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Israeli Defense Secretary Ehud Barak to Quit Politics, Promises to Stay in Current Role Until Country’s Elections

Nov. 26, 2012 8:43am Tiffany Gabbay

Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ehud Barak talks to the media during a press-conference after a meeting with his Austrian counterpart Norbert Darabos (unseen) on December 14, 2009 in Vienna. This visit is the first-ever official one by an Israeli defence minister to the Alpine state. Barak will also meet president Heinz Fischer, chancellor Werner Faymann and foreign affairs minister Michael Spindelegger. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

In a surprise announcement Monday, Nov. 26, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, the man credited with being a key engineer of the country’s Iran-policy, said he was quitting politics after 47 years and would not run in the Jan. 22 national election. He pledged, however, to remain on in a defense-capacity until then.

“I have decided to retire from political life and not to run for the next Knesset … I will end my term as defense minister once the next government is established, in about three months,” he said at a news conference.

“I want to dedicate more time to my family. I feel I have exhausted dealing with political life, which has never been a passion of mine, and I feel there is room to allow other people to serve in senior roles in Israel.”

Barak once served as Israel’s prime minister and offered then-PLO leader Yasser Arafat nearly all of his demands in exchange for peace but was refused outright. He is considered a formidable strategic mind and military asset in Israel. As Iran races towards producing a nuclear warhead, Barak’s decision to retire from political life signals, at least to the Israeli news site DEBKAFile, that the former PM can now spend his time leading the charge against a nuclear Iran, rather than be mired in electoral politics.

Responding to a reporter’s question about Iran, the defense minister said it ”is the most important and central issue on the agenda and it will occupy me until I retire in three months.” DEBKA offers a bit more background on Barak:

After a brief lackluster stint as Labor prime minister in 2000-2001, Ehud Barak served as defense minister in three governments spanning seven and-a-half years. He shepherded the Israeli armed forces’ recovery from the 2006 Lebanon War, helped cement and expand security ties with the United States and upgraded Israel’s munitions, notably promoting the development of the Iron Dome which distinguished itself in the recent operation which was triggered by Hamas’s missile blitz against the Israeli population.

Of course it is only a matter of time before Hamas launches long and short-range rockets into Israeli communities. In fact, the terrorist group has proudly admitted what those who support the Jewish State already know — that it is taking the time afforded by the cease-fire to resupply and refuel for its next onslaught. If these tensions escalate within the next three months, which they are likely to do, Israeli general elections will be deferred and Barak would remain on as defense secretary until voting resumes.

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Comments (7)

universalphilos
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 1:53am
A prophecy, May 7, 1975: “We say unto you these words, the second coming, should not the Eagle [U.S.A.] spread its wings and protect, then all shall lose, all the descendents of Abraham shall lose. And the Earth shall find three thousand years of darkness, yet upon it.
And you say, “How can this be?” Then look about you. The Fifth Angel walks upon the earth. Famine and pestilence lay waste to the land. Earthquake and tornado have made it barren. And yet the land lays of the same land as in the days of Abraham.
We are here to prepare a way. We are here to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah unto the Earth. Yet the galaxies, and galaxies beyond, shall know of it and bow before it. And so the nations and nation shall bow before him, all in the same manner.
But the Lord, our God, wishes not that man walk around with bowed heads, but with heads held high unto themselves. For if man looketh at the ground and never looked into the eyes of another, how shall he know the Messiah when he cometh?
We have said before that none from either side shall interfere with the work that is at hand. And so it shall be. ou, “I AM WEARY. I NEED NOW A PLACE TO REST MY WEARY HEAD.”
Therefore, maketh unto the Earth, even through your days of famine, a restful place for the Lord within you….For all things that should come forth may be taketh away.”
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BzyT3fgGxb4-Mnp5THVvU0tNMFU

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ScarletRose
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 10:28pm
This man has always been an idiot. He once offered Arafat EVERYTHING he wanted, in exchange for peace. The only thing that saved Israel after that was that Arafat knew his own people would kill him for signing ANY peace treaty with Israel AT ALL. He had a hard time wiggling out of it, but he did. Barak is an enemy of his own people. A real Neville Chamberlain.

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RedManBlueState
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 11:00am
That’s OK. They can have our Barak, his wife too.

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Rational Man
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 9:04am
GOOD RIDDANCE !!!

The Blaze’s Israeli news article doesn’t tell the whole story of the controversial Barak.
Arutz Sheva, Israeli Natiional News has a bit more to say about the ‘Labor Party’ leader.

Nationalist politicians are pleased with the news that Defense Minister Ehud Barak is leaving politics.

Ichud Leumi (National Union) Chairman Yaakov Katz (Ketzaleh) said Monday that Barak’s presence in the government had always been “unnatural.”

“…..Barak joined the coalition and brought his anti-settlement policies with him.”

“Barak’s behavior is full of political and egotistic considerations, and he dies all this on the backs of the settlers,” Edelstein accused.

Minister Yuli Edelstein (Likud) said, “Today is Likud’s independence day. Barak will go down in the history of Israel’s governments as the worst defense minister that the Jewish settlement enterprise ever had.”

“I call on Netanyahu to announce that the next government will have a defense minister who is committed to defense and security for Israel without compromise. The brave residents of the South deserve this.”

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/162534

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- ScarletRose
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 11:01pm
  AMEN! It is good if a Defense Minister is loyal to his own country. It is Treason if he is NOT.
  
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Gary_K
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 8:56am
We are making an impact on the NWO.

http://www.infowars.com/brzezinski-populist-resistance-is-derailing-the-new-world-order/

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- PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 9:56am
  Please pass me some More Resistance, Please………CRUSH Agenda 21…..educated yourselves…and stop the technocratic madness.
  
  As to the story, Wishing is would be 2 less Barcks… would be a good thing
  
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