Topic: Avigdor Lieberman

How Netanyahu's 'unity' government may affect Palestinians, Iran

Prime Minister Netanyahu jolted Israeli politics by forming a 'unity' government with the centrist Kadima party, arguing it will promote stability at a time of contentious challenges.

What's the Israel-Azerbaijan connection?

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's visit to Azerbaijan underscores growing ties, including a $1.6 billion Israeli deal to supply Iran's neighbor with a wide range of military equipment.

Israel bans a textbook promoting Arab rights as 'unbalanced'

Israel's Education Ministry approved the textbook, 'Taking the Civil Road,' just last year but now says it has factual errors. Critics see the ban as part of a broader nationalistic push.

Hebron settlers threaten retaliation after Israeli police evict them

The tensions in Hebron, a mainly Arab city that's holy to both Muslims and Jews, test Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's willingness to expand settlement in the West Bank.

Are American Jews unfit to marry Israelis?

Israel has pulled a controversial series of ads that portrayed American Jews as out of touch with their roots. The flap illustrates a growing distance between US Jews and Israelis.

Palestinian statehood bid adds urgency for Israeli-Palestinian peace

Quartet envoy Tony Blair held talks today to prod Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table amid concern about a looming UN vote on Palestinian statehood.

The latest Quartet proposal to pressure Abbas? Going nowhere.

The Palestinian Authority move for recognition at the UN is designed to shake up the status quo. Proposals that change nothing just won't cut it.

Israel arrives at a tough diplomatic intersection

Israel's crises with key regional partners Egypt and Turkey could pressure the Jewish state to make a renewed push for peace with the Palestinians.

Palestinians' gambit for UN recognition wobbles

Even as the Arab League threw its weight behind the Palestinian Authority's bid for UN recognition of a Palestinian state, officials are having second thoughts.

Did the Red Cross say there's no humanitarian crisis in Gaza?

Technically, yes. But the Red Cross says chronic shortages create deplorable economic and medical conditions.

Do Israel's recent efforts to bolster security undermine its democracy?

A spate of recently-passed bills in the Israeli Knesset are seen by sponsors as necessary for the state's security, but critics say they infringe on civil rights.

Israel's seizure of arms shipment highlights rising unease about Iran

Israel's naval commander said the shipment, seized on a merchant ship 200 miles off Israel's coast, contained missiles of 'strategic importance' to Gaza and accompanying Farsi-language manuals.

Iran warships through the Suez Canal? Messaging, opportunism, and fearmongering.

Palestine Papers: 5 disclosures that are making waves

Al Jazeera’s trove of documents on Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, which the news organization has dubbed the “Palestine Papers,” landed with a resounding thud on desks in Jerusalem and Ramallah yesterday. Here are some of the claims they contain that are already making waves in regional capitals.

Palestine papers: Will a big scoop change business as usual?

A roundup of opinion so far.

Israel concerned about possible fallout from Lebanon government split

As regional efforts to mediate Lebanon's political standoff fail, Israelis nervously watch their border with Lebanon and wonder whether potential violence will spread to Israel.

Israel's Barak breaks from Labor Party, fortifying bond with Netanyahu

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak left his Labor Party to form a faction that would preserve his alliance with Prime Minister Netanyahu, throwing the political system into turmoil.

Israel's Lieberman tweaks Turkey. Is he flanking Netanyahu?

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman criticized Turkey in an apparent attempt to outflank Prime Minister Netanyahu on the right and pick up support from hardline nationalists disillusioned with the peace process.

Q&A: Why only 51 percent of Israelis support equal rights for Arab minority

A survey released this week showed stark views of the country's Arab minority, whose growing presence is challenging Israel's claim to being 'Jewish and democratic.'

For Israeli Arab teens, a way to serve the country – without joining the army

A civil service program gives Israel's Arab high school graduates – who are exempt from the military draft faced by Jewish 18-year-olds – the opportunity to contribute to their state.

Netanyahu strikes a deal on Israeli settlements – could it freeze peace, too?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears set to push through a temporary Israeli settlement freeze in exchange for $3 billion in US military aid.

Will Abbas get, and accept, a two-month settlement freeze?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is backing a 'loyalty oath' to appease Israel's right wing, and there are indications that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will be offered a two-month settlement freeze to keep peace talks going.

Israel loyalty oath bill stirs Arab-Israeli unease

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for a loyalty oath that would require non-Jewish candidates for Israeli citizenship to pledge loyalty to Israel as a 'Jewish state.'

Netanyahu vows Israeli-Palestinian peace as ally Lieberman sows doubt

The Israeli prime minister met with US envoy George Mitchell today to shore up an Israeli-Palestinian peace process undermined by his foreign minister yesterday.

As Israel settlement freeze ends, one-year peace plan begins

Israel's 10-month settlement freeze ends today, and the clock starts ticking on a Sept. 2011 deadline for a comprehensive peace agreement.