Minister Steinitz
Minister SteinitzIsrael news photo: Flash 90

Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz launched a sharp attack against Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Friday, warning Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu against his Defense Minister.

Speaking to Channel 2 News, Steinitz hinted that Barak may be against a strike in Iran. When he was asked about Netanyahu and Barak’s current opinion regarding a possible attack in Iran, Steinitz replied, “Barak has stung twice in the past. The first time he stung the members of Kadima and former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the second time he stung his friends at the Labor party – Ben-Eliezer, Herzog and Braverman. He may sting again.”

Steinitz responded to Canada’s earlier announcement that it would cut off diplomatic relations with Tehran, saying, “What Canada did should mark the direction. It was about time, this is a real problem. This is also a threat to the United States. It's time to set an ultimatum, a clear red line, and a timetable. We need to hear it. But more importantly, the Iranians need to hear it.”

Steinitz refused to answer when asked whether there has been a change in Netanyahu’s position on the issue and said, “The Prime Minister is highlighting - and rightly so - that if the world wants to prevent the danger of a nuclear Iran, it should set an ultimatum with a deadline. Enough. From here on in - they may encounter in the power of the West.”

Steinitz, a member of the political-security cabinet, also responded to Netanyahu’s decision to disperse a cabinet meeting this week due to a leak to the media.

“It's time to put an end to these leaks, it is intolerable,” he said. “Even ministers are committed to keeping state secrets. These leaks have crossed the line and therefore, we should consider testing everyone via polygraph, even me, and the other thing we should do is reduce the forum.”

The Independence Party responded to Steinitz’s comments on Barak by saying, “Yuval Steinitz is a confused and delusional man, and anyone who watched him this evening realized this.”

(Arutz Sheva’s North American Desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Arutz Sheva articles, however, is Israeli time.)