In a letter to US ambassador Dan Shapiro, Kulanu party chief Moshe Kahlon apologizes to the White House for fellow party member Michael Oren — formerly Israeli envoy to the US — for his withering criticism of the Obama administration, Channel 2 reports.

“I distance myself from the statements made by Michael Oren,” Kahlon writes, according to Channel 2. “President Obama has greatly contributed to Israel’s security.”

Kahlon stresses that Oren’s criticism does not reflect his party’s stance, but is “only his personal opinion,” the TV report says.