Lieberman, Mossad Chief Meet in Bid to End Row

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman met on Sunday with Mossad chief Tamir Pardo in a bid to end the crisis between the two men which culminated last week with Lieberman's order to sever ties between the foreign ministry and the Mossad.

According to a source at the foreign ministry, Lieberman met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday and presented him with examples of the Mossad's problematic conduct in its relations with the foreign ministry.

Lieberman claimed the Mossad has not followed the normal procedures, according to which the foreign ministry is responsible for contact with foreign states that have diplomatic ties with Israel, while the Mossad is tasked with contact with those which do not.

Lieberman also claimed that while Mossad officials receive all foreign ministry reports, they do not always reciprocate. He also said Mossad officials have been communicating behind ambassadors' backs with states they are not qualified to approach. These include a number of African states, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey.

About a week ago Lieberman ordered the foreign ministry to boycott the Mossad, to stop sharing information and to refrain from inviting Mossad officials to discussions and meetings.

Lieberman is now seeking to redefine working relations between the two sides and reach a written understanding of the division of responsibilities at foreign embassies around the world.