Minister Majadele
Photo: Nir Cohen
After Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
canceled Science, Culture and Sports Minister Raleb Majadele's trip to Jordan and Cabinet Secretary Oved Yehezkel called him "cheeky" due to his absence from Sunday's cabinet meeting
on the Israel Defense Forces operation
in Gaza, Majadele was also reprimanded Tuesday by his party's chairman, Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
Barak sent a letter to Majadele slamming his conduct. "I believe that such conduct does not befit your responsibility as a minister in the Israeli government," he said.
Punished
Prime minister expresses displeasure after science, culture and sports minister refuses to attend Sunday's cabinet meeting on Gaza operation, decides not to approve his trip to Jordan this week
The Labor chairman began the letter by saying, "I was surprised to learn that you chose not to attend the weekly cabinet meeting held in the midst of the fighting in the south.
"As you very well know, the IDF embarked on an operation meant to protect the citizens of southern Israel – all citizens regardless of race or creed – against acts of indistinguishable acts of aggression against the State of Israel."
He added, "I view your decision to be absent from the cabinet meeting as extremely severe. I believe this conduct does not befit your responsibility as a minister in the Israeli government.
"As a minister as behalf of the Labor Party, you are expected to act in a reasonable manner befitting a minister and fulfill your duty as a member of the Israeli government.
Majadele was also "punished" by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who decided not to approve the Muslim minister's trip to Jordan. Cabinet Secretaty Oved Yehezkel telephoned Majadele and told him, "You made the wrong decision. The prime minister finds this unacceptable."