"If you're getting involved in politics, then get involved in politics," Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said in response to remarks made by former Mossad chief Meir Dagan, published in Yedioth Ahronoth's weekend supplement. Dagan told Yedioth Ahronoth that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is set to address a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, "has caused the most strategic damage when it comes to the Iranian issue." He said his criticism was not personal and he had no grudge against Netanyahu, who had stepped in to help him obtain a liver transplant when he was sick. "I find these statements unfortunate," Ya'alon said. "Dagan does not know about current activities. His statements as a former branch head, the way he made them, damage the stature of the people in those same positions today. Therefore Dagan should know: If you are getting involved in politics, then get involved in politics." The Prime Minister's Office had no comment on Dagan's comments. The left-wing Meretz party released a statement after the interview was published: "Netanyahu strengthened Iran and Hamas and weakened Israel's stance in the world. In his years as prime minister he weakened the moderates in the Palestinian Authority and negotiated with Hamas. He responded to Iran's 'charm offensive' with a 'bicker offensive' and diminished Israel's ability to influence the international community." Deputy Environmental Protection Minister Ofir Akunis (Likud) said, "History will judge Netanyahu's speech. The prime minister is flying to the U.S. in the name of all Israeli citizens. This speech is Israel's most important speeches in decades. What sets apart a political leader is their ability to act based on their instinct and their beliefs, despite criticism. It is unfortunate that Buji [Isaac Herzog] and [Tzipi] Livni are unable to overcome small momentary political differences, put them side and stand by the prime minister over an issue in which they should have no political disagreement." The Zionist Union's defense candidate, Amos Yadlin, will be in Washington during Netanyahu's visit and will participate in the AIPAC annual policy conference on Monday. "I call on the prime minster to plead his case before the AIPAC conference and cancel the Congress address," Yadlin said before his departure. "His speech in Congress hurts relations with the current administration and represents a blatant meddling in American politics. There is nothing Netanyahu can say in Congress that he cannot say at AIPAC. If he has the good of the country at heart, he should use the respected stage he has at AIPAC and give up on the Congressional address, which hurts the fabric of our vitally important ties with the U.S." Zionist Union Chairman Isaac Herzog said the details of the Iranian deal with the West were not even known. "No one ones what the deal is; there may be no deal. There is no difference between Netanyahu and me with regards to defense outlook and viewing the Iranian threat as a strategic one, but there is a difference in how we choose to deal with it," Herzog said. "Netanyahu's speeches in the past two years have not led to anything. They have only fostered a negative disposition [toward Israel] for those at the negotiating table. I am for an international deal with Iran on condition that it will verifiably prevent Iran from attaining nuclear weapons. This is a test of our relations with the U.S. Netanyahu is playing politics inside the U.S. administration. We heard experts like Dennis Ross and Meir Dagan oppose Netanyahu's address to Congress, and rightfully so." Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid told "Meet the Press" on Channel 2 that Netanyahu's trip to the U.S. "brings Iran closer to becoming a nuclear state."
