Deputy Premier David Levy has angrily accused certain fellow Cabinet ministers, who he did not name, of “fabricating scurrilous gossip” about him. He issued that statement last night after “anonymous ministers” leaked a report to Israel Radio that Levy had been “attacked” and “up-braided” at the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday.
The alleged attacks were said to have been prompted by Levy’s recent public statements favoring an early decision to redeploy the Israel Defense Force in south Lebanon and criticizing the IDF armored patrols north of the Awali River. The Cabinet was reported yesterday to have reached a broad agreement that now is not an opportune time to decide on a redeployment of the IDF to more southerly lines.
Aides to Levy said today that there had been no “upbraiding” of the Deputy Premier. But Premier Yitzhak Shamir and other ministers are understood to have spoken out sharply against Cabinet members who make statements to the media after delicate and highly confidential discussions in the Cabinet. Shamir did not mention Levy by name but is believed to have been referring to his public statements.
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