Jerusalem – Sona Al Deek
Shaul Mofaz, Israel’s Head of Foreign Affairs and Security, has slammed the decision of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Ehud Barak to block senior military and intelligence officers from attending Knesset Committee meetings into last month’s Eilat bombing. Barak, with Netanyahu’s approval, has prevented the Israeli Defence Force Chief of Staff, Beiti Gants, and the head of Israeli Intelligence from appearing before the Parliament. Barak has justified the move by arguing that Mofaz, who belongs to the opposition Kadima Party, might take advantage of the information that the intelligence staff provide, and use it against his political rivals. However, Mofaz alleges that the PM and Defence Minister are attempting to hide critical information on the attacks. Mofaz, a former-Defence Minister himself, argues that Barak and Netanyahu are trying to hide the truth and are standing the in the way of democracy. He considers the two leaders to be in contempt of the Knesset.