Call it a political explosion, a normal day in parliament in Israel, or Mofaz’s bid for Kadima party leadership slot. Whatever your take on the events in the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee on Monday, the incident is making big headlines in the local media.

MK Shaul Mofaz, a former IDF chief of staff, former defense minister and former member of Likud is currently the chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee. In his capacity as committee chair, he abruptly ended the day’s session and stormed out, calling Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu “a liar”.

Visibly angered by events, Mofaz told reporters “The citizens of Israel must know that the prime minister is a liar”, not seeking to cushion the blow. It appears he anger focused on statements made by the prime minister in which Mr. Netanyahu stated Mofaz accused IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz of giving a false report regarding IDF budgetary matters.

Mofaz became aware of the prime minister’s statement during a session of the committee at which time he began shouting at Mr. Netanyahu who was in attendance. Mofaz simply exploded. He demanded Mr. Netanyahu issue a correction to the media, telling committee members that even here there are things that one does not do, accusing the prime minister of crossing a red line.

Mofaz also told reporters that he never stated or intimated that reports from the chief of staff were false, adding he relies on him and others who wear the uniform.

Ichud Leumi MK Prof. Aryeh Eldad accuses Mofaz of taking advantage of his post as chair of the prestigious committee to launch his campaign for the Kadima Party leadership slot. As such, Eldad is calling on the Knesset Ethics Committee to censure Mofaz and called on Mofaz to resign the chairman post.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)