Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday evening reprimanded Vice Premier and Minister for Strategic Affairs Moshe Ya'alon for referring to left-wing movement Peace Now and Israel's elites as"a virus". Ya'alon told the prime minister that his remarks were "misinterpreted".
As far as Netanyahu is concerned, this is the end of the affair. At the end of the meeting, which also dealt with political issues, the prime minister invited Ya'alon to join a meeting of the narrow security-political forum.
During his meeting with Netanyahu at the Kirya base in Tel Aviv, the vice premier said he "took part in forming the government's policy," and added that as a minister and vice premier he "takes collective responsibility for this policy."
He added that his remarks contained no criticism over the government's policy or against its head, and said he regretted being misunderstood. He also clarified that he "acknowledges the importance of an open and democratic public discourse, and the importance of different opinions in society."
Peace Now Secretary-General Yariv Oppenheimer said that the vice premier's remarks during his meeting with Netanyahu were "only lip service". He added that "it's unfortunate that Ya'alon did not go back on the grave statements he made."
As far as Netanyahu is concerned, this is the end of the affair. At the end of the meeting, which also dealt with political issues, the prime minister invited Ya'alon to join a meeting of the narrow security-political forum.
During his meeting with Netanyahu at the Kirya base in Tel Aviv, the vice premier said he "took part in forming the government's policy," and added that as a minister and vice premier he "takes collective responsibility for this policy."
He added that his remarks contained no criticism over the government's policy or against its head, and said he regretted being misunderstood. He also clarified that he "acknowledges the importance of an open and democratic public discourse, and the importance of different opinions in society."
Peace Now Secretary-General Yariv Oppenheimer said that the vice premier's remarks during his meeting with Netanyahu were "only lip service". He added that "it's unfortunate that Ya'alon did not go back on the grave statements he made."