
AMIR COHEN/REUTERS
Israeli far-right leader Avigdor Lieberman (left) is seen sworn in as Israel’s Foreign Minister at the parliament in Jerusalem on Monday.
JERUSALEM — Hard-line Israeli politician Avigdor Lieberman has been sworn in as the country’s foreign minister.
Lieberman returns to the post after being cleared last week of all charges in a long-running corruption case.
AMIR COHEN/REUTERS
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and Finance Minister Yair Lapid (whose back is to the camera) congratulate Lieberman after his swearing in.
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Lieberman, an ally and sometime rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stepped down as foreign minister late last year when he was indicted on graft charges.
AMIR COHEN/REUTERS
Netanyahu (right) had left Lieberman’s (left) position vacant until hearing the verdict on Lieberman’s corruption charges which were cleared last week.
Since winning re-election in January, Netanyahu had left the post vacant for Lieberman while awaiting the verdict.
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Late Monday, Israel’s parliament approved the appointment. The two men warmly hugged after the vote.
Lieberman will likely use his significant political clout to argue against concessions to the Palestinians, making him an unpredictable player in already troubled U.S.-backed Mideast peace efforts.