( CNN ) -- On Monday night , Avigdor Liberman was sworn in as Israel 's foreign minister after an absence of almost a year , amid a crescendo of opposition protests in the Knesset . A comfortable majority vote -- 62 members voting for , 17 against and one abstention -- paved his way back into office . But his hard-line attitude on Israeli-Palestinian peace talks may put him in the diplomatic deep end with those trying to advance the process . Labor Party leader Shelly Yachimovich said reappointing Liberman was a mistake . `` In light of the attempts to reignite the negotiations with the Palestinians and delicate relations with the U.S. and especially the complex diplomacy involved in the Iranian situation , a foreign minister like Liberman will deepen the rifts and pour fuel on fires rather than putting them out , '' she said . `` This is not good for Israel . '' Liberman views Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as an obstacle to peace . His Yisrael Beiteinu party is also supportive of West Bank Jewish settlements , whose presence is reviled by Palestinians and many Israelis , who consider them obstacles to a peace agreement . Read more : Israel warns against unilateral Palestinian move . Liberman 's view seems to contradict the position of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , who has entered into a negotiating process with the Palestinian Authority . Liberman was acquitted last week on charges of breach of trust and fraud . Netanyahu had held the Foreign Ministry position for almost a year after Liberman resigned to face the charges , and welcomed him back into the government . The trial centered on claims Liberman had pushed to get the Israeli ambassador to Belarus transferred after the diplomat allegedly handed over confidential information that included details of a secret police inquiry regarding Liberman . Liberman denied violating any laws . Liberman has faced international criticism for his hard-line stance on Israel 's Arab minorities . His ultranationalist party is especially popular with immigrants from the former Soviet Union , where he was born and raised .
Ariel Cohen was sworn in as Israel 's foreign minister again on Monday . On November 6 , a court cleared him of breach of contract and fraud charges . Liberman had resigned as foreign minister in October 2012 to face the charges . Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held the position open for Liberman 's resignation .