Barak: I'll quit coalition once I know Labor will win elections
During party elections, Barak had vowed to quit government once final war probe report is published.
By Haaretz Service Tags: Ehud Barak Israel Labor PartyDefense Minister and Labor Party Chairman Ehud Barak on Friday told faction members that he would pull Labor out of the government coalition only once he was certain the party could secure victory in the next election.
Barak said he would quit the government only "in the event I know the party will win [the election]," adding that leaving the government "just because of criticism from party members" would not be prudent.
"There were instances in which the Labor Party left governments at the wrong time and did not gain a thing from it," Barak said.
The Labor chairman's comments came in response to recent talk about the possibility of quitting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government, of which it is the second largest part.
During Barak's campaign for Labor Party chairman, he pledged to leave the coalition once the final Winograd commission report critiquing the government's execution of the Second Lebanon War is published. The report is expected to include scathing criticism of the government.
This week, the High Court of Justice turned down appeals against the commission, paving the way for the report's publication possibly in the coming weeks.
"If we leave the coalition, we will die in justice," Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said. Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon echoed Ben-Eliezer's sentiments, adding, "If we leave the government during the peace process, the public will not forgive us for it."
Labor MK Ophir Pines-Paz replied that "nothing came [of the Annapolis conference], and there won't be peace in 2008."
Barak acknowledged Pines-Paz prediction, but added that should Israel and the PA fail to hammer out a peace deal, "it won't be because of [Israel]. In Israel, there's a silent majority of 80 percent that wants peace. The problem is on the other side."
Barak also commented on the internecine strife within the party, saying "it's good and it's necessary to have arguments in the party, but only on principle rather than political considerations. I'm the head of the peace camp and I'm also responsible for the security of the residents of Israel."
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Defense Minister and Labor Party Chairman Ehud Barak (AP) |
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Barak says I am a man of many principles - and if you dont like these then I have many others !
Looks like he is not quitting because they will not win.
Israelis may have forgotten why they detested the man so many elections ago. Maybe now they remember. So Barak will leave and so then accomplished General Ehud Olmert, the fighter of the Lebanon War is back in charge? The Iranians must be shaking with fear.
Polybios, how have you become so intimate with details of Islamic history? You're amazing. And I mean that in all sincerity. -Akiva P.
You don't win elections by abandoning your principles simply to run the Defense Ministry.
WHAT A BLOODY DISAPOINTMENT!!! i thought barak as defence minister will be the BACKBONE of that slimy government. but he is just an other power hungry, weeling dealing, no principle, useless politician! GOOD HELP ISRAEL!!!
Can't agree with U there. They have never even gone as far as you in demanding the PA respect minority rights. Those guys are all head-in-the-sand paternalists who can't imagine the Pals as real people capable of running a civil society. That's why they advocate retreat, not peaceful confrontation (in the marketplace of ideas, not the battlefield) leading to real peaceful coexistence. They do not have what it takes to stand up to the very determined jihadists, and don't accept that there are jihadists whose identities don't revolve around Israeli leftists and their actions, but spring from the 1000+ year old doctrines of Hanbal, Taymiyyah, Wahhab, and Qaradawy; not Ibn Arabi or the Mutazila.
He wants to be a senior minister and having his party keep this government in power ( labour pulls out there wont be enough votes to keep Olmert in power ) On the other hand he wants to have ellections and then be PM but as long as Olmerts on power he cant do this. Barak has simply seen labour dont have a chance at winning the ellection now so he wants to stay in bed with Olmert untill the last minute
No morals, he is a liar and I have read his previous statements saying he will leave colation at this point then that point become another and so on. This is the leadership of the Labor, sounds Like the Liberal left, defeatest dems in the USA sounds like Hillary, I balme this situation on the Israeli people, call for elections and elect Netanyahu and Arens and in the US we need Gullini as Pres, Gingrich and VP and Bolton as secretary of State.
AND NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS/GIVE THEM GUNS AND A RED CARPET TO COME IN TO ISRAEL...PEACE WOULD HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED A LONG TIME AGO WITH THE NORMAL ARABS WHO LIVED IN THE WEST BANK.ARAFAT WASN'T BORN HERE(CAIRO) AND PERES WILL ALWAYS BE A LOSER!
The truth is what Barak is saying is all lies. He knows Kadima and Labor will take a heavy hit at the next elections and he would hate to see his buddies looking for jobs. Lets have the elections already. Israel deserves better.
The truth is what Barak is saying is all lies. He knows Kadima and Labor will take a heavy hit at the next elections and he would hate to see his buddies looking for jobs. Lets have the elections already. Israel deserves better.
Barak should have taken time to research the source of the term the "silent majority". It was originally used to refer to the dead.
Barak could have been promised to quit when hell freezes over, which will probably happen before Labor wins an election. It is now not up to Barak to quit, it is up to the people of Israel to throw this corrupt government out by using the only democratic action that should happen: elections now before Olmert gives Jerusalem to the Arabs in order to protect his position.
It was Barak who failed at Camp David and brought Arab insurgency to Israel! Barak thinks he can be PM again. Remember he was PM an Defense Minister at the same time. Only a fool does that! It was Peres, Beilin and Co. who brought these terrorists to our country.
If it means the silly Barak will go I might vote labour but I just can,t trust him to do what he says.It,s another trick !.
Barak nows that Labor is doomed. So why quit the coalition?
a failed nobody clings to power again
avoid the Xmas rush what a debile
So he will be there for many years to come - especially as he has now revealed himself to be a liar. Who would vote for him now?! Not many would have considered labor before - but now?! Mike
When Barak says there is an 80% of Israelis in support of peace; you better believe it. He is a politician and those guys live and die by the polls. I take it he knows what he is talking about. Secondly I agree with him on the futility of Labor Party leaving the government at this time. I disagree on the third point he made. If the peace process fails, it will only be the fault of the other side, he said. It would be a failure for both sides, since the US left them to their devices; the blame will be shared by both sides. The key, to success however, is movement on the ground. Israel controls most of the cards, in this regard, to make it work out. http://multicolor36.spaces.live.com
dear warrior we will be lucky to have another peres, maybe you should join an anger management class
if a politician SAYS "yes", he MEANS "maybe" if he say "maybe", he means "no" and if he says "no" he's not a politician if a lady says "no" she means "maybe" if she says "maybe" she means "yes" and if she says "yes" she's not a lady!!!
what a politician, a true oportunist.
Pines-Paz: "Nothing came of the Annapolis summit and there won't be peace in 2008". Is indeed Ex-Likudnik Olmert the last "sane" person left in Israel (together with Uri Avnery, Daniel Barenboim, Amos Oz, Yossi Beilin and a few others...)...??? Has it really come that far...???? God bless the Israeli (and even more the poor Palestinian) people. God bless.
Where is this silent majority of 80%? Barak, Olmert and the left seem to feel that they have a silent majority when none actually exists. When they say peace they are really saying giving in to the PLO and there outrageous demands. This is not peace, this is luncy. Only people with no self-respect would sit with a group of people who deny their own existence. Peace, hah. As soon as Abbas left the US he was running to make peace with Hamas, not Israel The majority of this country, as last week's population survey resuts revealed, are not pro-capitualation to the arabs.
BARAK=EGOTISTICAL MANIAC/LOSER(WHO KNOWS HE IS) AND SAYS IT OUT LOUD!BARAK IS THE 21ST CENTURY PERES!