Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Yaalon told Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Thursday night that he was quoted out of context in the video in which he was quoted as referring to the Peace Now group as a "virus". Yaalon added that he was referring to the group but to the perspective that the group represents. The former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff said his remarks did not include any criticism of the prime minister or the government and he was sorry if they were interpreted as such. Ynet reports that Netanyahu reprimanded Yaalon and declared the matter over.
Peace Now leader Yariv Openheimer called Yaalon's words "mere lip service" and said he was sorry that the minister did not retract his remarks from earlier in the week.
Members of the young leadership of the National Union party sent a letter of support to Yaalon, in which they attacked the prime minister for defending the left. According to the letter, "It can't be that a man who was elected for the right- wing platform he supports betrays his public time after time, as well as the 65 [Knesset] mandates that made him prime minister."