The most pressing question Monday in political circles and the Labor Party is what does former Prime Minister Ehud Barak truly think about sitting in Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government?
While several of his cronies could swear that they heard him say he would not sit with Olmert in the same government, other associates said they had the impression that he had not yet decided. At Barak's headquarters, officials say it is not necessary to make such a decision for the time being.
Minister Isaac Herzog appealed to Barak not to make a hasty decision. "There is no point in rushing into decisions now. We must wait until after the primaries," he stated. "Any decision made today is influenced by the elections. It doesn't make sense to leave the government now.
"Bibi (Benjamin) Netanyahu is not the only alternative. There could also be a government with 61 MKs, without Labor. The Pensioners Party, Lieberman and United Torah Judaism, are all ogling our portfolios. In the end, they will be returned to sectarian parties."
Officials at Barak's office said that when he decides to talk publicly he might say that despite the difficulties in sitting in government led by Olmert, the final decision should be made by the party only after it elects its leader.
In spite of the uncertainty, Ynet last week published that among Barak's associates, Shimon Peres has been mentioned as an alternative to replace Ehud Olmert. Barak's people said that "at this time, the person to run matters should be someone with experience who can be trusted.
"Tzipi Livni is a political bluff with even less experience than Olmert. The Labor Party cannot support someone less suitable than Olmert, so Peres should be the one to replace him," they asserted.
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