Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon lashed out at the United States on Thursday during a radio interview in which he was asked about a State Department spokesperson's remarks on Israel's "excessive use of force" in subduing Palestinian assailants.
In an Army Radio broadcast, Ya'alon was apoplectic when asked to respond to State Department spokesperson John Kirby's contention that Washington received indications of possible use of excessive force by Israel.
"We are using excessive force?" the defense minister asked rhetorically. "If someone is wielding a knife and killing people, [then our response is considered] excessive force? What are we talking about here? This is nonsense."
