I am not addressing the Court finding, and whether the prosecution has said the last word on the 17years nightmare for some, but deservely so from others. Law is an ass, where in so-called liberal-democratic countries forms the most important triumvirate Legislative, Executive and the judiciary. Till it showes otherwise (ethnic biases Edry and Kazzaz V, Hershorn and Olmert, defence incapacity: the so-called criminal gangs, but ACCENT?! just ask the Moroccan Jews in Israel, when in front of a Judge). The Article is shitty because it tries to avoid the substance of the trial while bringing up, as a great subterfuge for guilt, the question of Accen. Mr. Liberman is part and parcel of Israel political map for many years, suddenly is not accepted because of his accent. Now, I am very much in aggreement that the whole Judiciary apparatus in Israel looks more like Russian's than French's, lets not bring up the eco-system in Britain. There is an urgent need for lots and lots of REFORMS on the matter. The opinion of the writer is completely suspected as being personally biased in favour for Mr. Liberman, regadless of guilt and innocence, which is not the case.

Regardless of what has been the ground of such long investigation, it must be admitted that over the past 20+ years there has been an extremely strong political fight between two opposite ideologies: the post-Zionism ("cosmopolitan", so to say), and the original Zionism. An extreme pressure was applied to Israel because the globalization demanded complete abandonment of all national and religious fundamentals, whereas Zionism is very mush the opposite: the idea of national state. Unlike the left-leaning part of the political spectrum, the rightists have always been in favor of strong national state; and the latter point of view has finally won, because it is more logical. It must be pointed out that the modern rightists are, in essence, very close to the original political platform of David Ben-Gurion, which is put very clearly in the Declaration of Independence.

of their own name. The Peter Lorre look/sound a-like created a party whose policy plank in its platform is to expel you from the land of your own name, the land you love and protects you. Some right winger huh?

Lieberman was lucky that he was not convicted. We must remember that the judiciary, in this case the, government prosecution, the media, academia,, and the government bureaucracy are all controlled by elites whose ideology is anti-zionist, anti-religious and in this case anti-Russian. If you do not fit their ideology and or identity, you are persecuted. Like the injustice of the Katsav trial, this case illustrates corruption, prejudice and hatred at the highest levels of Israeli society.

As a first generation American, my folks spoke with an accent, however, they also spoke many languages, being from the Ukraine, Russian, Yiddish, (* the international language of all Jews back then, when Hebrew was a near dead language..) Polish, French, German, plus, several more languages just for the hell of it. They also brought with them, a strong work ethic and never took welfare. And , one in particular was a genius, my mother.. No scandal, no debates just hard working new Americans who thanked G-d for being in America. Love Lieberman, he's a strong Jew, mentally, spiritually, and a great defender of Israel. He's been 'vetted' in the harshest manner, he didn't deserve it but, maintained his innocence and was proven innocent and unblemished. PLEASE KEEP BUILDING !!!

I don't know why Ynet pushes such uneducated and devisive drivel on its pages.Liberman may have his faults - and I, for one, am genuinely disappointed by the gross disparity between many of his promises and actions - but this op-ed is absolutely vile.

He makes an awful foreign minister with his straight talking attitudes which the west hates and I don't agree with all his policies but he is one of the few politicians that sticks to his guns and fights for what he believes in. On the other side you have Lapid & Livni who stand for whatever is popular at the time which will help advance their careers. Bibi is a PM so he is not always able to stick to his ideals and so has to compromise. Shelly won't say exactly what it is she stands for other than social justice. Bennet promised to stand up for the right he ended up as Lapids yes man For all his faults Liberman is not interested in what people think of him just what he believe in

Cabel and Mizrahi (police) wanted to put the dude in jail. After nothing was coming out, Cabel promissed Mizrahi the Labor slot. So, Mizrahi came with this Beloruss trick. It was not good enough to put the dude in jail.

companies, he is indeed a liar, a racist, and a crook who has done irreparable damage to Israel as Foreign Ministry. Is it legal? Only in Israel1

17 years as a defendant means that you did something ... in the end they tried to nail him on something else because they case took too long and the prosecutors knew they wouldn't make a chance with the old accusations. Remember, not all criminals go to jail ...

