Olmert: Barak delaying Gaza op
PM rebuts Barak's accusations suggesting decision on Kadima primaries is behind postponement of Gaza incursion, shifts blame back to defense ministry. 'Barak only one preventing operation,' says Olmert
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert slammed Defense Minister Ehud Barak Sunday, saying "he is the only one preventing a Gaza operation. If he were to support such an incursion – we would go for it."
Olmert's remark came in view of a statement made by Barak on Friday, saying it was the pending decision on the Kadima primaries that is preventing a decision on a military operation in the Strip.
Barak's aides said in response that the defense minister is doing all he can to push for a ceasefire in order to secure Gilad Shalit's safe return.
"We cannot repeat the mistake made with Ron Arad, we have to exhaust all the options possible in order to bring Gilad home… without trying to reach a ceasefire we won't be able to free him," said a source close to Barak.
"The defense minister has said numerous times that a military operation is inevitable, but the timing has to be carefully set, in accordance with the opportunities in the field."
Earlier Sunday, during a Kadima faction meeting in the Knesset, Olmert's ministers demanded he make a decision about a military operation in the Strip: This kind of a decision should have been made during the cabinet meeting, said the faction; it didn't go through because the defense minister blocked it.
