. Lieberman served on the [[Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee]] and State Control Committee, and as Chairman of the Israel-Moldova Parliamentary Friendship League.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/aboutisrael/state/personalities/pages/avigdor%20lieberman.aspx |title=Avigdor Lieberman |publisher=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel)|Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref>
{{Quote box|width=246px|bgcolor=#c6dbf7|align=right|quote=My countryman may be a Jew, a Muslim, a Christian - I do not differentiate people by religion. Let them be religious or secular, the main thing is that they are a true citizen of the State of Israel.|source=Avigdor Lieberman, 2005 <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avigdorliberman.info/right/ |title=Official Website |publisher=Avigdor Lieberman |language=ru |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref>}}
In March 2001, Lieberman was appointed [[National Infrastructure Minister of Israel|Minister of National Infrastructure]], but resigned in March 2002.

In the [[2003 Israeli legislative election|2003 legislative election]], Yisrael Beiteinu ran on a joint list with the [[National Union (Israel)|National Union]]. The joint list won seven seats, with Yisrael Beiteinu allotted four of them. In February 2003, Lieberman was appointed [[Transportation Minister of Israel|Minister of Transport]], and resigned from the Knesset to take a seat in the Cabinet. He maintained leadership of the party and returned to the Knesset in 2006. Later he would simultaneously serve in the Knesset and Cabinet.

In May 2004, Lieberman was dismissed from the [[Cabinet of Israel|cabinet]] by Prime Minister [[Ariel Sharon]] due to his opposition to the [[Israel's unilateral disengagement plan|Gaza disengagement]],<ref>{{cite news |author=Greg Myre |author-link=Greg Myre |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/04/world/sharon-is-expected-to-fire-2-from-cabinet-before-gaza-vote.html |title=Sharon Is Expected to Fire 2 From Cabinet Before Gaza Vote |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=4 June 2004 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> and Yisrael Beiteinu left the government in June in protest of the disengagement.
[[File:Avigdor_Lieberman_in_Latvia_(cropped).jpg|thumb|Lieberman in Latvia 2010]]

In the [[2006 Israeli legislative election|2006 legislative election]], Lieberman's party split from the National Union to run alone. The party won eleven seats, a gain from its previous six seats. It was initially in the opposition, but in October 2006, Lieberman and [[Prime Minister of Israel|Prime Minister]] [[Ehud Olmert]] signed a coalition agreement under which Lieberman became the [[Deputy leaders of Israel#Deputy Prime Minister|Deputy Prime Minister]] and [[Strategic Affairs Minister of Israel|Minister of Strategic Affairs]], a newly created position with a focus towards the [[Iran and weapons of mass destruction|strategic threat from Iran]].<ref name=greg/> In December 2006, he called Iranian [[nuclear proliferation]] "the biggest threat facing the Jewish people since the Second World War".<ref name=greg/> He advocated that Israel join the [[European Union]] and [[NATO]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Tovah|last=Lazaroff |url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Lieberman-pushes-Israel-to-join-EU |title=Lieberman pushes Israel to join EU |newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=31 January 2007 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref>

Lieberman resigned his cabinet position and Yisrael Beiteinu left the coalition in January 2008. He cited opposition to the resuming peace talks, saying that "Negotiations on the basis of land for peace are a critical mistake ... and will destroy us."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/16/avigdor-lieberman-israel |title=Hardliner Avigdor Lieberman set to become Israel's foreign minister |first=Rory|last=McCarthy |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=16 March 2009 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref>

Yisrael Beiteinu, which was described at times as Lieberman's "one man's party" for its media-closed meetings and party members' reluctance to give interviews,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://reshet.ynet.co.il/חדשות/News/programs/MainNewscast/Article,13394.aspx |title=Introducing: the New Face of Yisrael Beiteinu |publisher=Israel News 2 |language=he |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602141309/http://reshet.ynet.co.il/%D7%97%D7%93%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%AA/News/programs/MainNewscast/Article%2C13394.aspx |archive-date=2 June 2013 }}</ref> emerged as the third largest party in Israel after [[2009 Israeli elections|2009 legislative election]] and on 16 March, it entered the coalition government led by Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]].<ref name=braces/> Lieberman was appointed [[Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] and [[Deputy Prime Minister]].

On 25 October 2012, Lieberman and [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] announced that their respective political parties, [[Likud]] and Yisrael Beiteinu, had merged and would run together on a single ballot in Israel's 22 January 2013 general elections. "In view of the challenges we're facing, we need responsibility on a national level.... We're providing a true alternative, and an opportunity for the citizens to stabilize leadership and government," Lieberman said.<ref>{{cite news |last=Leshem|first=Elie|title=Netanyahu, Liberman announce they'll run joint list for Knesset|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-announces-merger-with-israel-beytenu-promises-to-lead-with-strength/ |newspaper=[[The Times of Israel]]|date=25 October 2012 |access-date=27 October 2012}}</ref>

Lieberman was appointed Minister of Defense in May 2016. He resigned from the Knesset under the [[Norwegian Law (Israel)|Norwegian Law]], allowing [[Yulia Malinovsky]] to replace him.

Lieberman has attracted interest of voters from Israel's business community. Former ambassador to the United States [[Danny Gillerman]] explains: "His agenda is interesting, especially the combination between his vigorous opposition to a state of halakha and his uncompromising condition of the formation of a national-unity government. There is a yearning for leadership, and this milieu is fed up with the parties and with religious coercion." [[Dalia Itzik]] has said “He represents the historic [[Mapai]] today.”<ref>{{cite news |title=Support for Lieberman in Liberal Tel Aviv? What We Learned From Talking to Voters Across Israel|work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/.premium.MAGAZINE-support-for-lieberman-in-liberal-tel-aviv-what-we-learned-from-voters-across-israel-1.7766538 |access-date=30 August 2019 |date=29 August 2019}}</ref>

===Minister of Foreign Affairs===
[[File:Secretary Clinton Meets With Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Liberman (6837170479).jpg|thumb|Lieberman with U.S. Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]], 16 July 2012]]
Upon taking office as the [[Minister of Foreign Affairs]], Lieberman posed a clear message against application of provisions discussed at the [[Annapolis Conference]]. He noted that Israel must abide by the ''[[road map for peace]]''  as a first phase for furtherance of the negotiations process as well as by the two accompanying [[George Tenet|Tenet]] and [[Anthony Zinni|Zinni]] documents.<ref name=ob>{{cite news |first=Herb|last=Keinon |author-link=Herb Keinon |url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Lieberman-Annapolis-doesnt-obligate-us |title=Lieberman: Annapolis doesn't obligate us |newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |date=1 April 2009 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref>

Lieberman quit Olmert government due to his opposition to the [[Annapolis Conference]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Yoav|last=Yitzhak |url=http://www.news1.co.il/Archive/001-D-195928-00.html?tag=19-25-06 |script-title=he:שר החוץ הנכנס כבר מבעיר את האש: להסכם אנאפוליס אין תוקף מחייב |language=he |trans-title=Incoming foreign minister has already burning fire: Annapolis has no binding validity | publisher=[[News1]] |date=1 April 2009 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> Lieberman followed his 1 April message with concerns that "[others] stand over us with a stopwatch" and that responsible and serious formulations of policy will take between one and two months.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://thebulletin.us/articles/2009/04/09/top_stories/bullet_points/doc49ddb9a981973320206239.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231247/http://thebulletin.us/articles/2009/04/09/top_stories/bullet_points/doc49ddb9a981973320206239.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 March 2016 |title=Israeli FM: Don't Stand Over Us With A Stopwatch |first=David|last=Bedein |work=The Bulletin |location=Columbus, Georgia |date=9 April 2009}}</ref>

