Defeated Barak Resigns "Israeli" Politics

Local Editor

Days after his "Pillar of Cloud" aggression failed in Gaza, "Israeli" War Minister Ehud Barak announced Monday that he is resigning from politics and will not contend in the upcoming Knesset election.

However, "I will complete my term as a war minister," he said.
Barak said that while he had difficulties making the decision, he was confident in his choice. "I want to study, to write to live and have a good time," he added.
In his dramatic press conference, Barak claimed that he had been considering quitting for some time, but the "Israeli" aggression on Gaza delayed his announcement.
"I have exhausted politics and I want to dedicate more time to my family," the "Israeli" minister declared.

Barak, 70, served as "Israel's" 14th chief of staff. He left the army in 1995 and after six months joined politics upon then- "Israeli" Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's request.
After Rabin's assassination Barak was named the Zionist entity's foreign minister. In 1997, he was elected Labor chairman and managed to defeat Netanyahu in the 1999 election, assuming the role of prime minister. In May 2000, his government withdrew Southern Lebanon due to Lebanese resistance operations. In 2001 he resigned and later lost the election to Ariel Sharon.

Barak's hiatus from "Israeli" politics lasted until 2007, when he won the Labor primaries. He was then appointed as war minister under Ehud Olmert.
Under Barak's leadership, Labor was dealt a blow in the last Knesset election, winning only 13 mandates.


Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org