Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., August 07, 2008 Av 6, 5768 | | Israel Time: 23:22 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 08:30 05/08/2008
Barak: If you miss Gaza raids, don't worry - they'll come
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Labor, elections, Ehud Barak 

Defense Minister and Labor Party leader Ehud Barak criticized his political rivals on Monday, equating them with hosts of reality television shows, and told his constituents that a military operation in the Gaza Strip was still very much on the agenda.

Speaking at a Labor Party event in Jerusalem on Monday evening, Barak said "anyone who misses the military operations in Gaza mustn't worry, they will come."

Addressing Israel's current restraint in the Gaza Strip, Barak said "we've never had cause to regret wars or a military operation that we didn't undertake from a position of strength and self assurance."
Advertisement
Against the backdrop of the weekend polls predicting the results of future general elections, with Barak eyeing the premiership alongside Kadima's Tzipi Livni and Likud's Benjamin Netanyahu, the defense minister said "you can try a new host in a chapter of 'Survivor' or a new host or leader for some tribe on a reality television show, and even new judges on a talent show, but when there is a real storm in the sea, you take an experienced captain."

In regard to the polls, which predicted only 14 to 17 mandates for the Labor Party with Barak at its helm, he said "these things are a momentary mood, at best. What will determine [the result] in the end will be the seriousness and depth of our work and accomplishment." He added that a decision on leadership cannot be taken in a single day, saying "we remember how Hillary Clinton looked in the polls, and where Obama was six months ago."

Barak lauded current indirect peace negotiations with Syria, saying "there is no guarantee that these overtures will come to fruition, but they are very important and we will press ahead and examine them."