Lieberman's office stated in early April that peace talks would continue when Palestinian government officials cracked down on attacks against Israelis.<ref name=top>{{cite news |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/story/994845.html |title=Top Israeli diplomat: Don't rush us back to peace talks |newspaper=[[The Miami Herald]] |date=11 April 2009}}{{dead link|date=September 2014}}</ref> Lieberman and Netanyahu planned to broaden the Foreign Ministry PR campaign with regard to Iran, focusing on abuse of human rights and sponsorship of terrorism.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel-recruits-gay-community-in-pr-campaign-against-iran-1.274422 |title=Israel recruits gay community in PR campaign against Iran |first=Barak|last=Ravid |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |date=20 April 2009 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> Lieberman was questioned three times on charges of  [[#Corruption investigations|corruption]].<ref name=top/>

[[File:Ash Carter visit to Israel. 161212-D-GO396-0583 (31489557821).jpg|thumb|Lieberman and [[Ashton Carter]] in front of the [[F-35]] fighter]]
In early May 2009, Lieberman visited Rome, Paris, Prague, and other cities. He met with his foreign minister counterparts, such as [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]] of Germany, and he also paid his respects at [[Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe|Berlin's Holocaust memorial]], laying a wreath at the 19,000-square-meter monument.<ref name=DPA>{{cite news |agency=[[Deutsche Presse-Agentur]] |date=7 May 2009 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/german-official-lieberman-comments-far-from-encouraging-1.275602 |title=German official: Lieberman comments 'far from encouraging' |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> At a press conference in [[Italy]], Avigdor Lieberman stated that the government's goal was not to produce slogans or make pompous declarations, but to reach concrete results.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/1.1258873 |script-title=he:שר החוץ, אביגדור ליברמן, באיטליה: מחויבים לתהליך השלום |trans-title=Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman: We are committed to the Peace Process |language=he |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |access-date=8 May 2009}}</ref>

In his remarks at the 2013 Sderot Conference for Society, Lieberman stated his support of multi-directional [[foreign policy]]. The weight of his statement came at a time when a preliminary deal between [[Israel]] and the [[US]] with [[Iran]], which would partially freeze its [[Nuclear program of Iran|nuclear program]], was in opposition.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ho|first=Spencer|title=Drifting from US, Liberman calls to diversify foreign policy|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/drifting-from-us-liberman-calls-to-diversify-foreign-policy/ |newspaper=[[The Times of Israel]]|date=20 November 2013 |access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref>

On 7 May, Lieberman was appointed minister in charge of strategic dialogue with the U.S.<ref>{{cite news|first=Roni |last=Sofer |url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3712499,00.html |title=Lieberman will be responsible for the strategic dialogue with the U.S. |publisher=[[Ynet]] |language=he |date=7 May 2009 |access-date=13 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510231750/http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0%2C7340%2CL-3712499%2C00.html |archive-date=10 May 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 17 June, he appeared in a joint [[press conference]] with Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] in his first official visit to the U.S. Lieberman clashed with Clinton over  [[Israeli settlements]]. ''[[Financial Times]]'' described the meeting as "one of the most tense encounters between the sides for several years".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/614c98a4-5b98-11de-be3f-00144feabdc0,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2F614c98a4-5b98-11de-be3f-00144feabdc0.html%3Fnclick_check%3D1&_i_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fhotair.com%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F18%2Fhillary-demands-settlement-closure-but-not-freedom-in-iran%2F&nclick_check=1 |newspaper=[[Financial Times]] |access-date=18 June 2009|date=18 June 2009|first=Daniel|last=Dombey|title=Clinton clashes with Israelis over settlers}}</ref> Clinton also rejected Lieberman's assertion that the [[George W. Bush administration|Bush administration]] had agreed to further building in the [[West Bank]].<ref>{{cite news |work=[[Arutz Sheva]] |access-date=18 June 2009|date=18 June 2009|title=Clinton vs. Lieberman in Bare Knuckles Fight over Yesha|author=Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/131937| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619161220/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/131937|archive-date=19 June 2009 |url-status= live}}</ref>

In September 2009, Lieberman toured Africa along with businessmen and officials from the Foreign Ministry, Finance Ministry, Defense Ministry, and National Security Council in an attempt to strengthen economic and trade ties and discuss the Iranian nuclear program.<ref>{{cite news |first=Roni|last=Sofer |date=1 September 2009 |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3770687,00.html |title=Lieberman seeks bolstered ties with Africa|work=Ynet |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> Lieberman also sought to strengthen ties with countries in Eastern and Central Europe. In a 2011 interview, Netanyahu said that Lieberman had opened important doors that had been closed to Israel before.<ref>{{YouTube|v5t6A9wSMWo|A World View Interview with Benjamin Netanyahu}}</ref>

===Minister of Defense===
[[File:James Mattis, Reuven Rivlin & Avigdor Lieberman in Israel, April 2017 (33365819043).jpg|thumb|Lieberman with U.S. Secretary of Defense [[James Mattis]] and Israeli President [[Reuven Rivlin]] in April 2017]]
In June 2016, Lieberman was appointed Israel's Minister of Defense, as a result of his party joining the government coalition. Lieberman's first action as Defense Minister was to approve equal rights for the bereaving families of [[LGBT|Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender]] soldiers. Avigdor Lieberman issued an official document on behalf of the Defense Ministry in June 2016 declaring that the ministry "views same-sex and heterosexual families of fallen soldiers equally, and operates in accordance with this equality so that there is no difference in recognition and rights."<ref>[http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=34071 New defense minister recognizes bereaved same-sex families] Lilach Shoval, Thursday 2 June 2016, Israel Hayom</ref> 

It emerged in 2023 that in 2016 while Minister of Defense, Lieberman drafted a top-secret document in which he warned the Israeli government of the risk of a Hamas attack across the [[Gaza–Israel barrier|Israel-Gaza border]], the assault of [[Gaza Envelope|southern communities]] in Israel, and the taking of hostages.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2023-10-30 |title=A 2016 warning drafted by then-defense minister Liberman predicted Hamas onslaught |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-2016-warning-drafted-by-then-defense-minister-liberman-predicted-hamas-onslaught/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |work=[[Times of Israel]]}}</ref> The document predicted that,<blockquote>Hamas intends to take the conflict into Israeli territory by sending a significant number of well-trained forces (like the [[Nukhba (Hamas unit)|Nukhba]] [commandos] for example) into Israel to try and capture an Israeli community (or maybe even several communities) on the Gaza border and take hostages. Beyond the physical harm to the people, this will also lead to significant harm to the morale and feelings of the citizens of Israel.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>The document was reportedly presented to both Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] and then IDF Chief of Staff [[Gadi Eisenkot|Gadi Eizenkot]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-30 |title=Liberman warned Netanyahu of Hamas attack in 2016 |url=https://www.jns.org/liberman-warned-netanyahu-of-hamas-attack-in-2016/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |work=[[Jewish News Syndicate]]}}</ref>

In October 2018, he appointed Maj.-Gen. [[Aviv Kochavi]], as the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.<ref>{{cite web|first=Gal Perl|last=Finkel|url=https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Its-the-man-or-woman-who-makes-the-job-572292|title=It's the man (or woman) who makes the job|work=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=19 November 2018|access-date=13 March 2021}}</ref>

Lieberman resigned on 14 November 2018 in protest of the ceasefire with Hamas.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-jewish-home-anger-netanyahu-says-hell-reappoint-deputy-defense-minister/|title=After Jewish Home anger, Netanyahu says he'll reappoint deputy defense minister|access-date=18 November 2018|language=en-US|work=[[The Times of Israel]]|first=Raoul|last=Wootliff|date=18 November 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Nokdim.jpg|thumb|Nokdim as photographed from the air in early 2006.]]

