Avigdor Liberman, born on June 5, 1958, in Kishinyov, Moldavia, U.S.S.R. (now ChiČinÄu, Moldova), is an Israeli politician and leader of the nationalist right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party. He immigrated to Israel at age 20 and later earned a degree in international relations and political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Liberman has served in various significant roles, including as Israelās foreign minister (2009ā12; 2013ā15) and defense minister (2016ā18). In 1999, he founded Yisrael Beiteinu, which primarily drew its members from Russian immigrants. His political career has been marked by both prominence and controversy, including a resignation in 2008 over peace talks and later acquittal from corruption charges in 2013.