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Calls for further details as Barak alleges Netanyahu damaged Israeli security
A former Israeli prime minister has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netahyahu of damaging Israeli security due to irresponsible decision making.
Speaking at a conference near Tel Aviv, Ehud Barak said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was responsible for a “series of incidents” which had opened Israel up to a “central security threat”. However, Barak added that he could give no further details due to “the sensitivity of the matter”.
In particular, he said that Netanyahu’s delay in signing a new military aid agreement with Washington will result in Israel receiving a significantly reduced deal, meaning that “essential projects being stopped or cancelled”. Barak claimed that once the agreement is signed, “the full extent of the damage from Netanyahu’s gamble” will become clear.
Barak’s allegations have led to public figures and media commentators calling for more information. MK Avi Dichter, who heads the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, said that Barak should relay details to his forum “and not pose riddles”. Committee member and Meretz leader Zahava Galon echoed Dichter’s request, saying “Barak cast serious aspersions on Netanyahu’s ability to defend the State of Israel’s security interests, and his words cannot be left alone”.
Unnamed representatives from Netanyahu’s office told Haaretz that they did not know what Barak was referring to in his comments.
Yediot Ahronot’s military affairs correspondent Alex Fishman said that “Barak should have given his version of events to an authorised secret forum, such as the Intelligence and Secret Services Subcommittee,” rather than make public comments. Writing in Maariv, Arik Bender asks whether Barak’s decision to speak publicly is an indication that he is considering a return to politics.
In addition to serving as Prime Minister from 1999 to 2001, Barak was leader of the Labour Party until 2011. In addition, he served as Defence Minister in Netanyahu’s government from 2009 until 2013, during which time the two were thought to enjoy a close working relationship.