===Opposition leader ===
In June 2025, in an interview with {{ill|Kan Bet public radio|he|כאן ב}}, Lieberman accused Netanyahu of allegedly approving weapons to an ISIS-affiliated militia in Gaza in order to counter [[Hamas]].<ref>{{cite web|date=5 June 2025|title= Did Israel covertly arm Gaza's ISIS-linked militia? |url= https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/06/05/did-israel-covertly-arm-gazas-isis-linked-militia/|website=[[Israel Hayom]]|access-date=5 June 2025}}</ref> He stated in the interview, 

{{quote|"Israel has provided assault rifles and light weapons to crime families in Gaza, on Netanyahu's orders. The weapons are being transferred to criminals and offenders and are being directed at Israel. In my opinion, it did not pass cabinet approval. The head of the Shin Bet knows, I'm not sure the chief of staff knows. We're talking about the equivalent of Isis in Gaza."<ref>{{cite web|date=5 June 2025|title= Netanyahu Says Israel Fighting Hamas 'In Various Ways' Amid Claims It Armed ISIS-affiliated Gaza Militia|url= https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-06-05/ty-article/israel-arming-isis-affiliated-anti-hamas-gaza-militia-ex-defense-chief-claims/00000197-3f88-d079-ab97-7fcdd7120000|website=[[Haaretz]]|author1=Jonathan Lis|author2=Nir Hasson|access-date=5 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=5 June 2025|title= Israel opposition leader says Netanyahu arming 'equivalent of Isis' gangs in Gaza|url= https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-opposition-leader-says-netanyahu-arming-criminal-gangs-gaza|website=[[Middle East Eye]]|access-date=5 June 2025}}</ref>}}

Not long after, Netanyahu admitted that Israel is using armed gangs in Gaza to fight Hamas and the government had "activated" powerful local clans in Gaza on the advice of "security officials." According to an Israeli official, one of the groups that Netanyahu was referring to was the [[Popular Forces]], led by [[Yasser Abu Shabab]], a clan leader in [[Rafah]].<ref>{{cite web|date=5 June 2025|title= Netanyahu admits Israel backing 'criminal' groups, rivals of Hamas, in Gaza|url= https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/5/netanyahu-admits-israel-backed-armed-rivals-of-hamas-in-gaza|website=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]|access-date=6 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=5 June 2025|title= Netanyahu confirms Israel is arming clans in Gaza to fight Hamas after Liberman's allegations|url= https://m.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-856689|website=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|last=Stein|first=Amichai|access-date=6 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=6 June 2025|title= Netanyahu confirms Israel arming clans opposed to Hamas in Gaza|url= https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyn2m9yk0vo.amp|website=[[BBC News]]|last=Usher|first=Sebastian|access-date=6 June 2025}}</ref>

==Views and opinions==
{{Conservatism in Israel|Politicians}}
Lieberman believes the peace process is based on three false basic assumptions: that “Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the main cause 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."<ref>{{cite news |first=Yitzhak|last=Benhorin |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3338320,00.html |title=Lieberman: The unfaithful cannot be citizens |work=[[Ynet]] |date=10 December 2006 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Bill de Blasio & Avigdor Lieberman.jpg|thumb|Lieberman and [[Bill de Blasio]]]]
In late May 2004, Lieberman unveiled the [[Lieberman Plan]], proposing that the populations and territories of Israeli [[Jew]]s and [[Arab]]s, including some [[Arab citizens of Israel]], would be "separated". According to the plan, also known as the "Populated-Area Exchange Plan", Arab towns in Israel adjacent to [[Palestinian Authority]] areas would be transferred to Palestinian Authority, and only those Arab Israelis who migrated from the area to within Israel's new borders and pledged loyalty to Israel would be allowed to remain Israeli citizens. On 30 May 2004, Prime Minister [[Ariel Sharon]] condemned Lieberman's statements, stating "We regard Israeli Arabs as part of the State of Israel."<ref name=SEPARATION>{{cite news |first=Lily|last=Galili |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/lieberman-presents-to-russia-plan-to-expel-disloyal-arabs-1.123804 |title=Lieberman presents to Russia plan to expel 'disloyal' Arabs |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |date=30 May 2004 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> On 4 June 2004, as the disputes over the up-coming [[Israeli disengagement from Gaza|disengagement plan]] grew more intense, Sharon dismissed Lieberman from the cabinet.<ref>{{cite news |first=Zvi|last=Zrahiya |title=Opposition: Defense budget not approved due to gov't crisis |date=5 June 2004 |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/opposition-defense-budget-not-approved-due-to-gov-t-crisis-1.124371 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Chris|last=McGreal |author-link=Chris McGreal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jun/05/israel |title=Sharon sacks hardliners who stand in his way |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=5 June 2004 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref>

After the [[2009 Israeli elections]], Lieberman said he changed his mind in recent years and decided to support the creation of a [[Palestinian state]]. He wrote in a letter to ''[[The Jewish Week]]'' that he "advocates the creation of a viable Palestinian state", and told ''[[The Washington Post]]'' that he would agree to the evacuation of [[Nokdim]] "if there really will be a two-state solution". He stated in the Knesset that "reality changes" and that his shift had occurred over the last few years.<ref name=hoffman>{{Cite news| last = Hoffman| first = Gil| title = Lieberman 'changes mind' on PA state| newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]]| access-date =22 September 2014| date = 3 March 2009| url = http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Lieberman-changes-mind-on-PA-state}}</ref> In his ''The Jewish Week'' article, Lieberman tried to explain his party's "no loyalty – no citizenship" campaign by writing: "During [[Operation Cast Lead]] in Gaza, I was appalled by the calls for the destruction of the State of Israel and for renewed suicide bombings that some Israeli Arab leaders called for at pro-Hamas rallies. Although 'responsible citizenship' had always been part of our platform, I realized that this was a burning issue that had to take top priority."<ref name=benhorin>{{Cite news |last=Benhorin |first=Yitzhak |title=Lieberman: I back creation of Palestinian state |publisher=[[Ynetnews]] |access-date=4 March 2009 |date=26 February 2009 |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3678374,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302063603/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0%2C7340%2CL-3678374%2C00.html |archive-date=2 March 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> He stated his "responsible citizenship" platform and compared his position to the express policy of nations around the world, saying: "In the U.S., those requesting a [[Green Card]] must take an oath that they will fulfill the rights and duties of citizenship."<ref name=haaretzsupport>{{Cite news| title = Lieberman: I support creation of viable Palestinian state| newspaper=[[Haaretz]]| access-date =22 September 2014| date = 27 February 2009| url = http://www.haaretz.com/news/lieberman-i-support-creation-of-viable-palestinian-state-1.271035}}</ref>

On 5 January 2014, Lieberman again brought up his plan, saying that he would not support any peace plan that did not include such "an exchange".<ref name="Lieberman2014">{{cite web |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.567063 |title=Lieberman: Several Israeli Arab towns must be made part of Palestine under peace deal |newspaper=[[Haaretz]]|first=Barak|last=Ravid |date=5 January 2014 |access-date=6 January 2014}}</ref> He said that when he talks about it, he refers to the [[Triangle (Israel)|Triangle]] and [[Wadi Ara]].<ref name="Lieberman2014"/>

