VZCZCXRO3415
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHTV #1718 2151431
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031431Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2890
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 001718 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV IS
SUBJECT: POLICE FORMALLY RECOMMEND INDICTMENT OF FOREIGN 
MINISTER LIBERMAN 
 
REF: A. TEL AVIV 01579 
     ¶B. TEL AVIV 01437 
     ¶C. TEL AVIV 01337 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Israeli police on August 2 recommended to Attorney 
General Menachem Mazuz that he indict Foreign Minister 
Avidgor Liberman on charges of bribery, money laundering, 
obstruction of justice, fraud, and breach of trust.  The 
recommendation followed an eight-year investigation into 
Liberman's business activities.  Mazuz is expected to make a 
decision in approximately two months on whether to indict the 
Yisrael Beitenu leader.  Liberman's immediate reaction was to 
accuse the police of persecuting him, and he suggested there 
were political motivations behind the investigation.  On 
August 3, however, Liberman told a meeting of his faction 
that his conscience was clear and that he did not expect an 
indictment, but that if indicted he would immediately resign 
from his ministry, and within three to five months he would 
also resign from the Knesset and from his position as party 
chairman. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) The Israeli press covered the developments closely 
this weekend, but there was no media frenzy, as the police 
recommendation was widely expected.  Pundits are speculating 
as to who would take over for Liberman should he resign, but 
it is largely a guessing game.  Liberman's influence over the 
party is so pervasive that his colleagues are reluctant to 
speak of a "day after."  The assessments we provided in ref 
cables are still valid, and we will update as events warrant. 
 
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