Liberman returns as Israeli foreign minister

Avigdor Liberman [Israel Sun photo]

JERUSALEM   — Former Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman returned to his post a week after being acquitted on a charge of fraud and breach of trust.

Liberman took the oath in the Knesset on Monday night after his reappointment was approved by the legislative body. On Sunday, the Cabinet approved Liberman’s reappointment.

The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court ruled Nov. 6 that Liberman did not unreasonably advance Zeev Ben Aryeh, Israel’s former ambassador to Belarus, to new positions when he was serving previously as foreign minister.

Liberman had resigned his post last December shortly before he was indicted.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and the Yisrael Beiteinu party headed by Liberman are expected to hold separate meetings to discuss ending their formal political alliance, Haaretz reported.