Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday he had "complete faith" in Avigdor Lieberman, adding that the foreign minster "is committed to Israel's security and peace and is an important part of the government."
Netanyahu's statement followed recent publications suggesting the prime minister did not disclose unflattering comments
about Lieberman, made by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
According to reports, during their recent meeting in Paris, Sarkozy called on Netanyahu to "get rid" of Lieberman and appoint Opposition leader Tzipi Livni in his place.
Speaking to European Uion ambassadors in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said Lieberman "has a key role in the implementation of Israel's policy, as it was laid out in the speech at Bar-Ilan University.
A Ynet inquiry revealed that the Prime Minister's Office instructed all Israeli officials who took part in the meeting with Sarkozy not to disclose its content to anyone, excluding competent authorities at Netanyahu's office.
Five days after the usual remark was made, none of the meeting's attendees - Ministers Steinitz and Erdan, Knesset Member Daniel Ben Simon (Labor), Israeli Ambassador Daniel Shek and National Security Advisor Uzi Arad – bothered to inform Minister Lieberman about it.
Conversations held Tuesday morning revealed that the foreign minister was unhappy with this conduct.
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