Israel – Report: Ehud Barak May Be Mulling Comeback

    1

    Ehud Barak File Photo: REUTERSIsrael – Former prime minister Ehud Barak may be considering a political comeback, Al-Monitor reported Monday, citing key Labor Party political activists who held a meeting with him earlier this month.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    Barak last served as defense minister in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s previous government, announcing his retirement from politics in November 2012. He had previously broken off from the Labor Party in January 2011, to form the Independence Party with four other Labor MKs.

    Yossi Shriqui, the former head of Labor’s Netivot Branch organized the meeting at Barak’s Tel Aviv home. It was also attended by Pini Kabalo, the chairman of Labor in Local Government, described by Al-Monitor as one of the faction’s main field operatives.

    According to the report, the meeting centered on the political implications of Operation Protective Edge in Gaza. Participants told Al-Monitor that Barak suggested there was no realistic challenger to Netanyahu from the Center-Left. Furthermore, they said that Barak hinted that, along with former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, he was the only person who had proved capable of putting Labor in power at the expense of Likud by wooing right-wing voters.

    Barak appeared interested in gauging the attitudes of Labor field operatives toward his return to the party after he ruffled some feathers by leaving the party to form the Independence Party in 2011.

    Following the meeting, Al-Monitor quoted Shriqui as saying, “Since Netanyahu has no rival with the necessary stature within the Likud party, or within the political center or even in the Zionist left, then the rational center must consolidate its forces and present a joint list based on common principles. That list would be headed by Barak, who has already proved that he knows how to defeat Bibi [Netanyahu].”

    Shriqui said he believes that most Labor operatives would welcome Barak back into the party.

    However, Al-Monitor quoted another senior Labor official as saying there was still bad blood between many in the party and their former leader. “It looks to me like Barak wants us to come calling on him to be our savior, but that won’t happen. I understand that he is sending people out to the various mayors to find out if there is any possibility of arranging a comeback for him. Frankly, it all sounds delusional.”

    Netanyahu has been working to advance the Likud leadership race in recent weeks, fueling speculation that he seeks to advance the next general election which is currently scheduled for 2017.

    Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    1 Comment
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    9 years ago

    Oh please not again… Can anyone point to anything he achieved when he was in power?