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Vilnai: Ya'alon a poor choice for defense minister By Barak Ravid Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai yesterday lashed out at ex-IDF chief of staff Moshe Ya'alon, whom he said had done nothing and was to blame for botching up the Second Lebanon War. Vilnai is also a senior official in the Labor Party. "Ya'alon is not a star at all, he is responsible for the failure of the Second Lebanon War," Vilnai told Haaretz about Ya'alon, who recently joined Likud. Advertisement Vilnai, who served in the Israel Defense Forces for many years with Ya'alon, spoke during a visit to moshav Netiv Ha'asara, where concrete fortifications have been placed to protect field laborers from Qassam rockets and mortar fire. Vilnai scoffed at the possibility that Ya'alon would be appointed a senior minister if Likud wins the elections. "Ya'alon defense minister? Forget about it. The last war and the state the army was in prove he isn't suitable for this post. Anyway, I don't believe in all that talk about stars. First let him do something. We had people like that also, Ami Ayalon for example. What did he give Labor? Nothing," Vilnai said. A week before Labor's primary the gloom in the party is spreading. Party chairman Ehud Barak's interviews with the media yesterday acknowledging that he would probably not be elected prime minister reduced expectations in his party. Barak is also defense minister. "We're fighting to become the largest opposition party, at least, and that too will be difficult," Vilnai said. "Ehud wasn't telling any secret when he said he would probably not be prime minister after the elections." Despite the inevitable defeat, Vilnai seemed optimistic. "When our voters realize that the Labor Party is about to disappear, people will get it together and vote for it," he said. 'Things will change in our favor' Talking about moshav residents, Vilnai said that "these people and kibbutzim members are the party veterans. They understand that there must be a party between Kadima and Meretz. When the campaign really begins things will change in our favor and instead of seven Knesset seats [predicted by the polls] we'll get 12 or even 15." The people of Netiv Ha'asara, whose homes are about 100 meters away from the Gaza Strip border fence, were more interested in the situation in the Strip than the approaching elections. As far as they were concerned, whoever is elected will be measured by the speed in which he completes the fortifications. Brachia, one of the moshav farmers near whose greenhouses a concrete fortification was laid, disagreed. "Fortification is all well and good, but it won't stop the Qassam fire. This will only end when the guys on the other side start feeling scared," he said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Signs of al-Qaida Is the global terror network behind the deadly attacks in Mumbai? Denying Nazi links 104-year-old entertainer files lawsuit: It's not my fault Hitler was my fan.

Read & React Conflicting reports emerge on release of Mumbai Chabad center hostages Responses: 105 Mazuz: Olmert indictment possible in Rishon Tours scandal Responses: 45 Ari Shavit: While the Palestinian track fails, let's focus on Syria Responses: 36 Israel Harel: Defense establishment gives enemy hope that Israel's end is near Responses: 39 More Headlines 00:22 Reports differ over release of Mumbai Chabad center captives 00:33 Yossi Melman / Is al-Qaida behind the Mumbai terror attacks? 01:09 IN PICTURES / Mumbai ravaged by deadly terror attacks 22:35 European powers: Iran showing 'utter disrespect' for UN nuclear watchdog 20:58 104-year-old entertainer files lawsuit: It's not my fault Hitler was my fan 23:31 Body of one-day-old baby found in Be'er Sheva dumpster 17:14 Pope to make rare visit to Israel in May, following months of Jewish-Catholic tension 00:16 Belgian public broadcaster cancels ad that featured Hitler as a stripper 00:32 'I just grabbed the baby and ran,' says Mumbai Chabad employee 01:14 Norwegian ex-premier counters anti-Semitism accusations, slams Israel 15:24 Iran missile launch into space was 'publicity stunt,' Israeli experts say 22:52 Ministers and policymakers approve plan to combat economic crisis 16:03 Ultra-Orthodox MK Ravitz announces retirement from Knesset 04:25 IDF rejects claims it killed Palestinians in defiance of court 07:08 ANALYSIS / What it means: the path to indicting Olmert 10:01 Court ruling sees IDF targeted assassinations as last resort Previous Editions Select Day 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov 24 nov 23 nov 21 nov 20 nov 19 nov 18 nov 17 nov 16 nov 14 nov

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