Lapid: Israel-US relations in ‘crisis’

After Ynet learns White House officials prevented defense minister from meeting Kerry and Biden, Lapid says ‘We need to act with more respect. We must remember that US funds and technology helped Gaza operation.’

“There is a crisis with the Americans and it needs to be addressed as a crisis,” Finance Minister Yair Lapid said Saturday after ongoing tensions between Washington and Jerusalem led US officials to block Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon from meeting with senior administration officials during his current US visit.

“We mustn’t pretend there isn’t a crisis,” Lapid told a crowd in Tel Aviv Saturday. “Our relations with the US are vital and everything that can be done must be done to end this crisis.”