Israel's foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman
He's been described by his enemies as Satan, an extremist or Israel's own Putin. But for Israeli politician Avigdor Lieberman, only one name matters: kingmaker. ( See pictures of Israel commemorating the 60th anniversary of its founding.)
Lieberman, leader and founder of Israel's surging right-wing Yisreal Beitenu party, will be the man everyone wants to talk to in the wake of Tuesday's election for Israel's 120-seat Knesset parliament. Israelis demanding security and stability helped his party earn 15 seats and finish a strong third to electoral stalwarts Likud and Kadima, even as detractors slammed Lieberman as a hardliner and a virulent anti-Arab racist. Since no party was able to claim a simple majority, either Likud or Kadima will likely need to form a governing coalition with Yisreal Beitenu, ensuring Lieberman a prominent place in the new administration.
Fast Facts
• Born in 1958 in the part of the former Soviet Union now known as Moldova. Married, with three children.
• Emigrated to Israel in 1978, where he found work as a bouncer at a nightclub in Beersheva.
• Received a B.A. from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in political science and international relations.
• Used his Soviet roots to form a political base, founding the Zionist Forum for Soviet Jewry during the mid-1980s. He used this to launch himself into a prominent role in the Likud party, serving as the party's director from 1993 to 1996 and in the office of the prime minister from 1996 to 1997.
• Founded the Yisreal Beitenu party in 1999 as an offshoot to Likud, when he was angered by concecessions the party was making to Palestinians.• Elected to the Knesset in 1999, Lieberman has served as Minister of National Infrastructure and Minister of Transportation. He was sacked as Minister of Transportation by Ariel Sharon in 2004 after refusing to support Sharon's plan to disengage from Gaza.
• Has pushed to institute a mandatory loyalty oath and advocates stripping anyone who refused to sign it of their right to vote or hold public office.
• Advocates a reduction of Israel's Arab population by redrawing borders along Palestinian-controlled areas to cede select towns to the Palestinian Authority.
• Has called for the death penalty for any Arab Knesset member found to be collaborating with Hamas.
• A secular Jew, Lieberman has drawn criticism from religious conservatives for saying he would allow civil marriage ceremonies and Arab self-rule in areas of Jerusalem — raising fears he plans to "de-Judaise" Israel.
• Has been mired in a corruption scandal for the past several years. Police allege he may have taken bribes while serving as a cabinet minister and suspect irregularities in his campaign finances preceding his run for a Knesset seat. Lieberman has repeatedly denied any improper dealings.
Quotes By
"It's true that Tzipi Livni won a surprise victory. But what is more important is that the right-wing camp won a clear majority ... We want a right-wing government." (UPI, February 11th, 2009)
"Israel is under a dual terrorist attack, from within and from without. And terrorism from within is always more dangerous than terrorism from without." (Associated Press, February 4th, 2009)
"We must continue to fight Hamas like the United States did with Japan in World War II." (Jerusalem Post, February 4th, 2009)
"Negotiations on the basis for land for peace are a mistake...and will destroy us." (Reuters, January 16th, 2009)
"The dividing line does not run between Jew and Arab. The dividing line is between those who support terror and those who oppose it." (Seattle Times, February 8th, 2009)
Quotes About"Whoever votes for Lieberman gives strength to Satan."
— Conservative Israeli religious leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef (Telegraph, February 10th, 2009)
"Many of our politicians are racist against Arabs, but didn't dare speak it aloud. But Lieberman does. It's what we get for years of saying that we had nobody to talk to among the Arabs for peace."
— Protestor Hannah Safran, outside a rally for Lieberman (TIME, February 10th, 2009)
"If you liked Mussolini, if you were missing Stalin, you'll love Lieberman."
— Unnamed member of Israel's left-wing Meretz party. (Telegraph, February 10th, 2009)
"He says things that appeal. He talks about the things people are afraid of."
— A 29-year-old Nokdim resident, talking about his support for Lieberman. (Telegraph, February 10th, 2009)