Ya'alon: Lapid harming relations with US
Defense Minister accuses Lapid of being responsible for crisis with US after finance minister said Netanyahu was to blame for harming relations, called him 'dysfunctional'.
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon fired back Sunday at Finance Minister Yair Lapid for saying that the prime minister is "dysfunctional" and "harming relations with the United States", telling Army Radio that Lapid also bears a share of the blame for the deteriorating ties with the US.
On Saturday, the Finance Minister stressed that relations with the United State were at a low point and that American veto at the UN against anti-Israel resolutions is no longer guaranteed.
"I won't be made to speak against the prime minister while I'm still sitting in his government. But it's not like the relations (with the US) are deteriorating, we've already hit bottom. We're at the lowest point of our relationships with them ever. No one knows what they'll do when Abbas turns to the Security Council," Lapid said on Saturday.
Commenting on the finance minister's objection to Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon's request to transfer additional funds to the Defense Ministry, Ya'alon said: "How is it possible that in a meeting regarding such an important issue – (US-made) new F-35 fighter jets – the Finance Minister expresses his protest in a manner that damages relation with the Americans?"
"The government cannot conduct itself in such a manner. Ultimately hands are stretched against us out of a motivation to be in opposition to the defense (establishment) in an unreasonable and non-political manner."
In 2010, Israel bought 19 F-35s for $2.75 billion, with delivery scheduled between 2016 and 2018. Earlier November, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon agreed a preliminary deal for 25 to 31 more planes subject to approval by the ministerial committee for defense purchases.
Steinitz, one of the committee's members, then told Reuters there was majority opposition to the scale of Ya'alon's order and preference for a smaller purchase of 10 to 15 planes.
Further commenting on the ongoing tensions between Washington and Jerusalem, Ya'alon told Army Radio that "there are disagreements with the US administration and when they touch upon critical issues, we stick to our guns." According to Ya'alon, "our relationship with US is an important, strategic relationship.
"The ties between the two defense establishments developed in an unprecedented manner, under the direction of departing US Defense Secretary, my friend Chuck Hagel and myself," the defense minister added.
Army Radio reported that the defense minister also discussed the possibility of holding elections soon, and said: "this isn't what the State of Israel needs, but there is already an atmosphere of elections. I am not afraid of elections; a situation has been created here that does not enable governing."
During the last bout of US-led peace talks, Ya'alon dubbed Kerry's diplomatic efforts "obsessive and messianic," saying "Kerry should win his Nobel and leave us in peace." Ya'alon's current treatment is said to be an attempt to settle the score.
Ya'alon did hold a successful meeting with his US counterpart, Chuck Hegal, indicating that the reason for the cold shoulder was more a testament to personal tensions between Ya'alon and the White House than an attempt to sabotage Israel's relations with the US.
Nonetheless, Lapid, who has locked horns with Ya'alon over peace talks and the defense budget, said at the time "I thought knew, but now I know the full extent to which our relations with the US are vital to our economy and security."
"The US needs to be thanked, we must remember that when we talk about Operation Protective Edge, we used technology and funds from America. We need to act with more respect. Disagreements are part of the deal and the Americans respect that," he said.