Related articles:
  • Barak: U.S. to provide Israel with defense systems against Iran strike
  • Spat between Olmert and Barak keeps ratcheting up (2006)
  • ANALYSIS / Crushed and battered, Olmert finally broke
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Staying out
    Rice on possible IDF Iran strike: U.S. has no veto over Israeli military operations.
    Ganei Tallywood
    Hamas transforms former Gaza settlement into movie lot.
      1.   So Israel will break the ceasefire? 00:59  |  BBSNews 05/08/08
      2.   Barak:I haven`t defended Sderot against Hamas but I`ll defend Fat 01:00  |  Absolute Sweden 05/08/08
      3.   The Gaza Strip must return under PLO control 01:21  |  MOE 05/08/08
      4.   Bring It on Israel 01:23  |  Mr.Hamas 05/08/08
      5.   Enough BS already 02:34  |  Danite 05/08/08
      6.   blah blah blah 02:47  |  Ehud Barak 05/08/08
      7.   Barak - Yeah, He Was and Will Be a Great PM 02:50  |  Tod Zuckerman 05/08/08
      8.   Barak, Mufaz... Worst canidates. 03:05  |  D 05/08/08
      9.   BBSNews: What Ceasefire? 03:27  |  massaraksh 05/08/08
      10.   Barak: we haven`t fought anyone all week 03:35  |  Johnboy 05/08/08
      11.   Been there, done that 04:20  |  Baz Mann 05/08/08
      12.   Mr.Hamas 04:21  |  vik 05/08/08
      13.   Barak. Once a Loser Always A Loser 04:28  |  Irv 05/08/08
      14.   #10...JB 04:29  |  Nemesis 05/08/08
      15.   re 9 BBS`s understanding of terrorism 04:54  |  Alan the real one 05/08/08
      16.   free shalit 05:02  |  Great White North 05/08/08
      17.   If tough talk = competent action then Israel would rule the world 05:11  |  Natallie Durson 05/08/08
      18.   ceasefire is B.S. 05:12  |  judith 05/08/08
      19.   hey mr hamas 05:17  |  eric 05/08/08
      20.   War and Violence Vital to Continue the Military`s Control of Govt 05:22  |  Johan Odin 05/08/08
      21.   Here Eric, Why Not Just Send Milk and Cookies? 05:52  |  Reader 05/08/08
      22.   #14 Not up with the news, hey Nemesis? 06:22  |  Johnboy 05/08/08
      23.   That`s What Israel Needs Reality TV Shows 06:48  |  Yosemite 05/08/08
      24.   The time for military action against Gaza is long overdue. 08:26  |  Jean Van Daem 05/08/08
      25.   #1 BBS 08:32  |  Sky 05/08/08
      26.   Barak Kicks off the Elections Campaign 08:40  |  Hassa 05/08/08
      27.   Rewording a "suitable" post. (2nd try) 08:55  |  Maureen Ann 05/08/08
      28.   As I said before: Barak will finally bring Israel down. 09:40  |  Andreas 05/08/08
      29.   slaughter as a election campaign trick 09:47  |  Pablo B 05/08/08
      30.   Enough with the generals in government already! 10:08  |  Tzfonit 05/08/08
      31.   BBSNews - Still slow 10:11  |  Awake 05/08/08
      32.   #1, BBSnews, and your surprised? 10:51  |  VIPER 05/08/08
      33.   stupidity beyond compreension 11:00  |  paulo2005 05/08/08
      34.   Danite #5 - Smash Gaza? 11:14  |  Tzfonit 05/08/08
      35.   #3 Moe and the way back 11:34  |  Ben Alofs 05/08/08
      36.   #3 - sadly yours post is only based on lack of knowlege .. 12:18  |  redmike 05/08/08
      37.   Barak help the settlers go back to Gush Katif ! 12:31  |  Akram Zekaria 05/08/08
      38.   We miss all the dead children, let`s "rumble" 14:07  |  Messiah London 05/08/08
      39.   Gaza 15:27  |  Dani 05/08/08
      40.   oooooooo, Barak 15:31  |  noor 05/08/08
      41.   Elections Israeli style 15:37  |  Chris Linthwaite 05/08/08
      42.   The Warlike leaderships of Barak, &Bibi =A .R. Destructions 16:04  |  Abraham 05/08/08
      43.   #41 chris and the hypocrisy of an idiot -try blair 16:42  |  victor hardman 05/08/08
      44.   Is the DM Barak is having itchi fingers? 16:44  |  Harold 05/08/08
      45.   Barak should be transfered from DM to...... 16:52  |  Avish 05/08/08
      46.   Nor 17:00  |  Dani 05/08/08
      47.   Alan, it`s Israel policy of exporting terror... 17:09  |  BBSNews 05/08/08
      48.   Sky, antisemitism is forbidden by our policy... 17:16  |  BBSNews 05/08/08
      49.   what a remarkably stupid thing to say 17:21  |  Dave Duncan 05/08/08
      50.   Yet another yackety-yack ba-blah, ba-blah 17:23  |  words warnings etc. 05/08/08
      51.   #41 17:37  |  Chris Linthwaite 05/08/08
      52.   #1 Um, NO. One in the minority doesn`t speak for all. 18:06  |  DesMnsDave 05/08/08
      53.   Tzfonit 18:08  |  Danite 05/08/08
      54.   #47 BBS`s One-sided compliance 18:14  |  DesMnsDave 05/08/08
      55.   #47 Exporting terror? 18:17  |  DesMnsDave 05/08/08
      56.   Danite #53 wants 2 wars- and fast 18:44  |  M. Yopic 05/08/08
      57.   Iowa Dave, see the Arab Peace Initiative and stop lying... 18:56  |  BBSNews 05/08/08
      58.   Iowa Dave`s breathtaking racism... 19:06  |  BBSNews 05/08/08
      59.   BBS interested in any excuse to spout bigotry 19:14  |  jj 05/08/08
      60.   BBS, the Arab league wants "peace" on strictly 19:26  |  jj 05/08/08
      61.   jj, you have a lot to learn apparently... 19:32  |  BBSNews 05/08/08
      62.   Wrong jj... 19:36  |  BBSNews 05/08/08
      63.   M.Yopic 20:51  |  danite 05/08/08
      64.   M.Ypoic 20:53  |  Danite 05/08/08