The leader of the Habayit Hayehudi (Jewish Home) party, Naftali Bennett, has apologized to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for recent critical comments he made against him.
Netanyahu had demanded that the Minister of Economy apologize or face serious consequences, including dismissal from the government.
"Some people are trying to turn a substantial discussion about the future of our country and its security into a personal attack that never took place. If the Prime Minister was offended -- that was never my intention." Bennett said.
The crisis between the two men began earlier this week when Bennett harshly criticised Netanyahu after sources in the Prime Minister's Office said that the Palestinian Authority should allow a Jewish minority to remain within the borders of the future Palestinian state.
Bennett said the notion reflected "an irrationality of values."
He later told the annual Institute for National Security Studies conference in Tel Aviv that the notion was "absurd," since any Jews living under Palestinian sovereignty "will surely be killed,’’ stressing this would represent ‘’a reversal of Zionism."
"No one will teach Netanyahu what it means to love Israel, and what it is to protect the security interests of Israeli citizens. Bennett is insolent and his behavior will not be tolerated,’’ a source close to Netanyahu told the daily Israel Hayom.
Bennett issued a statement reading: "I respect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his leadership in these complex times. I support him when it is necessary, and I criticize him when it is necessary -- that is my duty.’’
‘’Imposing Palestinian sovereignty on Israeli citizens was a dangerous notion, and it was my duty to remove it from the agenda. It is no longer part of it. If the prime minister was offended -- that was never my intention,’’ he added.