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There is very little that is heard in Knesset that surprises Israelis, but MK Zahava Gal-On accusing the Yisrael Beitenu party of being a foreign agent for Azerbaijan may be counted in this category.

The head of the extreme left-wing Meretz opposition party, Gal-On, used the Knesset plenum on Wednesday, 8 Adar I, to launch an attack against Yisrael Beitenu leader MK Avigdor Lieberman and his opposition party. She insists Yisrael Beitenu is receiving financial support from Azerbaijan government officials in return for his party working to advance foreign interests in Israel, both political and financial. Gal-On began by condemning Lieberman for supporting the so-called “Transparency Law” which stipulates 90 Members of Knesset can oust a colleague if they feel the MK acted against state interests. The bill according to opponents is aimed at the Arab and left-wing parties.

Gal-On told the plenum that she has information documenting Lieberman is receiving money from the Azeri government, which is given to an organization set up by Lieberman called AZIZ. She stated that while serving as foreign minister, Lieberman also advanced this agenda, including his participation in a conference funded by the state-run fuel company, adding coincidentally, a year earlier, Lieberman arranged for that same company to play a role in off-shore drilling in Israel.

Gal-On did not stop there, accusing former party deputy minister, Fanny Kirschenbaum, who was compelled to step down under a veil of corruption, http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/280331/deputy-interior-minister-kirschenbaum-will-not-run-for-20th-knesset.html named a street in Israel after “the father of Azerbaijan’s great dictator”.

Lieberman called her verbal assault a case of the pot is calling the kettle black as in 2001 it was Gal-On who was investigated by police on suspicion her peace center was accepting funds illegally. That investigation was closed due to a lack of evidence. Lieberman insisted Gal-On’s accusations are baseless.

Gal-On’s attack against Lieberman in the plenum session:

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)