Labor official: Ya'alon must be fired
Politicians enraged after vice premier launches unprecedented attack on defense minister, saying Barak is 'like a snake.' Labor director-general threatens to convene party's institutions to discuss option of quitting government if PM Netanyahu fails to publicly condemn Ya'alon
Former Knesset Member Weizmann Shiri, director-general of the Labor Party, demanded Friday morning that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly condemn and fire Vice Premier Ya'alon for his remarks against Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Otherwise, he threatened, he would convene the Labor Party institutions to discuss the option of quitting the government.
Ynet reported Thursday night that Ya'alon, who is also minister for strategic affairs, launched an unprecedented attack on Barak this week, on the backdrop of the high tensions in the Israel Defense Forces top brass following the heated race for the position of IDF chief of staff and Barak's attempt to shift the responsibility for the deadly raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla on the army.
Speaking at a closed forum in a private home in the central city of Ness Ziona, Ya'alon said that "the events of the past week emphasize what I have been saying about the snakes in the Kirya base (the IDF and defense minister's headquarters)."
"There must be ministers who don't understand what it means to take responsibility out of collective responsibility," said Shiri, who is one of the Labor chairman and defense minister's close associates.
"If Netanyahu fails to act, I will make sure that the Labor Party institutions are convened to discuss the relationship between the ministers in the Netanyahu government and the failure to take responsibility. There must be ministers in the government who don't understand the meaning of collective responsibility, including ministers in the seven-minister forum."
"Ya'alon's unrestrained attack is extremely serious," added Shiri. "As Minister Ya'alon failed to function and take the responsibility he is required to take by law, the prime minister has no other choice but to fire him. If he fails to do so, we have no other choice but to convene the Labor Party institutions and discuss quitting the government."
Netanyahu between Barak and Ya'alon. Coalition trouble (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
Coalition Chairman MK Zeev Elkin (Likud) called on Shiri to hold his own "thorough examination".
"I suggest that Weizmann Shiri deal with solving the many problems in his own party, instead of offering advice to the prime minister," he said in response. "Weizmann should focus on explaining the meaning of collective responsibility to Knesset members in his own party who speak out against the government and vote against it."
Kadima: No leadership, no responsibility
Ya'alon was slammed by members of the opposition as well. MK Nachman Shai (Kadima) responded to the remarks by saying, "Ya'alon's statements strengthen the feeling of loathing among the State's citizens, at the end of a week during which its leaders competed who would do more to shift the responsibility on others. Israel is not a zoo and its leaders need more than knowledge in zoology to lead."
MK Shlomo Molla (Kadima) said that "a government whose ministers disrespect and attack each other is a weak and shaken government. There is no leadership, no responsibility, just covering one's behind. As long as these are the decision makers, there is no wonder that our situation is not getting better."
During the flotilla raid, Netanyahu was on an official visit to Canada, and Yaalon filled in for him. "During the incident I held the title of acting prime minister, but wasn't the prime minister in practice," he said.
"The defense minister didn't let anyone get involved, and now he is shifting responsibility on everyone," Ya'alon said, echoing Netanyahu's testimony to the Turkel Committee, which is probing the May 31 flotilla raid.
According to the vice premier, like Netanyahu said, the ministers had only discussed the media aspects of the operation to stop the flotilla. "The seven-minister forum did not discuss the alternative. We discussed PR aspects."
- Follow Ynetnews on Facebook
