Netanyahu associates: Bibi backs Lieberman
Prime minister's aides say Netanyahu is not criticizing foreign minister's belligerent statements vis-à-vis Syria, but timing of declarations unwise
"It should be clear – there is no criticism against the foreign minister," one Netanyahu associate said, but added: "Would Netanyahu himself say the same things at this time? No."
Officials at the Prime Minister's Office also noted that Netanyahu conveyed messages to Syrian President Bashar Assad via Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Spainish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos, who recently visited Jerusalem. According to these messages, Israel is willing to embark on talks with Syria, the officials said.
Netanyahu's associates also rejected charges by political figures that the PM has lost control over his senior ministers.
"The prime minister, foreign minister, and defense minister discussed the Syrian issue yesterday," a source at the PM's Office said. "There is no loss of control here. A statement here, a statement there, but the policy is coordinated."
Earlier Thursday, a senior minister in the cabinet told Ynet in response to Lieberman's remarks on Syria that "perhaps (Arthur) Finkelstein told Lieberman to make those statements, because it will benefit his political position." Finkelstein is Lieberman's advisor at this time and previously consulted other leading Israeli politicians.
The senior minister estimated that there was no coordination between the prime minister, foreign minister and defense minister in respect to the verbal quarrel vis-à-vis Syria.
"Lieberman is sensitive when it comes to national pride. He rose to defend our honor just like he did with the Turkish ambassador incident," he said.