Hanoch. You write factually beautifully. Good be with you

In my opinion, there are 2 reasons as to why Mr. Lieberman was treated this way. First of all, general attitude in Israel towards the Jews from the former USSR. When I came to Israel in the 90-s, the general attitude was that they were either too poor (and viewed with contempt) or if they are well off and successful, they could be corrupt (and viewed with suspicion). Mr. Lieberman is a very successful politician, so the someone in the liberal elite couldn't accept it. Secondly, I believe there is campaign against the politicians on the right of the political spectrum. Investigations against Ariel Sharon's family, Netanyahu, Lieberman, Moshe Katsav are very good examples. In comparison, I never heard about any investigation involving Zehava Gal-On, Yossi Beilin, Yossi Sarid and other leftist politicians. May be they are "clean", but all of them? Highly unlikely. I wonder if someone from outside of Israel is financing that campaign against Israel's right?

That John Kerry has served us with a dramatic warning which is a clear example of the adversarial position of the Obama regime vis-à-vis Israel, we may need someone with Avigdor Lieberman's roughness. I can think of better Foreign Ministers for Israel, but also far worse ones.

I anxiously await your evidence to prove these accusations. Or, do you just love lashon hara and spreading hatred and lies on anyone you disagree with?

''is it legal? only in Israel'' You are the last person to talk about legality. It is loudly said that your very own president is not a US citizen. Now how is that for legal? Before you call Lieberman a crook, I suggest you bring enough evidence to this forum to support your claim. You say the man is a liar & a racist, again I ask you to deliver evidence to support your claim. Until we see your evidence, hold your tongue.

Time and again I have seen on these and other Israeli pages Lieberman being addressed as a "Moldovan", " Russian thug", "Yvet", " Putin's clone". He was and still is the ultimate "other", not belonging to the generation of princes from kibbuzim, Mapai, Histadrut and Kova Tembel. Had anybody ever mentioned that originally Ben Gurion, Sharet, Eshkol, Meir and the rest of them had different, non-Hebrew, names? And spoke with eastern European accents? Lieberman is a smart, tough and successful politician. And all of the moral indignation of Yacimoviches and their ilk is 1% morality, 1% indignation and 98% pure envy.

"the law enforcement system emerged guilty of one of the most serious, prolonged and cruel delays of justice this State has ever seen" seventeen years seems a bit excessive even for Russian court system under the Communists. How about an investigation into why it dragged out for 17 LONG years. Is there no concept of due process due to the legal system

In Israel, there are no limits on investigations: it can go until the guy is dead. It is not US (7 years).

we ARE a bunch of bigots. but that does not make lieberman a prayer shawl that is all blue (i had to do that, sorry...). the fact that of all the really problematic stuff he does, the case that finally DID go to court was one he was sure to get off scott free on makes one wonder just how interconnected crime and government are in this country. the fact that he was accused of doing something he has done much less of than every single foreign minister in the past (including our much bedazzling pres) is perhaps evidence of the system's bigotry. the fact that daum has been allowed to pooint the sun out of the man's behind is evidence that the owners of this outlet are kissing said behind. now why would that be, one wonders.

Obviously 17 years is a long period to be investigated. But this kind of op-ed should not be published by a selfrespecting newsoutlet...since it's quite clear that the writer is too big an admirer or friend of Lieberman to be even remotely objective about the subject.

Hanoch is generally one of the better right-wing writers but this time he's spewing rubbish. There are plenty of Russians in the political system who aren't being hounded by the law. Lieberman's dodgy business deals overseas, transferring millions of dollars through his daughters account etc etc is why he was being investigated. The ridiculous offence he was charged with appears to be a fig-leaf for the state prosecutor who failed to try him for the serious offences...a very suspicious deal....

for 17 years they have been trying to stop him. and now what? to leave the justice ministry intact after this fiasco? there should be an investigation as to why he was persecuted.

In Britain in WW2 Stalin and the Russian people were greatly admired. Good old uncle Joe was the buzzword .