'Mossad-Foreign Ministry row over'

During talks mediated by Netanyahu, FM Lieberman and intelligence agency chief Fredo agree to resume working relations following dispute over authority

Attila Somfalvi|Last update: 11.20.11 , 18:02

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday summoned Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Mossad chief Tamir Fredo to discuss the strained relations between the ministry and intelligence agency.

Sources in the PM's office said the meeting resulted in an agreement to restore normal working relations between the ministry and Mossad.

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As reported in Yedioth Ahronoth, Lieberman had ordered his office not to cooperate with Mossad over claims that the agency had overstepped its authority with regards to Israel's foreign relations. The Foreign Ministry said Mossad has also refused to share information at its disposal despite being privy to all the information disclosed by Israeli embassies abroad.

"The feeling was that Mossad was asking for sensitive information without giving us anything in return," a Foreign Ministry official said.

It is estimated that the argument boiled over when Mossad played a key role in the agreement between Jerusalem and Ankara to resume positive and stable diplomatic relations. The Foreign Ministry was not asked to participate in the talks.

Some two weeks ago the Associated Press reported that sensitive intelligence information was withheld from Lieberman during his tenure as strategic affairs minister in Ehud Olmert's government.