[[File:Sebastian Kurz and Avigdor Lieberman (11995373836).jpg|thumb|Lieberman with Austrian foreign minister [[Sebastian Kurz]] in 2014]]
Lieberman supports Israeli membership in the [[European Union]] and [[NATO]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/avigdor-lieberman-israel-should-press-to-join-nato-eu-1.208791 |title=Avigdor Lieberman: Israel should press to join NATO, EU |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |date=1 January 2007 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> He considers [[Iran]] a serious threat to Israel, but initially came out in favor of further [[Sanctions against Iran|political/economic sanctions]] and opposed a military strike, saying that he cannot imagine the implications of armed action.<ref name=quit>{{Cite news
| last = Mozgovaya
| first = Natasha
| author-link = Natasha Mozgovaya
| title = Lieberman: I'm ready to quit my settlement home for peace
| newspaper=[[Haaretz]]
| access-date =22 September 2014
| date = 1 March 2009
| url = http://www.haaretz.com/news/lieberman-i-m-ready-to-quit-my-settlement-home-for-peace-1.271118
}}</ref> However, ''[[Haaretz]]'' later reported that Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] and Defense Minister [[Ehud Barak]] persuaded Lieberman to switch sides and support an attack.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Barak|last1=Ravid |first2=Amos|last2=Harel |first3=Zvi|last3=Zrahiya |first4=Jonathan|last4=Lis |date=2 November 2011 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/netanyahu-trying-to-persuade-cabinet-to-support-attack-on-iran-1.393214 |title=Netanyahu trying to persuade cabinet to support attack on Iran |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> In post on [[Twitter|X (formerly Twitter)]] in July 2024, Lieberman defended the use of [[Nuclear weapon|nuclear weapons]] by Israel to stop the Iranian nuclear program, stating, "In order to stop the Iranian nuclear program, which is already in the weapons stages, we must use all the means at our disposal. It should be clear that at this stage it is not possible to prevent nuclear weapons from Iran by conventional means."<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-07-03 |title=Liberman: Hamas, Hezbollah can't be defeated without dismantling Iran's nuclear program |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/liberman-hamas-hezbollah-cant-be-defeated-without-dismantling-irans-nuclear-program/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709164056/https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/liberman-hamas-hezbollah-cant-be-defeated-without-dismantling-irans-nuclear-program/ |archive-date=2024-07-09 |access-date=2024-07-09 |work=[[The Times of Israel]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-03 |title=Israeli opposition leader Lieberman says 'all means' should be used to destroy Iran's nuclear programme |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/opposition-leader-says-israel-must-use-all-means-destroy-irans-nuclear-programme |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703230729/https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/opposition-leader-says-israel-must-use-all-means-destroy-irans-nuclear-programme |archive-date=2024-07-03 |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=[[Middle East Eye]] |language=en}}</ref>

While his party is sometimes described by the [[news media]]<ref name=key>{{Cite news
| last = Prusher
| first = Ilene R.
| title = Key to who will govern Israel: Avigdor Lieberman
| work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]
| access-date =11 April 2009
| date = 12 February 2009
| url = http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0212/p01s04-wome.html
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090308020042/http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0212/p01s04-wome.html| archive-date= 8 March 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> as [[secularism|doctrinally secular]] and aiming to reduce the role of the [[Religion in Israel#Secular–religious status quo|rabbinical system in government]], it actually supports the continuation of the role of [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] [[Rabbinical Judaism|rabbinical courts]], but wants more nationally minded religious people, rather than the [[ultra-orthodox]], in charge.<ref name=plat/> It does not advocate introducing [[Marriage in Israel|civil marriage within Israeli law]], but rather to find a solution to some of those who cannot marry under such laws.<ref name=key/> It does not advocate a [[separation of church and state|separation of religion and state]] in Israeli society.<ref name=plat>{{cite web|url=http://beytenu.org.il/85/2649/article.html|title=Party Platform on State and Religion|language=he|publisher=[[Yisrael Beiteinu]]|date=1 January 2009|access-date=12 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418012447/http://beytenu.org.il/85/2649/article.html|archive-date=18 April 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In response to possible charges by the [[International Criminal Court]], Lieberman has called for the court to be defunded.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-icc-palestinians-israel-idUSKBN0KR06720150118 |title=Israel lobbies foreign powers to cut ICC funding |last1=Williams |first1=Dan |date=18 January 2015 |work=Reuters |access-date=18 January 2015}}</ref>

Lieberman advocates expansion of foreign relations with [[Azerbaijan]] due to the historical friendliness of Azerbaijanis towards Jewish minorities. Lieberman said: <blockquote>"Even in the time of the [[Soviet Union]], (Azerbaijan) was known to treat its Jewish community well, and there is no anti-Semitism there. We must continue strengthening our relations with Azerbaijan"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Liberman-Oren-to-lead-Israeli-delegation-observing-Azeri-elections-430661|title=Liberman leads Israeli delegation observing Azeri election|first=Lahav|last=Harkov|date=1 November 2015|work=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref></blockquote> [[Azerbaijan–Israel relations]] play strategically important role against a common adversary of both countries, [[Iran]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Azerbaijan-Israels-Secret-Muslim-Friend-431810|title=Azerbaijan: Israel's secret Muslim friend|author=Swift, Robert / The Media Line|date=2 November 2015|website=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref> Recently, Lieberman supported Azerbaijan during [[2016 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes]] over the territory of [[Nagorno-Karabakh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://azertag.az/en/xeber/Avigdor_Lieberman_Azerbaijans_position_on_Karabakh_conflict_is_absolutely_justified-941611|title=Avigdor Lieberman: Azerbaijan's position on Karabakh conflict is absolutely justified|website=[[Azertag]]|access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref>

A journalistic investigation published in April 2024 suggests Liberman’s support for Azerbaijan might be influenced by his family business as it revealed how Lieberman's 2 sons have been earning lucrative commissions by serving as intermediaries in major business deals for Israeli companies in Azerbaijan and also represented the national Azerbaijani airline, controlled by the Azerbaijani government, in Israel.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Megiddo |first=Gur |date=2024-04-11 |title=How strategic relations with Azerbaijan became the business of the Lieberman family |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-04-11/ty-article-magazine/.premium/how-strategic-relations-with-azerbaijan-became-the-business-of-the-lieberman-family/0000018e-c7d7-dd23-a3cf-e7d728a00000 |access-date=2024-05-13 |work=[[Haaretz]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Media perception==
In the [[2000s]], a large number of media sources within and outside of Israel labelled [[Yisrael Beiteinu]] and Lieberman as [[Israeli right-wing politics|right wing]]<ref name="newsweek1"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/1533343/Jews-and-Arabs-can-never-live-together%2C-says-Israel%27s-vice-PM.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216104143/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/1533343/Jews-and-Arabs-can-never-live-together%2C-says-Israel%27s-vice-PM.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 February 2009|title=Jews and Arabs can never live together, says Israel's vice PM |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=5 November 2006|access-date=25 April 2010|location=London|first=Harry|last=de Quetteville}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Rory|last=McCarthy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/feb/05/israel-election-lieberman-opinion-polls |title=Hardliner Avigdor Lieberman rises to third in Israeli polls |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date=5 February 2009 |access-date=25 April 2010}}</ref> to [[far right]]<ref>{{cite news|first=Aron|last=Heller |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Oct29/0,4670,MLIsraelMubarak,00.html |title=Israel apologizes for lawmaker's Mubarak comments |publisher=Fox News |date=29 October 2008 |access-date=25 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201165124/http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Oct29/0%2C4670%2CMLIsraelMubarak%2C00.html |archive-date=1 December 2008  }}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6098310.stm|title=Far-right joins Israel coalition |work=[[BBC News]] |date=30 October 2006|access-date=25 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Blair |first=David |author-link=David Blair (journalist) |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/4526533/Far-Right-Israeli-party-enjoys-surge-in-polls-to-become-election-kingmaker.html |title=Far-Right Israeli party enjoys surge in polls to become election kingmaker |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=5 February 2009 |access-date=25 April 2010 |location=London}}</ref> or [[Ultra-nationalists|ultra-nationalist]].<ref name="newsweek1">{{cite news |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/183698|title=Orly Levy, Israel's Rising Right-Wing Candidate|first=Kevin|last=Peraino |work=[[Newsweek]] |date=16 February 2009|access-date=25 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Casey|first=Vinny|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1400139/Whos-who-Israeli-groups.html|title=Who's who: Israeli groups |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=15 October 2003|access-date=25 April 2010|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Toni|last=O'Loughlin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/dec/27/israel-nationalism-beiteinu-likud-gaza |title=Israeli far right gains ground as Gaza rockets fuel tension |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London|date=27 December 2008|access-date=25 April 2010}}</ref> However, in general, Israelis are divided on how to characterize Lieberman's politics.<ref>{{cite news |author=Haviv Rettig Gur |author-link=Haviv Rettig |author2=Abe Selig |url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Lieberman-isnt-racist-Hamas-is |title='Lieberman isn't racist, Hamas is' |newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.haaretz.co.il/hasen/pages/ShArtStEngPE.jhtml?itemNo=830503&contrassID=2&subContrassID=5&title=%27Not%20racist,%20stigmatized%20%27&dyn_server=172.20.5.5 |title=27Not%20racist,%20stigmatized%20%2 |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |date=24 December 2006 |access-date=25 April 2010}}{{dead link|date=September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Abe|last=Selig |url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Is-Avigdor-Lieberman-a-racist-No-but |title=Is Avigdor Lieberman a racist? No, but... |newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> In a 2014 poll conducted in Israel, 62% saw Lieberman as a national leader.<ref name="globes-poll1">{{cite news |url=http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-liberman-as-national-leader-1000917226|title=62% see Liberman as national leader |newspaper=[[Globes (newspaper)|Globes]] |author=Weissman, Lilach |date=13 February 2014 |access-date=28 May 2014}}</ref>

