RAMALLAH, 4 February 2008 — Israeli Defense Minister and Labor Party chairman Ehud Barak announced yesterday he would remain in the government of Prime Minster Ehud Olmert due to the “challenges facing Israel regarding Gaza, Lebanon, the rehabilitation of the Israeli army and the political echelon.”
This announcement, made at an impromptu press conference ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting, marks a turnaround from a promise Barak made during the Labor Party’s primary elections last year.
Barak’s decision secures the continuation of the Olmert government in the wake of the Winograd Report that harshly criticized the prime minister, holding him responsible for errors in judgment during the July war on Lebanon last year.
“The Winograd Report was harsh, and it has implications and complicated conclusions regarding both individuals and ethical issues,” Barak said during the press conference. “I intend to address these conclusions when the time is right, and set a date for elections.”
Meretz-Yahad chairman Yossi Beilin joined Barak’s party members in criticizing his move by saying Barak’s decision amounted to a mark of approval of Olmert’s performance as prime minister. “Barak’s decision is as shaming as it is predictable,” he said. “This was a grave mistake. Barak relinquished his chance to push for the prime minister’s replacement.”
Opposition Attacks Barak
The opposition Likud Party accused Barak of personal motives for the decision. “Barak, as expected, is running away from his responsibility, preferring his own interests and excusing it by citing the good of the country,” said a party statement, issued after the press conference. “Barak has proven he prefers his personal political survival over the country’s welfare, which demands that the government be replaced.”
Talab el-Sani’, one of the Knesset’s Israeli-Arab members, said that Barak could save face by resigning. “Barak would not be committing political suicide by resigning,” he said. “If he wants to atone for his actions, he can push for a real political process and the ceasing of war crimes.” El-Sani’ added he hoped Barak will not try to avert the criticism by “starting a campaign against the Palestinian people.”
The Minister of Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman announced last January he was resigning his office and that his rightist party Yisrael Beiteinu was leaving the coalition over disagreements with Olmert regarding negotiations with the Palestinians on the core issues of the conflict such as Jerusalem, the refugees and the borders of a future Palestinian state. Israeli and Palestinian negotiation teams started talks on the core issues on Dec. 12 in the wake of the US-hosted Annapolis peace conference. Palestinian sources close to the negotiations said that several rounds of talks ended without any progress due to Israeli settlement activities in West Bank and East Jerusalem.
— With additional input from agencies
