Barak: Who will save the economy, Netanyahu? He took your pensions

Defense Minister and Labor Chairman Ehud Barak on Sunday lambasted his political rival Benjamin Netanyahu, the Likud Chairman, as being incapable of ensuring Israel's economic wellbeing.

"Who will take care of your economic future, Bibi? Bibi took your pensions," he said, using Netanyahu's nickname.

Barak made the comments at a Labor gathering held by MK Amir Peretz, a former party leader.

The defense minister also laid into his coalition partners in the ruling Kadima party over economic policy.

"Who will repair [the situation], [Kadima Chairwoman] Tzipi Livni? [Finance Minister] Roni Bar-On? That bunch of flipflopers in Kadima?" added Barak, speaking at a party gathering.

Barak's comments came as politicians were intensifying their campaigning efforts ahead of February's general elections.

An opinion poll published on Sunday showed that Likud had opened a large, decisive lead of six MKs over Kadima and that Labor was battling against Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu for the position of fifth-largest party.

Barak went on to say that his party has been calling for a diverse economic policy and for a security net for pension funds.

"What do we get?" he asked. "Slander and slogans. Today, what they are planning to do is also too little and too late."