Yisrael Beiteinu has shown support for a [[two-state solution]] and were also noted for a [[secularism|secularist]] approach upon leading new legislation for civil marriage in Israel as well as pushing for some relaxation in the [[giyur|conversion]] process. Several commentators, however, noted that these positions do not coincide with the party's platform.<ref>{{cite news |first=Anshel|last=Pfeffer |date=13 February 2014 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/a-new-jewish-state-1.270047 |title=A new Jewish state |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Aaron|last=Sebag |url=http://www.neurope.eu/articles/92663.php |title=Israel's transition to new leadership – New Europe |publisher=Neurope.eu |access-date=25 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721214721/http://www.neurope.eu/articles/92663.php |archive-date=21 July 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Philippa|last=Runner |url=http://euobserver.com/foreign/27596 |publisher=EUobserver |title=EU urges Israel to stick to peace process |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> These positions which are contradictory to the tradition of [[Israeli right-wing politics|right wing politics in Israel]]<ref>{{cite web |first=Francisco|last=Gil-White |url=http://www.hirhome.com/israel/left_right2.htm |title=On the Orwellian use of the terms 'left' and 'right,' and on the dangers therein to Israeli politics |publisher=Historical and Investigative Research |date=12 April 2006 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> had been explained by [[Gershom Gorenberg]] as that following the [[Six-Day War]], opinions were split regarding the occupied territory, where being right-wing meant a position of holding onto the territory while being left-wing addressed a high level of willingness to give that territory away. He notes Lieberman to not be a right-winger by those terms as he's talking about giving occupied lands as well as land from sovereign Israel.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200704u/avigdor-lieberman |title=Israel Is Our Home |first=Jennie|last=Rothenberg Gritz |work=[[The Atlantic]] |date=14 March 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513145700/http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200704u/avigdor-lieberman |archive-date=13 May 2008}}</ref>

==Controversies==
===Statements towards Arab members of Knesset===
A polarizing figure within Israeli politics, Lieberman is quoted as saying, "I've always been controversial because I offer new ideas. For me to be controversial, I think this is positive."<ref name=greg>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/07/world/middleeast/07mideast.html |title = Israeli Official Discusses Iran And His Controversial Agenda |date=7 December 2006 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |last= Myre |first = Greg |author-link=Greg Myre |page=A10 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> Lieberman has called to establish a border between Israel and the [[West Bank]] so that Israel would include large Jewish settlement blocs and the Palestinian state would include large Arab-Israeli population centers. He proposed that Israel's citizens should sign a [[loyalty oath]] or [[Disenfranchisement#In Israel|lose their]] right to vote.

In November 2006, Lieberman, who described [[Arab members of the Knesset]] that meet with [[Hamas]] as "terror collaborators", called for their execution: "[[World War II]] ended with the [[Nuremberg 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]."<ref name=JpostMay4>{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Lieberman-calls-Arab-MKs-who-meet-with-Hamas-collaborators |title=Lieberman calls Arab MKs who meet with Hamas 'collaborators' |newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |date=4 May 2006 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref>

The comment was attacked as racist by [[Eitan Cabel]], a Labor party representative, and [[Ahmad Tibi]], leader of the Arab party [[Ta'al]] and one-time advisor to [[Yasser Arafat]], who demanded that "a criminal investigation be initiated against Lieberman for violating the law against incitement and racism".<ref name=JpostMay4/><ref name=NAZI>{{cite news |first=Aviram|last=Zino |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3323027,00.html |title=Prosecution: Lieberman's anti-Arab remarks kosher |work=[[Ynet]] |date=2 November 2006 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> Tibi strongly objected to Lieberman's ministerial appointment, describing him as "a racist and a fascist". [[Labor Party (Israel)|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".<ref name=CHARACTER>{{cite news |first=Donald|last=Macintyre |author-link=Donald Macintyre (journalist) |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/labour-minister-quits-over-liebermans-role-422303.html |title=Labour minister quits over Lieberman's role |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=31 October 2006 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref>

In remarks in the [[Knesset]] in March 2008, shortly after 6 March [[Mercaz HaRav massacre|attack]] at Jerusalem's [[Mercaz HaRav]] yeshiva, Lieberman commented that "yesterday's attack can not be disconnected from the Arab MKs incitement, which we hear daily in the Knesset."<ref>{{cite news |date=3 August 2008 |title=Lieberman: Jerusalem attack is product of Arab MK incitement |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/961964.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215044242/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/961964.html |archive-date=15 February 2009}}</ref> Directing his comments at Arab MKs whose comments Lieberman describes as [[Calls for the destruction of Israel|anti-Israel]] incitement, he added that "a new administration will be established and then we will take care of you."<ref>{{cite news |author=Shahar Ilan |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/962767.html |title=Shahar Ilan: Lieberman to Arab MKs: One day we will 'take care of you' |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101101406/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/962767.html |archive-date=1 January 2009}}</ref>

===Statements about Egypt===
In 1998, news reports stated that Lieberman suggested the bombing of the [[Aswan Dam]] in retaliation for Egyptian support for [[Yasser Arafat]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://imeu.net/news/article0014364.shtml |title=Avigdor Lieberman |publisher=[[Institute for Middle East Understanding]] |date=29 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091114111210/http://imeu.net/news/article0014364.shtml |archive-date=14 November 2009 }}</ref><ref name=alarm>{{cite news |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1f80fa76-1293-11de-b816-0000779fd2ac,dwp_uuid=4d51ac52-ee0d-11dd-b791-0000779fd2ac.html |title=Arab alarm over role for Lieberman |author=Andrew England |author2=Heba Saleh |author3=Tobias Buck |newspaper=[[Financial Times]] |date=17 March 2009 |access-date=22 September 2014|url-access=subscription }}</ref> In 2001, reports stated that he told a group of ambassadors from the Former Soviet Union that if Egypt and Israel were ever to face off militarily again, that Israel could bomb the Aswan Dam.<ref name=braces>{{cite news |url=http://forward.com/articles/104068/washington-braces-to-greet-lieberman-as-foreign/? |title=Washington Braces To Greet Lieberman as Foreign Minister |first=Nathan|last=Guttman |newspaper=[[The Jewish Daily Forward]] |date=27 March 2009 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref><ref name=ignore>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/5032256/Egypt-threatens-to-ignore-new-Israeli-foreign-minister.html |title=Egypt threatens to ignore new Israeli foreign minister |author=Dina Kraft |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=22 March 2009 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref>

Since the signing of the [[Egyptian–Israeli Peace Treaty]], which followed Egyptian President [[Anwar Sadat]]'s historic visit to Israel, multiple Israeli heads of state have visited Egypt on numerous occasions. However, Sadat's successor, [[Hosni Mubarak]], visited Israel only once—for [[Yitzhak Rabin]]'s funeral in 1995<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.globes.co.il/news/home.aspx?fid=2&did=1000169390|script-title=he:פגישת פסגה מדינית: רה"מ אולמרט ייפגש עם הנשיא מובארק במצרים |language=he |trans-title=State summit: PM Olmert will meet with President Mubarak in Egypt |newspaper=[[Globes (newspaper)|Globes]] |date=4 January 2007 |access-date=25 April 2010 |last1=צה"ל |first1=גלי }}</ref>—and never participated in talks on Israeli soil. In 2008, while on the [[Knesset]] speaker's podium during its memorial for [[Rehavam Ze'evi]], Lieberman raised the issue and said, "Mubarak never agreed to come here as president. He wants to talk to us? Let him come here. He doesn't want to talk to us? He can go to hell."<ref name="batteredwife"/>

