Former PM Barak Warns Iran War Could Delay Knesset Swearing-In
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak warned that an Israeli strike on Iran could disrupt the Knesset's swearing-in and lead to a unity government, suggesting it's a move by Benjamin Netanyahu to stay in power. Barak believes there's no immediate need for action against Iran and that such a conflict could be used to create a national emergency. He also criticized Netanyahu's handling of the war and his alleged detachment from reality.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Former PM Ehud Barak fears an Israeli strike on Iran could delay the Knesset's swearing-in.
- Barak alleges Prime Minister Netanyahu might initiate an Iran conflict to remain in power.
- He believes any necessary action against Iran can wait for a new government.
- A conflict could create a national emergency, hindering normal Knesset proceedings.
- Barak blamed Netanyahu for the October 7th failures and alleged detachment from reality.
Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak expressed concern in an interview with 103fm that an Israeli strike on Iran could disrupt the swearing-in of the Knesset and potentially lead to a unity government. Barak stated he has feared this possibility for a month, believing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might initiate such a conflict to cling to power.
Barak argued that there is no immediate intelligence requiring action against Iran, suggesting any necessary steps could wait for a new government to be formed in six to eight weeks. He cautioned against initiating a conflict without clearly defining its objectives and chances of success. He explained that a "deceptive war" could create a national emergency, hindering normal Knesset proceedings and potentially leading to the cancellation of its swearing-in ceremony. This, he believes, would fuel calls for a unity government and shift the national agenda solely to security matters.
Regarding the conscription of Haredim (ultra-Orthodox Jews), Barak noted that the IDF cannot absorb them all, emphasizing that the main challenge lies in their integration into the workforce and core curriculum studies. He also directly blamed Netanyahu for the failures leading to the October 7th massacre, describing the Prime Minister as being in a state of complete detachment from reality and using fear-mongering tactics about nuclear threats from Iran.
Barak concluded by asserting that the confrontation with Iran should be left to a new government, not one led by the individual he holds responsible for the October 7th failures and the lack of achieved objectives after three years of conflict. He criticized the notion of toppling the Iranian regime quickly, contrasting it with the inability to dismantle Hamas or prevent its control of Gaza, and suggested Netanyahu needs an endless war to avoid scrutiny of his record.
