Israeli minister faces possible firing over personal attacks

The Israeli Prime Minister's bureau launched a harsh message to Economy Minister Naftali Bennett saying that if he will not apologize over personal attacks against Netanyahu, he would be fired. A source in the prime minister's office told Xinhua that the bureau demanded on behalf of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Bennett should "clearly and sharply" apologize for attacking Netanyahu over a reported suggestion of letting Jewish settlers live under Palestinian rule amid a possible agreement with the Palestinians. "If he doesn't apologize, he endangers the composition of the current government," another source in Netanyahu's bureau was quoted by the Ha'aretz daily as saying. The tensions started on Sunday, as a report surfaced about a possible idea to have Jewish settlers live in territories annexed by Israel in the West Bank and east Jerusalem during the 1967 Mideast War, live under Palestinian rule amid the planned establishment of a future Palestinian state. The message is believed to be an attempt by Netanyahu to show Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as a non-partner for peace, expecting him to denounce the initiative. The hawkish economy minister Naftali Bennett, who was not aware of Netanyahu's intentions, harshly criticized the idea while personally attacking the prime minister for bringing it up. Bennett said Netanyahu's comments mark an "ethical befuddlement " and that "whoever even considers having Jews live in the land of Israel under Palestinian sovereignty undermines our presence in Tel Aviv." The feud persisted throughout the week with accusations between the prime minister's office and Bennett. The Jewish Home party and its leader Naftali Bennett are considered the extreme right-wing marker in Netanyahu's coalition and have shown their objection to many aspects regarding the peace talks with the Palestinians, including their denial of a two-state solution and refusal to halt settlements construction.