Lapid hits back at Netanyahu’s Russia criticism: ‘This issue needs discretion’

Prime Minister Yair Lapid hits back at opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu over the latter’s criticism of the government’s recent dealings with Russia.

“The issue is being dealt with by the government of Israel, and as Putin’s spokesman said today, there is no diplomatic crisis,” says Lapid’s spokesman in a statement. “If Netanyahu could be bothered to come and receive security updates from Prime Minister Lapid, he would learn the facts.”

Netanyahu has declined to sit down face to face with Lapid for security updates that he is privy to as opposition leader.

Instead, Lapid’s office says, “we can tell him that for the sake of the safety of Israel and Russian Jewry, this is an issue that should be dealt with discreetly and through government channels and not in press conferences.”