The Prime Minister's Office responded to Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's statement on Turkey's "lies" and "chutzpah" by saying that they represent Lieberman's "personal assessments and positions."
"The position of the government of Israel is only that which the Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, expresses."
Politicians from dovish parties attacked Lieberman for his statements. Welfare Minister Yitzchak Herzog (Labor) sent a message to Netanyahu, advising him: "We must act maturely, find the channels for reaching [the Turks], even if it means circumventing Lieberman, who as foreign minister forgets that his role is to open doors, not shut them serially, especially with regard to Turkey."
"Lieberman is unable to understand the nuances of the situation, and causes great damage," Herzog said. He was also displeased with the Foreign Minister's remarks regarding the Palestinian Authority. "The incessant noises that Lieberman is making indicate political distress. This is the time at which the Prime Minister needs to present principles for the final status map [of a treaty with the PA]. It is time that the Prime Minister finally understand that he must take out Israel Our Home [from the coalition] and put in Kadima, and advance quickly toward an agreement vis-a-vis the Palestinians."
Kadima stated Sunday: "For the umpteenth time, it has been proven that the Israeli government's mouth says the opposite of what its prime minister wants people to think about him. Netanyahu is not really Israel's prime minister."