Lieberman's Dirty Politics

By Gldmeier @gldmeier
I used to like Avigdor Lieberman, a certain amount. He was not quite my style, but certain things about him I admired. I admired that he was very strong-willed and determined. I admired he took a tough line on issues he believed in, and did not waver. I admired the way he controls his party with an iron fist. I even felt bad for him that he was hounded for so long by the legal system, only for it to all end up as nothing.
Right now, Lieberman leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Since splitting off from the Likud a few weeks ago, which is surely debatable if the timing of that was good or bad, Lieberman had appointed MK Carmel Shama-Cohen as ambassador to the OECD, solely for the purpose of being able to get a Likudnik out of the Knesset and advance another Yisrael Beyteynu member into the Knesset in his place. And now, Lieberman is having Minister Yair Shamir resign from the Knesset, again to make room for the next person on the list which is another member of Yisrael Beyteynu - giving YB another voice in the government.
Even in the best, and quietest, of times, these are "slick" political maneuvers that might be considered dirty, though are tolerable. In a time of war and conflict, a time of emergency, these types of political maneuvers are just dirty and bad politics.
I hope Lieberman takes a hit for it at some point in the future. I hope people see him, because of these moves, for what he seems to be - a dirty, underhanded politician who finds political revenge and maneuvers to be more important than anything else in a difficult period. The polls already don't look good for Lieberman's future. I hope they come true.
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