Avigdor Liberman
An immigrant from the former USSR who became a heavyweight in Israeli politics, Avigdor Liberman leads Yisrael Beytenu and positions himself as a champion of the separation of religion and state and universal conscription of Haredim, while excluding Arab and Haredi parties from any coalition he would lead.
- Ideology
- Secular nationalist right, separation of religion and state
- Current role
- Member of the Knesset, chairman of Yisrael Beytenu; candidate for prime minister for 2026
- Born
- June 5, 1958Chișinău (Kishinev), Moldova, USSR
Key takeaways
- 01
Chairman of Yisrael Beytenu, former minister of Foreign Affairs, Defense and Finance.
- 02
Declared candidate for prime minister in the October 27, 2026 elections.
- 03
Resigned from the Defense Ministry in November 2018 in protest against a ceasefire with Hamas he considered too conciliatory.
- 04
Proposes a structured constitutional process for 2026: an independent committee of experts followed by a national referendum.
- 05
Makes universal conscription of Haredim a red line, ruling out any alliance with Shas and United Torah Judaism.
- 06
Advocates the separation of religion and state as a government priority.
- 07
On October 4, 2026, presents a plan for Judea and Samaria: ending the Palestinian Authority and having Jordan administer daily life in Areas A and B, with Israel retaining responsibility for security. Makes conscription for all a condition for any government.
Controversies
In June 2025, Liberman revealed that the Netanyahu government was arming an ISIS-linked group in Gaza to weaken Hamas. The Prime Minister's Office did not deny the allegation, and Netanyahu subsequently confirmed arming clans in Gaza against Hamas.
He categorically excludes Arab and Haredi parties from any coalition he would lead, describing them as “anti-Zionist elements”.
Indicted in 2011 for fraud and money laundering, he was acquitted of all charges in 2013.
His 2004 “plan”, providing for population and territorial exchanges conditional on an oath of loyalty, remains associated with his name.
On September 26, 2026, he takes part in the non-aggression pact concluded at Yair Lapid's home between five opposition leaders. Benny Gantz, who remained on the sidelines, publicly criticizes the initiative.
Born on June 5, 1958, in Chișinău (Soviet Moldova), Avigdor Liberman immigrated to Israel in 1978. An associate of Netanyahu from 1988, director-general of Likud (1993–1996) and then of the Prime Minister's Office (1996–1997), he left Likud in 1997 and founded Yisrael Beytenu in 1999. He held several ministerial portfolios: National Infrastructure, Transport, Strategic Affairs, Foreign Affairs (twice), Defense (2016–2018, resigning in protest against a ceasefire in Gaza he considered too conciliatory) and Finance (2021–2022). Indicted in 2011 for fraud and money laundering, he was acquitted of all charges in 2013.
In opposition since 2022, he announced in May 2025 his candidacy for prime minister for 2026. He advocates a hard security line toward Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas, and supports the death penalty for perpetrators of deadly terrorist attacks. In June 2025, he revealed that the Netanyahu government was arming an ISIS-linked group in Gaza to weaken Hamas, without security cabinet approval. The Prime Minister's Office did not deny this, and Netanyahu subsequently confirmed arming clans in Gaza against Hamas. Universal conscription of Haredim remains a central priority for him: he rules out any alliance with Shas and United Torah Judaism, which he describes as “anti-Zionist elements” (September 2025), a position he extends to Arab parties. He considers the separation of religion and state to be “the most urgent and necessary thing” for Israel, and proposes a constitutional process for 2026 (an independent committee of experts followed by a national referendum). He had opposed the 2023 judicial reform.
Avigdor Liberman was born on June 5, 1958, in Chișinău (Soviet Moldavia) and immigrated to Israel in 1978. He worked with Netanyahu from 1988. He was director-general of Likud (1993-1996) and then of the Prime Minister's Office (1996-1997). He left Likud in 1997 and founded Yisrael Beytenu in 1999. He has held several ministerial posts: National Infrastructure, Transportation, Strategic Affairs, Foreign Affairs (twice), Defense (2016-2018; he resigned in protest against a Gaza ceasefire he saw as too soft) and Finance (2021-2022). In 2011, the attorney general announced his intention to indict him, including for fraud and money laundering. He was finally indicted in December 2012 only for fraud and breach of trust, and was acquitted in November 2013.
Avigdor Liberman has been in the opposition since 2022. In May 2025, he announced he would run for prime minister in 2026. He wants a tough security policy toward Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas, and supports the death penalty for terrorists who carry out deadly attacks. In June 2025, he revealed that the Netanyahu government was arming an ISIS-linked group in Gaza to weaken Hamas, without security cabinet approval. The Prime Minister's Office did not deny it, and Netanyahu later confirmed that Israel was arming clans in Gaza against Hamas. Universal conscription of Haredim remains a key issue for him. He rules out any alliance with Shas and United Torah Judaism, which he called "anti-Zionist elements" (September 2025), and he applies the same position to the Arab parties. He sees the separation of religion and state as "the most urgent and necessary thing" for Israel. For 2026, he proposes a constitutional process: an independent committee of experts, followed by a national referendum. He opposed the 2023 judicial reform.