Lieberman. Not pleased
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Hefetz. Making efforts to smooth things out
Photo: Rami Zerenger
Eliezer (L) with Davutoglu
Photo: AP
PM aide meets with Lieberman over insult
Lieberman's associates say relations between him, Netanyahu changed over Davutoglu meeting
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's media advisor Nir Hefetz met Thursday with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman over the latter's anger for being left out of the loop regarding a meeting that took place between Minister Binyamin Eliezer and Turkish Foreign Minsiter Ahmet Davutoglu.
Though the Prime Minister's Office designated the meeting for routine work matters, it was clearly intended to smooth over grievances between Lieberman and his prime minister.
Estimates in both the PMO and the foreign minister's office are that the two will ultimately find a compromise that will enable them to continue working together. "However, it is clear that the relations are not what they were yesterday," one of Lieberman's affiliates.
In an interview with Kol Israel on Thursday, Lieberman demanded that "the issues be thoroughly clarified," but said that his party "will not resign from the coalition."
Despite this, Lieberman's office responded angrily to news of the meeting held in Brussels over the Israel Navy's raid of a Gaza-bound flotilla that originated in Turkey. Lieberman's office responded Thursday in his name that "This is a breach of trust between and Netanyahu." Lieberman elaborated further, saying that his omission is indicative of faulty political culture and poor management.
Netanyahu's response on Thursday revealed that he is not interested in clashing with Lieberman. Lieberman, for his part, did not answer the prime minister's telephone calls citing "technical reasons" and declined to meet with Netanyahu.
Netanyahu and his advisors are well aware that Lieberman anchors the coalition and his resignation under these circumstances may compel the prime minister to seek out Livni's Kadima party as an alternative. For Netanyahu, adding Kadima to the coalition may threaten his administration if the deadlock with the Palestinians should continue.
