Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., December 30, 2008 Tevet 3, 5769 | | Israel Time: 03:35 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 06:09 29/12/2008
Joint Gaza operation hasn't softened Olmert-Barak personal differences
By Aluf Benn
Tags: Israel, Hamas, Gaza 

The current "Gaza War" is being waged in the shadow of the tense relations between Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

Their shared responsibility for the current military operation has hardly softened the personal dispute between them. On the first day of the operation, Olmert took issue with Barak's remarks to the media, and the Labor leader did not enjoy playing the role of Olmert's lackey, along with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, at that afternoon's press conference.

Aside from the interpersonal tension, the two leaders remain divided about how to carry out the operation. Olmert has been portrayed as more aggressive and trigger-happy, Barak as more willing to wait until conditions ripen in Israel's favor. Such was the dynamic during deliberations over striking the Syrian nuclear reactor at the end of last summer as well as over the current operation against Hamas.
Advertisement
Two accounts of the lead-up to the offensive are currently circulating around Jerusalem. According to the first version of events, Olmert understood before other senior officials that Israel would be going to war with Hamas and acted accordingly.

According to this view, on November 14, after a barrage of six Grad missiles on Ashkelon he called a meeting at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv at which he convinced colleagues that an impending confrontation was unavoidable. He instructed the IDF to begin preparing in earnest for the aerial strike that surprised the Strip on Saturday. Barak, by contrast, arrived at that conclusion only on December 17, after Hamas announced its intention not to continue the cease-fire. Olmert was not impressed by the Hamas cease-fire, but nonetheless followed the instructions of Defense Ministry officials and was constantly updated with intelligence on the operation's launch by the Shin Bet security service.

After an understanding was reached with Barak, Olmert moved to build a political front in favor of waging the offensive with a series of cabinet meetings. It was Barak who ultimately broke the silence, giving a television interview Wednesday about the cabinet having given the operation the green light. As such, there was a need to take steps toward deceiving Hamas, and Olmert was enraged by what he saw as Barak's attempts to take credit for the operation.

According to the second version of events, Barak had been planning for a confrontation with Hamas for a long time, long before November. He therefore gave the army time to prepare, to gather intelligence and draft plans of action. According to this view, he was willing to absorb round after round of mudslinging, slander and claims of incompetence in order to prepare for the offensive as necessary.

Put simply, Version A holds that Olmert is not running for office and his considerations were therefore substantive, while Barak was merely looking for political capital. Version B says Olmert is concerned with saving his "legacy," and his claims against Barak were pathetic. History teaches us that government leaders do not need to get along in order to wage a successful war. We can only wait to see whether the current war bears this out.

Related articles:
  • In response to Gaza raids, Hamas threatens to assassinate Livni, Barak
  • ANALYSIS / Key Arab states hope for weakened Hamas
  • Hezbollah: Israel may take this opportunity to attack Lebanon
  • Hamas: Time for a third Intifada
  • 3 senior Hamas officers among 230 killed during IAF strikes in Gaza
  • Olmert: Our desire for quiet was met with terror
  • One Israeli killed, 4 hurt as Palestinian rockets hit Negev home
  • ANALYSIS / IAF strike on Gaza is Israel's version of 'shock and awe'
  • IN PICTURES / Gaza under attack
  • Bradley Burston / The worst anti-Israel charges you'll hear in wartime
  • U.S. demands Hamas end terrorist acts, urges Israel to avoid civilian casualties
  • Israeli Arabs react with violence to IDF operations in Gaza
  • Israel to mount emergency international PR effort in wake of Gaza campaign
  • ANALYSIS / With Gaza raid, Barak is back in the political ring
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Army of martyrs
    Iran clerics enlist volunteers to fight 'Zionist regime' in Gaza.
    New anti-Semitism
    Greek paper: World Jewish plutocracy behind Gaza strife, global financial crisis.
      1.   Who cares of Olmert? Barak is doing what needs to be done. 08:56  |  S 29/12/08
      2.   Who cares? Both self-serving losers will be replaced on Feb. 19th 10:39  |  Dr. L. Brnd 29/12/08
      3.   but the events and circumstances support version "A" 12:09  |  eric 29/12/08
     Read & React
    Two Israelis die as rockets fired from Gaza hit south
    Responses: 132
    Bradley Burston: Who speaks for Gazans, when they need it most?
    Responses: 93
    Tom Segev: Trying to 'teach Hamas a lesson' is wrong
    Responses: 136
    Amira Hass: 'Gaza strike is against all Palestinians'
    Responses: 79
    Greek paper: World Jewish plutocracy behind Gaza strife, global financial crisis
    Responses: 49
    Why hasn't Hamas responded to Gaza strikes with greater force?
    Responses: 28


    More Headlines
    01:33 Rockets fired from Gaza kill 2 Israelis within hour
    02:58 ANALYSIS / Hamas is hoping for an IDF ground operation
    03:02 Israel targets senior Hamas, Islamic Jihad commanders in fresh Gaza strikes
    20:20 Hezbollah: Defending Gaza means offering blood of martyrs
    02:18 David Grossman / Is Israel too imprisoned in the familiar ceremony of war?
    02:28 EU to press Israel on ceasing Gaza operation
    01:42 U.S.: Hamas must halt rocket fire at Israel, agree to lasting truce
    23:23 WATCH: Israel's attack on Gaza from the missiles' point of view
    16:50 IN PICTURES / Firestorm over Gaza
    13:02 Top PA negotiator: No peace talks with Israel during Gaza assault
    01:48 VIDEO / Egyptian paper: Hamas leaders partially responsible for Gaza assault
    12:07 Gaza War Diary II - Who speaks for the Gazans?
    15:41 Greek paper: World Jewish plutocracy behind Gaza strife, global financial crisis
    02:44 Amira Hass / Uncertainty and bombing keep Gazans awake and fearful of who will be next
    12:28 Report: Captive IDF soldier Shalit wounded in Gaza air strikes
    12:11 Iran clerics enlist volunteers to fight 'Zionist regime' in Gaza
    07:41 Why hasn't Hamas responded to Gaza strikes with greater force?
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Summer in Israel
    Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
    SURF RAMBAM
    Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research.
    Summer Camp in Israel
    The best place for your children this summer
    Academic Studies in Israel
    All the Q & A at the IDC HERZLIYA Open House, January 9,2009
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Car rental in Israel
    Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates.
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved