Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced Friday that he plans to
resign from his position, following the Attorney General's decision to
indict him on charges of fraud and breach of trust.
"Though I know I committed no crime... I have decided to resign my
post as foreign minister and deputy prime minister," Mr Lieberman said
in a statement released by his office
"Following 16 years of
investigations against me, I will now be able to end this matter quickly
and without delays, and finally clear my name. "I am doing this also because I believe that the citizens of Israel are
entitled to go to the polls after the matter has been decided on, that
is to say, that a legal ruling will be decided on before the elections
and this way I will be able to continue to serve the state of Israel and
its citizens as part of a strong, united leadership that would tackle
the security, diplomatic, and economic challenges facing Israel," Lieberman said in
the statement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Lieberman on Friday, and
told him that he hoped he would prove his innocence soon, and that he will quickly return to
serving in a senior government position.
Lieberman will remain number two on the
Likud/Yisrael Beitenu list, and is expected to garner the sympathy vote while not serving as a cabinet Minister.
