Ehud Barak's Iran bombshell could shake up Israeli politics
JERUSALEM
(AP) — Former Defense Minister Ehud Barak's comments that Israel nearly
attacked Iran's nuclear facilities but the plan was scuttled by
military men and cowardly politicians could shake up Israeli politics
Follow Yahoo News
Recommended Games
Ehud Barak's Iran bombshell could shake up Israeli politics
By DAN PERRY and JOSEF FEDERMAN
57 minutes ago
FILE - In this Monday Jan. 17,
2011 file photo, Former Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak attends a
press conference at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem.
Former Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s comments that Israel came close to
ordering an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities but was thwarted by
military men and cowardly politicians could shake up Israeli politics.
The leaked interview, in which Barak also described Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu as indecisive and obsessively pessimistic, was the
talk of the town Sunday in an Israel obsessed about Iran. (AP
Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)
JERUSALEM (AP) — Former Defense Minister Ehud Barak's
comments that Israel nearly attacked Iran's nuclear facilities but the
plan was scuttled by military men and cowardly politicians could shake
up Israeli politics.
The leaked interview, in which Barak also described
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as indecisive and obsessively
pessimistic, was the talk of the town Sunday in an Israel obsessed about
Iran. But beyond the hand-wringing, the always calculating Barak may
have been focused on the future, perhaps for a final run at the
country's leadership.
Also a former prime minister, Barak enjoys respect as the last leader of the moderate Labor Party to win an election, defeating Netanyahu in 1999. But he also is seen by analysts as having squandered his opportunity, lasting just two years in a term that cemented his reputation as brilliant but arrogant, and prone to overcomplicated analysis and nonstop machinations.
Barak later returned to politics, serving as defense minister from 2007 to 2013, when he was aligned with a re-elected Netanyahu on the dangers of a nuclear-armed Iran. He left politics as the Labor Party was weak and torn between factions. Now 73, Barak may running out of chances for another comeback.
Barak's interview, leaked Friday to Israeli Channel 2 television coincide with the release of a new biography about him, immediately thrust him back in the limelight.
"I imagine he would like to return to politics," veteran commentator Rina Mazliach told the privately owned broadcaster. Barak wants "to return to the Israeli consciousness."
In the recordings, Barak addressed one of the country's deepest secrets — whether Israel really was prepared to take military action against Iran's nuclear facilities.
For years, both he and Netanyahu issued veiled threats to attack if the world did not take action. Those threats, while often dismissed by commentators as bluster, were widely seen as a key factor in rallying international sanctions against Iran.
Barak told his interviewer that both he and Netanyahu favored an attack in 2010, but the military chief of staff at the time, Gabi Ashkenazi, said Israel did not have the operational capability.
"You can't go to the Cabinet when the chief of staff will go and say 'Excuse me, I told you no,'" Barak said.
The following year, he said two influential Cabinet ministers had second thoughts and scuttled an attack. Then, in 2012, a joint military exercise with the U.S. and a planned visit by then-U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta got in the way, he said.
Channel 2 said Barak unsuccessfully tried to prevent it from airing the interview, but that the military censor's office permitted it. There was no comment Sunday from Barak, Netanyahu or Ashkenazi, the former military chief.
The Cabinet ministers singled out by Barak — Yuval Steinitz and Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon — also declined to comment.
Avigdor Lieberman, then-Israel's foreign minister, appeared to support Barak's version in an interview with Channel 2. "If a prime minister cannot pass through his Cabinet a decision that he wanted, probably there is a problem," Lieberman said Sunday.
Danny Dor, one of the authors of the new book, said Barak knew he was being recorded and that there was never any promise not to publish them. And few have seemed to question that Barak knew what he was doing in giving the interview.
"What is certain is that there is a motive. Some hidden intent," wrote commentator Sima Kadmon in the Yediot Ahronot daily newspaper.
Barak may be intent on repairing his tarnished image and claiming a place in history. But the comments also come as Israel's dovish left desperately searches for a leader. Like other Labor figures, Barak — much more than Netanyahu — would prioritize disengaging from the West Bank and its millions of Palestinians chafing under Israeli occupation.
Isaac Herzog, a mild-mannered lawyer who lost to Netanyahu in Israel's March election that pollsters said was up for grabs, is sure to face a leadership crisis in the coming months.
Centrist Israelis are searching for a leader who can give Netanyahu a fight, mainly over the Palestinians but also the country's move toward conservatism and religion.
