Defense Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya’alon thought he was speaking in a sealed room. Feeling at ease in a secure environment, Ya’alon allowed himself, more than once, to let loose his verbal reins, and called U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry “obsessive” and “messianic.”

Anyone who knows Ya’alon realizes that if he had thought for even one second that his words would be printed, he would have spoken more carefully. But there was a mishap, and Yedioth Ahronoth’s Shimon Shiffer published an article on Tuesday with quotes from Ya’alon that included the two words.

This was a serious blunder for Ya’alon. Ya’alon did not deny the quotes, but tried to explain. The U.S. was furious. If I were Ya’alon, I would take a deep breath of air and call Kerry to apologize. Without doing this, Ya’alon will become a persona non grata at the State Department, and his previously positive relationship with the Pentagon will not help him. Ya’alon began the process late Tuesday night by issuing a short apologetic message to Kerry.

Read the article in full at Israel Hayom