Update to this story.

JERUSALEM – In response to outrage from the U.S. over comments made by Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, Israeli diplomatic sources here said they are aware of statements that are “far worse” uttered by Obama administration officials against Israeli leaders, including remarks attacking Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Some of the sources accused the U.S. of focusing on Yaalon’s statements to deliberately prompt a diplomatic crisis in U.S.-Israeli relations.

Earlier in the week, Israel’s Yedioth Aharonot daily reported on remarks allegedly made by Yaalon in private to associates.

The unsourced report quoted Yaalon blasting Secretary of State John Kerry as “inexplicably obsessive” and “messianic” in his efforts to achieve a Palestinian state.

Yaalon reportedly told associates that Kerry has “nothing to teach me about the conflict with the Palestinians.”

Yaalon was said to have criticized Kerry’s Israeli-Palestinian plan as “not worth the paper it is printed on,” charging it will harm Israel’s security.

Of Kerry’s claim that his plan will render Israel’s borders safer than those of Canada, Yaalon was said to have retorted, “What are you talking about?”