'Dissolve your Byzantine court'
Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee discuss Ayalon affair; slam Shalom for his faulty leadership
JERUSALEM - The Foreign Ministry under Silvan Shalom has become a Byzantine court, Knesset member Yossi Sarid said at the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting Monday.
"You must dissolve this Byzantine court in order to return the Foreign Ministry to its professional standing," Sarid said.
There are far more severe corruption revelations than what is happening in the Foreign Ministry, he said, referring to recent reports that Shalom was determined to remove Ambassador to the U.S. Danny Ayalon from his post following recent tensions between the two figures.
"The prime minister and his family's circle are more corrupt, and when Shinui was in the government they didn't do anything about it," he said.
On the verge of collapse
Meanwhile, Knesset member Ilan Shalgi (Shinui) called for Shalom to quit "before a wave of revelations and humiliation turns into a Tsunami."
"The superlative Foreign Ministry establishment is on the verge of collapse," he said.
Committee Chairman Yuval Steinitz said in response that it is not the committee's position to investigate and expose corruption, but rather the job of the Civil Service Commission.
Shalom's office issued a press release following the meeting.
"The matter regarding Ambassador Ayalon is currently being examined by the Civil Service Commission," the statement said. "The minister will respond to the findings once the inquiry is complete. The minister would like to thank most of the committee members for their trust and support."
