The Israeli General Security Agency, Shabak, informed the guards of Israel’s Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, that they will not be allowed to talk to him in Russian and should only use the Hebrew language in their communication with the minister.Lieberman, the former member of the Kach terrorist movement that was outlawed by Israel, is a settler who came for the former Soviet Union and founded the Yisrael Beiteinu party.
He heads the party that calls for the “Jewish homeland” in Palestine, and calls for the expulsion of Arabs and Palestinians from the country.
The Shabak provides constant and direct protection to Lieberman along with six other Israeli officials.
Lieberman’s driver does not speak any Hebrew while other guards speak a little-to-no Hebrew. Other guards, who do not speak Russian, complained that some of Lieberman’s bodyguards speak to him in Russian which leaves them out of the equation.
This issue forced the Shabak to instruct the bodyguards to only use the Hebrew language, Israeli Yedioth Aharonoth reported.
The new order also instructs the bodyguards to respond to Lieberman in Hebrew even if he addresses them using his native Russian language.
Lieberman often uses the Russian language during his meetings with international officials who speak Russian, an issue that renders other officials who accompany him unable to participate in the conversation.
