Avigdor Lieberman
Photo: AFP
FM hints Boston consul should resign
Controversy over government-criticizing letter by Boston consul general in Boston continues as Foreign Minister Lieberman says professional course of action for diplomats who disagree with state policies is to step down
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Monday that any Israeli diplomat "who is uncomfortable with government policies can resign."
Lieberman's comment came in wake of the recent controversy surrounding a letter written by Nadav Tamir, Israel's consul general in Boston, in which he criticized the government.
The foreign minister added that resigning "would be the professional thing to do."
Tamir was called back from Boston following the release of the letter. Speaking on the matter in a ministry administrative meeting, Lieberman added: "Some things are simply unacceptable. Any democracy has a clear distinction between the political echelon and the professional one. The former makes the decisions and the latter implements them."
Lieberman stressed that "this government's policies are completely different than its predecessor's – that's why we were elected… with all due respect to the consul, he is the professional rank and it is not his place to express political opinions or to criticize the political echelon."
As for Tamir's chosen course of action, the foreign minister said the consul clearly wanted the letter to reach the press, hence its mass distribution: "If he wanted to comment, clarify or alert us to anything on a professional level he could have called his direct superior, the (ministry's) director-general, the deputy minister or the minister.
"I have never ignored a call from one of the ministry's employees," concluded Lieberman.
