Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lambasted Yisrael Beytenu leader on Sunday after the latter potentially violated the Israeli Military Censor's Office's orders by revealing that senior Israeli officials flew to Qatar to convince the Gulf state's leadership to continue their periodical payments to Hamas.
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According to Lieberman, Netanyahu ordered Mossad chief Yossi Cohen and other senior figures within Israel's security establishment to go to Qatar. The information was under wraps until Lieberman revealed on live television on Saturday night.
"Two weeks ago the head of Mossad and the head of Israel Defense Forces' Southern Command paid a visit to Qatar on the express instructions of Netanyahu, to beg the Qataris to keep giving money to Hamas after Qataris said they would stop sending money on March 30," Lieberman told Channel 13 News.
Netanyahu reacted on Sunday by telling an Israeli radio station that "Lieberman is willing to hurt Israeli security" for election purposes.
Lieberman's claim comes amid reports that Qatar is expected to increase its financing of Hamas by 15 million dollars.
Along with Iran, the Gulf monarchy of Qatar is generally regarded as the chief backer of Hamas, the Gaza Strip-based Islamist group that fought three wars against Israel since wrenching control of the coastal enclave from Fatah in 2007.
A hardline right-wing secularist, Lieberman emerged a kingmaker during Israel's two last general elections that saw Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party deadlocked with Benny Gantz's Blue and White faction.
Lieberman ultimately declined to join a government with the ultra-Orthodox parties, leading the Jewish state to a third consecutive general election within a year.
This article was originally published by i24NEWS.