Prime Minister [[Ehud Olmert]] and President [[Shimon Peres]] immediately apologized to the Egyptians. Lieberman accused the two of them of acting like "a battered wife". He explained his belief that the President and Prime Minister were wrong to ask forgiveness from Mubarak in that Egypt had provoked Israel just days earlier by identifying Israel as the enemy in a massive military exercise and that caricatures in the Egyptian media are akin to [[Nazi]] propaganda.<ref name="batteredwife">{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3616101,00.html|title=Lieberman: Israel acting like battered wife with Egypt|date=11 January 2008 |publisher=[[Ynetnews]] |access-date=12 April 2009}}</ref>

After Netanyahu began his term as prime minister in March 2009, government aides met with Egyptian officials and told them that Lieberman's role should not be a reason for tension between the two countries.<ref name=ignore/> News reports had previously been issued claiming that Egypt would not work with the Netanyahu administration unless Lieberman personally apologized.<ref name=Turk/><ref name=invite>{{cite news |first=Herb|last=Keinon |author-link=Herb Keinon |url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Mubarak-invites-Netanyahu-for-talks |title=Mubarak invites Netanyahu for talks |newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |date=7 April 2009 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> The administration labeled them "inaccurate and out of all proportion".<ref name=Turk>{{cite news |url=http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/67850/-no-egyptian-ultimatum-on-lieberman-.html |title='no Egyptian Ultimatum On Lieberman' |work=[[Turkish Weekly]] |date=22 March 2009 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> On 9 April, Mubarak invited Netanyahu to meet with him personally in [[Sharm e-Sheikh]].<ref name=invite/> Unofficial channels for discussion were also reportedly being considered.<ref>{{cite news |date=24 April 2014 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/egypt-mp-lieberman-not-welcome-in-cairo-unless-he-apologizes-1.274771 |title=Egypt MP: Lieberman not welcome in Cairo unless he apologizes |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref>

During a meeting with Egyptian intelligence chief [[Omar Suleiman (politician)|Omar Suleiman]] in April 2009, Lieberman made an attempt at an apology, expressing "his respect and appreciation for Egypt's leading role in the region and his personal respect for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Minister Suleiman".<ref name="ICEJ">{{cite news|title=Egypt mending fences with Lieberman |url=http://www.icej.org/article/egypt_mending_fences_with_lieberman |access-date=24 June 2010 |newspaper=ICEJ News |date=23 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211072605/http://www.icej.org/article/egypt_mending_fences_with_lieberman |archive-date=11 February 2011 }}</ref>

On 21 August, Lieberman said that it is important for Israel to make sure that the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty is upheld, and not to remain silent as Egyptian military forces enter the Sinai. Concern was raised by Israeli officials over Egyptian failure to notify Israel about the deployment of tanks in the Sinai, which violates the peace treaty. Lieberman said, "We must make sure that every detail is upheld, otherwise we'll find ourselves in a slippery slope as far as the peace treaty is concerned."<ref name="Liebs">{{cite news |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4271499,00.html|title=Lieberman: Don't let Egypt get away with violations |publisher=[[Ynetnews]] |date=21 August 2012| access-date=21 August 2012|author=Somfalvi, Attila}}</ref> As instability in the Sinai continued into the next month, Lieberman responded to calls to deploy more troops with "The problem in Sinai is not the size of the forces, it is their readiness to fight, to put pressure and to carry out the job as is needed."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/israel-fm-egypt-peace-deal-17300638 |title=Israel FM Says No Changes to Egypt Peace Deal |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=23 September 2012 |access-date=27 June 2020 |archive-date=23 September 2012 |archive-url=http://web.archive.bibalex.org/web/20120923092222/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/israel-fm-egypt-peace-deal-17300638 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 28 August, Lieberman invited Egyptian President Morsi to visit Israel, after being encouraged by Morsi'is statements in late August that the Israel-Egypt peace treaty was secure. Lieberman said, "We certainly hope to see Morsi hosting official Israeli representatives soon; we want to see him giving interviews to Israeli media; we want to see him in Jerusalem as President (Shimon) Peres' guest."<ref name="ynet invitation">{{cite news | url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4274149,00.html|title=Lieberman invites Morsi to visit Israel |publisher=[[Ynetnews]] |date=28 August 2012|access-date=28 August 2012|author1=Fyler, Boaz |author2=Magnezi, Aviel }}</ref>

===Statements about Palestinians===
Following a series of terror attacks on Israeli civilians perpetrated by Palestinian militants during a three-day period in March 2002, Lieberman proposed issuing an ultimatum to the [[Palestinian National Authority]] to halt all militant activity or face wide-ranging attacks. He said, "if it were up to me I would notify the Palestinian Authority that tomorrow at ten in the morning we would bomb all their places of business in Ramallah, for example."<ref name=hard/><ref name=open>{{cite news |url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-1727248,00.html |script-title=he:הימין: לפתוח במלחמה; השמאל: לצאת מהשטחים |language=he |trans-title=The Right: Open War; The Left: to Leave the Occupied Territories |author=Smadar Shmueli |publisher=[[Ynet]] |date=4 March 2009 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> This led then&ndash;[[Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel|Foreign Minister]] [[Shimon Peres]] to respond that excessive military measures could lead to accusations of war crimes<ref name=hard>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/46454,features,avigdor-lieberman-israels-new-hard-man,2?lost=1 |title=Israel's Rising Star |first=Philip|last=Jacobson |magazine=[[The First Post]] |date=5 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210122647/http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/46454%2Cfeatures%2Cavigdor-lieberman-israels-new-hard-man%2C2?lost=1 |archive-date=10 February 2009 }}</ref> and that the Israeli administration must not "escalate the situation".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/we-risk-charges--of-war-crimes-peres-tells-cabinet-653179.html |title=We risk charges of war crimes, Peres tells Cabinet |author=Paul Peachey |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=7 March 2002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130092907/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/we-risk-charges--of-war-crimes-peres-tells-cabinet-653179.html |archive-date=30 January 2009 }}</ref>

In July 2003, reacting to a commitment made by then Prime Minister [[Ariel Sharon]] to the US, where amnesty could be given to approximately 350 Palestinian prisoners including members of [[Hamas]] and [[Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine|Islamic Jihad]], Lieberman rejected a chance to participate in the related committee and said "It would be better to drown these prisoners in the [[Dead Sea]] if possible, since that's the lowest point in the world,"<ref name="Guardian1">{{cite news |author=Chris McGreal |author-link=Chris McGreal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jul/25/israel |title=Palestinian PM's leadership at stake when he pleads with Bush to help free detainees |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=25 July 2003|access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref><ref name=JPost1>{{cite news |last=Abu Toameh |first=Khaled |author-link=Khaled Abu Toameh |date=21 July 2003 |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-75596261.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023063131/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-75596261.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 October 2012 |title=PA prepares own dossier on 'incitement' |newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |access-date=22 September 2014|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name=WSJ1>{{cite news |last=Chazan |first=Guy |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB105952212075781800?mod=googlewsj |title=Hawkish Palestinian TV Starts to Incubate Doves. |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=30 July 2003 |access-date=22 September 2014}}{{subscription required}}</ref> Lieberman continued, according to [[Galei Tzahal]] ('Israel Army Radio'), by stating his willingness, as Minister of Transport, to supply buses to take the prisoners there.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.walla.co.il/?w=//409686 |title=ליברמן הציע להטביע את האסירים הפלסטינים בים |trans-title=Lieberman offered to drown the Palestinian prisoners at sea |publisher=[[Walla!]] |date=6 July 2003 |access-date=22 September 2014}}<br />- On Galei Tzahal it was reported that Lieberman said at the cabinet meeting that as Minister of Transport he's willing to provide buses to take them at sea and drown them there.<br />{{langx|he|בגלי צה"ל דווח שליברמן אמר בישיבת הממשלה שכשר התחבורה הוא מוכן לספק אוטובוסים לאסירים שיקחו אותם לים ולהטביע אותם שם.}}</ref> Lieberman's suggestion also led to confrontation between Lieberman and Arab-Israeli MKs [[Ahmed Tibi]] ([[Hadash]]-[[Ta'al]]), [[Jamal Zahalka]] ([[Balad (political party)|Balad]]), [[Taleb el-Sana]], Abdelmalek Dahamsha ([[United Arab List]]) as well as then opposition leader [[Shimon Peres]].<ref name=Haaretz2006>{{cite news |first=Gideon|last=Alon |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/lieberman-blasted-for-suggesting-drowning-palestinian-prisoners-1.93554 |title=Lieberman blasted for suggesting drowning Palestinian prisoners |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |date=8 July 2006 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref>

In January 2009, during the [[Gaza War (2008–09)|2008-09 Gaza War]], Lieberman argued that Israel "must continue to fight Hamas just like the [[United States declaration of war on Japan|United States]] did with the [[Imperial Japan]]ese during [[Japan during World War II|World War II]]. Then, too, the [[Occupation of Japan|occupation of the country]] was unnecessary."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Lieberman-Do-to-Hamas-what-the-US-did-to-Japan |title=Lieberman: Do to Hamas what the US did to Japan |newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=13 January 2009 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> This threat has been interpreted by some media commentators, including Turkish Prime Minister [[Recep Tayyip Erdogan]], as an allusion to [[Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki|Hiroshima and Nagasaki]] and as advocacy for a [[nuclear warfare|nuclear strike]] on Gaza.<ref name=watch/><ref name="ma'annews">{{cite news|title=Israeli politician calls for nuclear strike on Gaza |publisher=[[Ma'an News Agency]] |date=13 January 2009 |url=http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=34924 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222014421/http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails |archive-date=22 December 2010 }}</ref><ref name="nevegordon1">{{cite news |title=Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's shame |first=Neve |last=Gordon |author-link=Neve Gordon |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/mar/25/avigdor-lieberman-binyamin-netanyahu-israel |date=25 March 2009 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/daily-dish/archive/2009/03/netanyahus-love-bombs-to-america/204412/ |title=Netanyahu's Love Bombs To America |first=Andrew |last=Sullivan |author-link=Andrew Sullivan |work=[[The Atlantic]] |date=17 March 2009 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Robert Tait |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/oct/26/turkey-iran1 |title='Iran is our friend,' says Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date= 26 October 2009|access-date=25 April 2010 }}</ref>

In January 2014, according to ''Haaretz'', Lieberman would not support any peace agreement that did not include the exchange of Israeli Arab land and population. Lieberman stated: "I will not support any peace deal that will allow the return of even one Palestinian refugee to Israel."<ref name="Lieberman2014"/>

On 8 March 2015, he stated at a conference in Herzliya:

<blockquote>'Whoever is with us should get everything. Whoever is against us, there's nothing else to do. We have to lift up an axe and remove his head, otherwise we won't survive here. There is no reason that [[Umm al-Fahm]] will be part of Israel.'<ref>[http://www.mako.co.il/news-military/politics-q1_2015/Article-84b1c43a9a9fb41004.htm] News 2 | 2 News | Published 16:58 03.08.15</ref></blockquote>
This was interpreted by the [[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]] (JTA) as meaning that Israeli Arab citizens who betray or oppose the Jewish state should be beheaded.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forward.com/articles/216287/avigdor-liberman-suggests-beheading-israeli-arabs/|title=Avigdor Liberman Suggests 'Beheading' Israeli-Arabs Who Oppose Jewish State|work=[[The Forward]]|date=9 March 2015|access-date=20 October 2022}}</ref> However, Lieberman supports a territorial partition of Israel, whereby Israel would cut off Arab-Israeli areas and transfer them to a future Palestinian state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/lieberman-presents-plans-for-population-exchange-at-un-1.316197|title=Lieberman presents plans for population exchange at UN|work=Haaretz|first=Barak|last=Ravid|date=28 September 2010|access-date=20 October 2022}}</ref>

In April 2018, Lieberman said: "You have to understand, there are no innocent people in the [[Gaza Strip]]. Everyone has a connection to Hamas. Everyone receives a salary from Hamas. Those who are trying to challenge us at the border and breach it belong to Hamas's military wing."<ref name="jpost">{{cite news |last=Lazaroff|first=Tovah|url=https://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/There-are-no-innocents-in-Gaza-says-Israeli-defense-minister-549173|title='The Arabs have to be afraid of us'|newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=8 April 2018|access-date=1 June 2018}}</ref>
During the [[Gaza war]], Lieberman continued to reinforce this view, stating on November 30 that "there are no innocents in Gaza."<ref>{{cite tweet| user=AvigdorLiberman| number=1730297081959530685| title=אין חפים מפשע בעזה| author=Avigdor Lieberman| date=30 November 2023}}</ref>

===Relations with Russia===
[[File:Avigdor Lieberman and Sergey Shoigu, 2017.jpg|thumb|Lieberman with Russian Defense Minister [[Sergey Shoygu]] in October 2017.]]
After the [[2011 Russian legislative election|2011 Duma election]], in which Russian [[President of Russia|President]] [[Vladimir Putin]]'s party [[United Russia]] won, Lieberman was the first international politician to describe them as "absolutely fair, free and democratic".<ref>{{cite news |first=Barak|last=Ravid |agency=Reuters |date=7 December 2011 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/misc/article-print-page/lieberman-russia-elections-were-fair-and-democratic-1.400189?trailingPath=2.169%2C2.216%2C2.217%2C |title=Lieberman: Russia elections were fair and democratic |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/news/europe/21573600-warmer-relations-israel-do-not-stop-russia-backing-syria-and-iran-vladimir-putin-and-holy |title=Vladimir Putin and the holy land |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=16 March 2013 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> Putin has described Lieberman's own political career as "brilliant".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/putin-lauds-expat-lieberman-s-brilliant-political-career-in-israel-1.2767 |title=Putin lauds expat Lieberman's 'brilliant political career' in Israel |agency=Associated Press |date=4 December 2009 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> Lieberman's pro-Russian stance and perceived friendly relations with Putin have also drawn criticism from other Israelis.<ref name="putin">{{cite magazine|magazine=The New Yorker |first=David|last=Remnick |author-link=David Remnick |date=28 October 2012 |url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/netanyahus-dark-choice |title=Netanyahu's Dark Choice |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> Lieberman and his party have approved the Russian absorption of Crimea.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gottesman|first=Evan|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/.premium-the-decline-and-fall-of-putin-s-favorite-israeli-politician-1.6805944|title=The Decline and Fall of Putin's Favorite Israeli Politician|work=Haaretz|date=3 January 2019|access-date=6 February 2019}}</ref> While defense minister, he told Russian media during an interview in May 2018, that he did not agree with the West's disapproval of Russia's actions in Syria or with [[International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War|international sanctions]] against Russia.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gross|first=Judah Ari|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liberman-to-russian-media-israel-did-not-join-western-action-against-moscow/|title=<!-- Error is in the source. -->Liberman to Russian media: Israel ‘did not join’ Western action against Moscow|work=The Times of Israel|date=May 2018|access-date=6 February 2019}}</ref>

Controversy also emerged when it was revealed that a chairman of Lieberman's party, [[Leon Litinetski]], was also employed by the Russian government, as a chairman of the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots, a position appointed by the Kremlin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.722073?v=4CA5556B0D5967C3CE42FDFE560E76AA|title=The dubious ties between Lieberman's man and Moscow|work=Haaretz|first=Liza|last=Rozovsky|date=29 May 2016|access-date=20 October 2022}}</ref>

