Middle East - Israel

Foreign minister says he'll quit if charged

Article published on the 2009-08-03 Latest update 2009-08-03 13:02 TU

Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Jerusalem, 3 August, 2009.
(Photo: Reuters/Ronen Zvulun)

Avigdor Lieberman has promised to resign from his government post and his parliamentary seat if the Israeli judicial authorities decide to follow up police recommendations to charge him with corruption. However, Lieberman denies any wrong-doing.

"I am convinced that next year, and in two years, I will still be foreign affairs minister."

51-year-old Lieberman is the leader of the Yisrael Beitenu Party which is the second largest in the right-wing government coalition.

Whether Lieberman is charged, as the police recommend, with receiving illegal election campaign donations, is up to the attorney general Menahem Mazuz. The police are due to submit their report in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Lieberman told a group of United States' Republican Party politicians visiting Israel, that Israel is willing to enter into direct peace talks immediately with Syria.However he ruled out returning the Golan Heights to Damascus.

The Golan Heights were captured in 1967 and annexed in 1981 and that Syria wants back.

Eric Cantor, a member of the house of Representatives and the only Jewish Republican in national US politics,is leading the delegation. He said before departure that the trip was aimed at reassuring Israel Washington's support.

A delegation of US Democratic Party politicians are due to make a similar trip starting on 9 August 2009.