AN ultra-rightwinger, who is said to favour flattening Tehran if Iran develops nuclear weapons, has emerged as the politician gaining the most ground in next week’s general election in Israel.
Avigdor Lieberman, 50, is advancing so rapidly in the polls that his Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home) party is set to overtake Labour and become the third largest party in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.
In a recent interview Lieberman said: “I definitely see myself as ready for the post of defence minister.” Although it is unlikely he would be granted access to Israel’s nuclear arsenal, he could be in line for a senior post in a coalition government led by Binyamin Netanyahu, head of the centre-right Likud party and frontrunner in the polls.
Lieberman was born in Russia and emigrated to Israel as a teenager. His party, which strongly opposes the peace process, has a powerful appeal to Russian immigrants despite corruption allegations against members of his circle.
Last week police arrested seven of his associates, including his 26-year-old daughter Michal, during an investigation into suspected money laundering, fraud and breach of trust.
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