Attorney General Aharon Barak has rejected a request by Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan for libel action against Labor MK Yossi Sarid. According to Dayan, Sarid libeled him by claiming that Dayan was the originator of rumors that the Carter Administration was seeking the ouster of Premier Menachem Begin.
Barak ruled Thursday that to bring suit against Sarid was not in the public interest and could precipitate a conflict between the executive and legislative branches of government. Dayan has strongly denied the assertion attributed to Sarid that he told an Israeli radio reporter of alleged American interference in Israel’s internal affairs.
Israel Radio carried reports that an American political personality told an Israeli personality that the U.S. would like to see a new leader in Israel. The reports raised a storm of indignation in Israel and solidified support for Begin after his unsuccessful talks with President Carter in Washington last month. At that time, Begin’s political stock was low but the allegations of American interference muted criticism of the Premier and dampened challenges to his leadership that were said to be developing within his own coalition.
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