The seeming front-runner to replace Herzog is Ashkenazi, the former military chief singled out by Barak as blocking the attack on Iran.
Ashkenazi has been caught up in a scandal surrounding the appointment of his successor in 2010. At the time, Barak accused his army chief of improperly interfering in the appointment process.
Also a former prime minister, Barak enjoys respect as the last leader of the moderate Labor Party to win an election, defeating Netanyahu in 1999. But he also is seen by analysts as having squandered his opportunity, lasting just two years in a term that cemented his reputation as brilliant but arrogant, and prone to overcomplicated analysis and nonstop machinations.
Barak later returned to politics, serving as defense minister from 2007 to 2013, when he was aligned with a re-elected Netanyahu on the dangers of a nuclear-armed Iran. He left politics as the Labor Party was weak and torn between factions. Now 73, Barak may running out of chances for another comeback.
Barak's interview, leaked Friday to Israeli Channel 2 television coincide with the release of a new biography about him, immediately thrust him back in the limelight.
"I imagine he would like to return to politics," veteran commentator Rina Mazliach told the privately owned broadcaster. Barak wants "to return to the Israeli consciousness."
In the recordings, Barak addressed one of the country's deepest secrets — whether Israel really was prepared to take military action against Iran's nuclear facilities.
For years, both he and Netanyahu issued veiled threats to attack if the world did not take action. Those threats, while often dismissed by commentators as bluster, were widely seen as a key factor in rallying international sanctions against Iran.
Barak told his interviewer that both he and Netanyahu favored an attack in 2010, but the military chief of staff at the time, Gabi Ashkenazi, said Israel did not have the operational capability.
"You can't go to the Cabinet when the chief of staff will go and say 'Excuse me, I told you no,'" Barak said.
The following year, he said two influential Cabinet ministers had second thoughts and scuttled an attack. Then, in 2012, a joint military exercise with the U.S. and a planned visit by then-U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta got in the way, he said.
Channel 2 said Barak unsuccessfully tried to prevent it from airing the interview, but that the military censor's office permitted it. There was no comment Sunday from Barak, Netanyahu or Ashkenazi, the former military chief.
The Cabinet ministers singled out by Barak — Yuval Steinitz and Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon — also declined to comment.
Avigdor Lieberman, then-Israel's foreign minister, appeared to support Barak's version in an interview with Channel 2. "If a prime minister cannot pass through his Cabinet a decision that he wanted, probably there is a problem," Lieberman said Sunday.
Danny Dor, one of the authors of the new book, said Barak knew he was being recorded and that there was never any promise not to publish them. And few have seemed to question that Barak knew what he was doing in giving the interview.
"What is certain is that there is a motive. Some hidden intent," wrote commentator Sima Kadmon in the Yediot Ahronot daily newspaper.
Barak may be intent on repairing his tarnished image and claiming a place in history. But the comments also come as Israel's dovish left desperately searches for a leader. Like other Labor figures, Barak — much more than Netanyahu — would prioritize disengaging from the West Bank and its millions of Palestinians chafing under Israeli occupation.
Isaac Herzog, a mild-mannered lawyer who lost to Netanyahu in Israel's March election that pollsters said was up for grabs, is sure to face a leadership crisis in the coming months.
Centrist Israelis are searching for a leader who can give Netanyahu a fight, mainly over the Palestinians but also the country's move toward conservatism and religion.
The seeming front-runner to replace Herzog is Ashkenazi, the former military chief singled out by Barak as blocking the attack on Iran.
Ashkenazi has been caught up in a scandal surrounding the appointment of his successor in 2010. At the time, Barak accused his army chief of improperly interfering in the appointment process.
But
prosecutors recently determined there was not enough evidence to
indict, preparing the way for what is expected to be a dramatic entrance
into politics. Herzog already has voiced hope that Ashkenazi joins the
Labor Party.
Barak and Ashkenazi remain bitter enemies and analysts say Barak's comments now may be timed to trip up his old foe.
Barak
"wants to remind people where he was, what he did, how important he
was, how rational he was," said Reuven Hazan, a political scientist at
Hebrew University in Jerusalem. "When Ashkenazi starts doing the
political lecture circuit, Barak wants to be able to create and raise as
many obstacles as possible."
View Comend quote from:
http://news.yahoo.com/ehud-baraks-iran-bombshell-could-shake-israeli-politics-182221484.html
I would prefer to bring you word buttons from yahoo but they don't copy well anymore. So, that is why you don't see them here after my end quotes much.
No comments:
Post a Comment