Avigdor Lieberman

Avigdor Lieberman (, , ; born Evet Lvovich Liberman, , 5 June 1958) is a Soviet-born Israeli politician who served as Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2009 to 2012, and again from 2013 to 2015. He also served as member of the Knesset and as Deputy Prime Minister of Israel. Lieberman's first term as Foreign Minister began in 2009 and ended with his resignation in December 2012, due to an investigation in which he was charged with fraud and breach of trust. He is the founder and leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, whose electoral base are the immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Following Lieberman's resignation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stepped in and served as acting Foreign Minister for the duration of Lieberman's trial. Lieberman's trial ended with an acquittal on 6 November 2013, and he resumed his post as Foreign Minister on 11 November 2013. He announced his resignation as foreign minister on 4 May 2015 and that his party would not join the new coalition.