==Investigations and allegations==
===Conviction for assault===
On 24 September 2001, Lieberman acknowledged in the Jerusalem District Court that he hit a twelve-year-old youth from [[Tekoa, Gush Etzion|Tekoa]], who had hit his son. The incident occurred in December 1999 in the [[Nokdim]] settlement. After his son was beaten by a group of children, Lieberman located one of the boys in a trailer and hit him in the face. After the boy fell and was injured, Lieberman grabbed him by the shirt-collar and arm, took him back to his home in Tekoa and threatened that he would attack him again if he returned to Nokdim.<ref name=globes_assault>{{cite news |url=http://www.globes.co.il/news/home.aspx?fid=2&did=523942 |script-title=he:ליברמן הורשע בבית המשפט בעיסקת טיעון בתקיפת קטין ואיומים |language=he |trans-title=Lieberman was convicted in court in a plea bargain with assaulting a minor and threats |newspaper=[[Globes (newspaper)|Globes]] |date=24 September 2001 |access-date=25 April 2010}}</ref><ref name=courtrecord_assault>{{cite web|url=http://info1.court.gov.il/Prod01/ManamHTML.nsf/7990A9BFEC001F5242256AD20060A81B/$FILE/D925DA0750B1314242256AD200242994.html?OpenElement |title=Court Record (Hebrew) |publisher=Info1.court.gov.il |date=17 December 1999 |access-date=20 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224113314/http://info1.court.gov.il/Prod01/ManamHTML.nsf/7990A9BFEC001F5242256AD20060A81B/%24FILE/D925DA0750B1314242256AD200242994.html?OpenElement |archive-date=24 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He was charged with assaulting and threatening him. Lieberman confessed to the crime and plead guilty as part of a [[plea bargain]]. The judge ultimately ruled that Lieberman must pay the child a compensation of 10,000 shekels, and an additional fine of 7,500 shekels.<ref name="globes_assault" /><ref name="courtrecord_assault" />

===Corruption investigation and trial===
Some of Lieberman's connections with local and foreign businessmen were under police investigation. Lieberman allegedly received millions of shekels from various entrepreneurs while serving as member of Knesset; under Israeli law, MKs are not allowed to receive any payment beyond their salary. One claim was that [[Michael Cherney]] paid a company called Path to the East large amounts of money between the years 1999 and 2006, and that these sums were then allegedly passed on to Lieberman as a bribe. Other allegations concern a company called M.L.1, founded by Lieberman's daughter Michal when she was 21.<ref>{{cite news |author=Uri Blau |author-link=Uri Blau |date=7 April 2014 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/magazine/who-s-the-boss-1.217557 |title=Who's the boss? |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> These allegations concern money transferred to M.L.1 from unknown sources outside Israel; the money was later allegedly used for paying salaries to Avigdor and Michal Lieberman.<ref name="kupa">{{cite news |author=[[Uri Blau]] |author2=Alex Levac |author2-link=Alex Levac |url=http://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/1.1249131 |script-title=he:הקופה הקטנה והתסריט שכתב יו"ר ישראל ביתנו אביגדור ליברמן |trans-title=The Small Fund and the Screenplay Written by Israel Beitenu Leader Avigdor Lieberman |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |date=6 March 2009 |language=he |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> Lieberman was also under investigation for receiving a bribe from Austrian-Jewish businessman [[Martin Schlaff]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Hillel|last=Fendel |author-link=Hillel Fendel |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/95989 |title=Police Say There's Evidence Linking Sharon to $3 Million Bribe |publisher=[[Arutz Sheva]] |date=3 January 2006 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref>

Lieberman denied all allegations of wrongdoing in these cases, and claims that the police are conspiring against him. In particular, he has pointed to the proximity of his investigation to the [[2009 Israeli election]]s and said that such investigations are "part of my routine before every parliamentary election."<ref name="kupa"/> Allegations of bias on the part of the police have also been reported in [[Arutz Sheva]], which reported that the investigation, which had been "ongoing for years, suddenly became active again once [Lieberman] left the government" in January 2008.<ref>{{cite news |author=Ezra HaLevi |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/125032 |title=Exposé Links Olmert, Lieberman and Sharon to Jericho Casino |publisher=[[Arutz Sheva]] |date=24 January 2008 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref>

On 2 April 2009, Lieberman was questioned by police on suspicion of corruption for at least seven hours at the national squad headquarters in central Israel. It was part of an ongoing investigation examining his business dealings. Lieberman denied all allegations. He claimed the investigation has been dragged out, and had filed a petition to the court requesting a speedy process.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2009/04/200942145820429387.html
|title=Israeli FM questioned over graft |publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]] |date=2 April 2009 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref>

On 24 May 2010 the [[Israel Police]] recommended Lieberman's indictment for breach of trust, regarding the suspected receipt of classified information concerning ongoing criminal investigations into his activities. Former ambassador to [[Belarus]], [[Ze'ev Ben Aryeh]] was also recommended for indictment.<ref>{{cite news |author=Tomer Zarchin |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israel-police-indict-avigdor-lieberman-for-breach-of-trust-1.291999 |title=Israel Police: Indict Avigdor Lieberman for breach of trust |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |date=24 May 2010 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> On 13 April 2011, the State Prosecutor's Office announced that it had decided to charge Lieberman with [[fraud]], [[money laundering]], [[English trusts law|breach of trust]] and [[witness tampering]].<ref name=ynetnews>{{cite news|last=Glickman|first=Aviad|title=Lieberman to face criminal indictment|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4055903,00.html|access-date=14 April 2011 |publisher=[[Ynetnews]] |date=13 April 2011}}</ref> The pre-indictment hearing was set for 17–18 January 2012.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bar-Zohar |first=Ophir |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/lieberman-indictment-hearing-set-for-january-17-1.405161?localLinksEnabled=false |title=Lieberman indictment hearing set for January 17 |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |date=3 January 2012 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> On 13 December 2012, a [[CNN]] breaking news blog post stated that the Israeli Justice Ministry had decided to only charge him with breach of trust and fraud, and not the more serious [[witness tampering]] and [[money laundering]] corruption charges.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/13/israels-foreign-minister-to-be-charged-with-breach-of-trust-fraud/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20140922222723/http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/13/israels-foreign-minister-to-be-charged-with-breach-of-trust-fraud/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=22 September 2014 | title=Israel's foreign minister to be charged with breach of trust, fraud |publisher=[[CNN]] | date=13 December 2012 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> on 14 December 2012, Lieberman announced that he was removing his immunity and resigned as foreign minister.<ref name="Hard-Line Israeli Foreign Minister Resigns">{{cite news |first=Jodi|last=Rudoren |date=14 December 2012 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/world/middleeast/avigdor-lieberman-israeli-foreign-minister-resigns.html |title=Hard-Line Israeli Foreign Minister Resigns |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref>

Lieberman's trial before the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court began on 17 February 2013 and ended on 6 November 2013 with an acquittal. The three judges voted unanimously to acquit him. In the verdict, they wrote that while Lieberman had acted improperly in failing to inform the Foreign Ministry of his past dealings with Ben Aryeh, he was not guilty of criminal activity, as he had not been aware of the seriousness of the circumstances, and his appointment of Ben Aryeh had not been a promotion.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Revital|last1=Hovel |first2=Jonathan|last2=Lis |date=6 November 2013 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/1.556563 |title=Lieberman acquittal paves way for return to Foreign Ministry |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> Lieberman returned to his position as foreign minister on 11 November 2013, after the [[Cabinet of Israel|Israeli cabinet]] had approved his re-appointment to the office the previous day.

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Avigdor Lieberman}}
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Portal|Biography|Israel|Politics}}
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*{{Haaretztopic|Avigdor_Lieberman}}
*{{JPosttopic|Avigdor_Lieberman}}
*{{NYTtopic|people/l/avigdor_lieberman}}

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