Middle East - Palestinian minister interview

Legal probe into Lieberman could take years, says Riad Malki

Article published on the 2009-04-03 Latest update 2009-04-03 16:12 TU

Avigdor Lieberman after meeting President Shimon Peres in February
(Photo: Reuters)

Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riad Malki, says the legal investigation into the business dealings of Israel's new Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, could take years. Lieberman is the leader of a hard-right group which opposes the foundation of a Palestinian state.

"They are interrogating him based on issues that he is accused of seven or eight years ago and still they are interrogating him today,' said Malki after Lieberman was questioned by police for at least seven hours Thursday over corruption allegations.

He says the process could last up to ten years and doubts if the justice system will prove impartial , "not to mention that the Israeli Justice Minister is a friend of him. He insisted that he should be appointed in that post and the Minister of Internal Security is a member of his own party."

Police said Lieberman was questioned under caution on suspicion of "bribery, money-laundering and breach of trust".

Lieberman, who was sworn in as Foreign Minister on Tuesday, has denied any wrong-doing and says the corruption probe is politically motivated.

He emerged from this year's election as a power-broker, despite causing controversy with calls for an oath of loyalty aimed at Israeli Arabs and a lack of enthusiasm for the peace process with the Palestinians.

Malki insists that high office has not cooled Lieberman down.

"He continued the same kind of statements that are discriminatory, racist in their nature and really calling for confrontation rather than calling for reconciliation and for dialogue," he says.