Minister to Barak aide "You don't know who you're dealing with."
By JPOST.COM STAFFehud barak 311(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
An argument erupted between Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, during a Labor Party meeting Sunday.Ben-Eliezer was angry with Barak after the Labor chair allegedly leaked false information regarding a secret meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davotuglu last week. Ben-Eliezer alleged that Barak was opposed to the secret meeting.RELATED:'Ben-Eliezer secretly met Turkish FM'PM to FM: 'It was a mistake'The industry, trade and labor minister told Barak's media spokesman, Barak Seri, "I'll skewer you. I am Iraqi. You don't know who are dealing with." Ben-Eliezer claimed that Seri was responsible for the negative press that was received as an outcome from the meeting.According to sources present at the meeting Seri said "he was not impressed."The meeting with the Turkish foreign minister was aimed at improving relations that have deteriorated since the May 31 IDF raid on a Turkish-owned ship trying to block the blockade on Gaza, in which nine Turkish men were killed.Ben-Eliezer reported that Barak had given his approval of the meeting and asked the trade minister to send his greetings to Davotuglu.Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Friday, in order to try and mend relations after Netanyahu failed to tell Lieberman about the meetings with Turkey.
"A decision like this must be made logically, in cooperation with all of the professional elements," Lieberman told Netanyahu. The foreign minister reportedly also said that it would damage Israel's international standing to apologize to Turkey or to pay those who were injured on the Mavi Marmara.Netanyahu and Lieberman reportedly said that the incident was a mistake, and that they would work in cooperation from now on.
