JERUSALEM, 5 November 2004 — Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak came out of the political wilderness yesterday to launch a comeback that analysts said could strengthen prospects of an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza next year. Barak, who left politics after losing to Ariel Sharon in the 2001 prime ministerial election, issued a low-key announcement of his plans to challenge Shimon Peres for the leadership of the center-left Labour Party in a February party primary ballot.
“It is my intention to run for the leadership of the Labour Party and to lead it back to power,” Israel Radio quoted Barak, 62, as telling 81-year-old Peres. Barak’s enthusiastic support for Sharon’s Gaza pullout plan and his offer of almost unlimited Labour support to implement a withdrawal in 2005 could ease the prime minister’s political troubles considerably, political analysts said.
Barak’s aides said he would give Sharon an “iron-clad safety net” until November 2005 to ensure the withdrawal of 8,000 settlers and troops from Gaza went ahead as scheduled. A former army general and Israel’s most decorated soldier, Barak riled political allies with his reputed autocratic style while prime minister from 1999 to 2001. Many in his party expressed relief when he retired after losing to Sharon.
As Israel’s leader, he engaged Syria in failed peace talks, ended a 22-year occupation of southern Lebanon and tried to seal a peace treaty with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
During Barak’s political hiatus, newspapers said he was commanding large consulting fees during frequent trips abroad. His split from his wife of 34 years also grabbed headlines.
