Barak: I'm staying in the coalition

"I am staying on as defense minister due to the challenges that face us – beginning with Gaza, Lebanon, Hizbullah and the rehabilitation of the IDF and the political echelon, Ehud Barak told an impromptu press conference ahead of Sunday's cabinet meting.

The Labour party leader had suggested he might pull out of Ehud Olmert's fractious coalition if an official inquiry into the 2006 Lebanon war released last week blamed the prime minister directly for political and military bungles.

But Barak, whose departure would likely have felled the government and prompted snap polls, said he would stay in the job to deal with recommendations laid out by the Winograd Commission and would later "set a date for elections".

“I am sickened by the relentless celebrations within Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s government following the Winograd Commission report,” said Yacimovich. “What I gleaned most from the commission’s report is that parents have forever lost their beloved children to amateurish, reckless decision making.”

'A predictable move'

Meretz-Yahad chairman Yossi Beilin responded to the announcement by saying that "Barak's decision is as shaming as it is predictable. This was a grave mistake – Barak relinquished his chance to push for the prime minister's replacement."

Barak, added Beilin "has sanctioned Olmert as prime minister, despite Winograd's contingent that he cannot serve as one." 

The Likud issued a statement saying "Barak, as expected, is running away from his responsibility, preferring his own interests and excusing it by citing the good of the country... Barak has proven he prefers his personal political survival over the country's welfare, which demands that the government be replaced." 

"Barak will not commit political suicide by resigning," said MK Talab El-Sana (United Arab List-Ta'al). "If he wants to atone his actions he can push a real political process and the ceasing of war crimes."

El-Sana added he hoped Barak will not try to avert the criticism by "starting a campaign against the Palestinian people."

The Reserve Soldiers Forum issued the following statement: "Politics has defeated the county. We are witnessing an alliance of the failed, the cynics and those hungry for (political) survival.

"Unfortunately, is seems turning ones back on responsibility is an admissions requirement for a ministerial position. All we can do is promise to fight for a change in Israeli norms. We call on the Israeli public to attend our protest, at the Knesset, on Monday night."