Israel Matzav

Barak under fire for interview comments

Defense Minister Ehud Barak was on Israel Radio on Thursday morning to discuss his interview with Charlie Rose. Barak has come under fire for his comments that if he were an Iranian, he would be seeking to obtain nuclear weapons too.

In fact, on Israel Radio, he denied saying that. But you can follow that link and go hear excerpts of the interview, and you will hear and see that he did say it. Maybe he'd better stay out of the media. "The defense minister's excessive chatter reflects irresponsibility and causes damage to Israel's ability to thwart the Iranian nuclear threat," MK Zvulun Orlev (Habayit Hayehudi) said. Orlev called on Netanyahu to "put Barak in his place and order complete silence on the Iran issue."

Major-General (res.) Oren Shahar said, "It's obvious we must under no circumstance say we understand Iran's need to arm itself with nuclear weapons, because understanding means legitimizing Iran's armament – something we must strongly condemn."

Kadima members were surprised to learn that Barak was the one leading the Iran media frenzy. "Barak is leading the Israeli chatter on Iran and this hurts Israel," MK Yosel Hasson said. "It's astonishing to see him act as a commentator and a bystander and not as the person responsible for the security of Israeli citizens. Acting as commentator will not dismiss him of responsibility for so many government failures."

Hasson also addressed a previous controversial comment by Barak who once said that if he were a Palestinian of the right age he would join resistance groups. "Barak, who once sympathized with the average Palestinian and failed to curb the second intifada is causing us to question his abilities vis-à-vis the Iranian nuclear program," Hasson said.

When Netanyahu took office three years, he took Labor into the coalition, led by Barak, because most of the country wanted Barak to continue as Defense Minister right after what was then seen as a successful campaign in Operation Cast Lead, and because Netanyahu wanted someone to his left in the cabinet. Barak also brought 12 votes with him.

But in the last three years, Labor has split, Barak only carries five votes, and he is increasingly becoming a liability due to his loose lips. Barak's party is not likely to be in the next Knesset. One wonders why Netanyahu doesn't get rid of him and make Boogie Yaalon Defense Minister.

Labels: Binyamin Netanyahu, Ehud Barak, Iranian nuclear threat

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:51 PM