Ehud Barak Warns Netanyahu Could Try to Disrupt Elections

Former prime minister Ehud Barak said Sunday morning that he is worried about the next election and warned that if Benjamin Netanyahu tries to undermine it, “there will be no choice but to expel him with sticks and stones.” Barak made the remarks in an interview with Kan Reshet Bet.

He said Netanyahu could try to “disrupt” the vote by triggering a regional escalation, for example if Israel strikes in Nabatieh, Hezbollah responds, and Israel then says it is operating in the Dahieh area and is in a war with Iran, leaving no elections. Barak also accused Netanyahu of wanting a “forever war” because ending the fighting would speed up his trial, leaving him with no more excuses and reducing his chances of a pardon to zero.

Barak said Netanyahu has also sabotaged hostage-release deals and blocked progress in Lebanon that could have forced Hezbollah to disarm. Asked whether Gadi Eisenkot or Naftali Bennett should lead an alternative government, Barak declined to choose between them, saying both are excellent.

He said a new government would need to look at the full picture, return “with its feet on the ground,” and build a broad diplomatic plan backed by a wide international front, including support from both major U.S. parties and the European Union, for a political solution based on strength, power, and Israel’s achievements.