Barak slams FM's Turkey comments

Defense minister says tension between Jerusalem, Ankara must be reduced rather than placed 'at center of Mediterranean picture'. His deputy, Matan Vilnai, voices more stern approach, saying 'Lieberman's remarks, as usual, are pitiful and unnecessary'

Ahiya Raved|Published: 12.27.10 , 13:57

Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday criticized Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman over comments he made a day earlier, in which he called the Turkish prime minister a "liar."

During a visit to Elbeit Systems at Matam industrial park in Haifa, the defense minister noted that tensions with Turkey must be diffused.

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"Reason and rationality tell us to do everything we can to reduce tensions with Turkey, and not place it at the center of the Mediterranean picture," he said.

Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai, expressed a more stern approach, saying that "the foreign minister's comments, as usual, are pitiful and unnecessary."

Barak at Elbeit Systems (Photo: Ariel Hermoni, Defense Ministry)

According to Vilnai, who toured at the Eshkol Regional Council in the Gaza vicinity, Lieberman's speech stemmed from "extrinsic considerations."

Vilani also addressed the Prime Minister Office's clarification statement, according to which the foreign minister's comments do not reflect the position of the government.

"The prime minister and foreign minister are having a strange argument in front of the media. The government's policy is clear – It may not be executed as I would expect, but in principle it is in the right direction.

"Lieberman's comments contribute nothing and cause damage to the State of Israel. I understand the role of the foreign minister quite differently," he added.

Answering audience questions, Barak said the Labor Party was convinced that Israel must speak to the Palestinians. "It won't be easy, they will have to make tough decisions, and so will we," he noted.

Earlier on Monday, Barak warned the Hamas against deteriorating the security situation in the Gaza vicinity and noted that the recent escalation in qassam fire comes as a response to IDF's successful activity around the fence, which led to the killing of 10 terrorists in the past two weeks.

Barak noted that 2010 was the calmest year in terms of security threats, but stressed that "we must not deceive ourselves – Hamas in the south, Hezbollah in the north and Iran in the background form a threat that needs to be confronted."