Ehud Barak Warns Netanyahu Could Try to Disrupt Elections, Drawing Fierce Backlash

Former prime minister Ehud Barak warned on Sunday in an interview with Kan Reshet Bet’s "This Morning" that if Benjamin Netanyahu tries to sabotage the coming elections, "there will be no choice but to expel him with sticks and stones." Barak said Netanyahu could trigger a diversion by launching a surprise strike in Nabatieh, prompting retaliation, Israeli action in the Dahieh district, and then a war with Iran, leaving no elections at all.

Barak also sharply criticized the emerging U.S.-Iran arrangement, calling it, "In one word, bad, in two words, very bad." He said Israel is paying the price for Netanyahu’s "arrogance and blindness" and for what he described as Netanyahu’s manipulations of Donald Trump. According to Barak, the deal is only a memorandum of understanding and does not answer the threats from missiles or Iranian proxies, and it is unrealistic to expect the United States to return to fighting. He said Israel has "zero influence" on events, calling that a tragedy.

Barak argued that after months of pressure, Iran has emerged stronger internally, regionally, and internationally, while Israel, despite gains after the first response to October 7, has come out weaker. His comments came amid growing political tension in Israel ahead of elections.

Likud MK Boaz Bismuth lashed back, accusing Barak of promoting a conspiracy and legitimizing violence against Netanyahu. He called Barak "a terrible man" who had seen Jewish bodies in the Yarkon, had called for civil disobedience, and had lost all humanity, adding that Barak should be sent to a psychiatrist or, if mentally fit, face a criminal investigation. The remarks also came as opposition leader Yair Lapid attacked the Iran deal as a "complete failure" by Netanyahu. Trump said a framework agreement with Iran was expected to be signed later that day.