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{{Short description|Prime minister of Israel from 1999 to 2001}}
]
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Ehud Barak
| birthname = Ehud Brog
| image = Ehud Barak official portrait 1999.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 1999
| order = 10th
| office = Prime Minister of Israel
| term_start = 6 July 1999
| term_end = 7 March 2001
| president = ]<br /> ]
| deputy = ]<br />]<br />]
| predecessor = ]
| successor = ]
| office2 = ]
| primeminister2 = ]<br />]
| term_start2 = 18 June 2007
| term_end2 = 18 March 2013
| deputy2 = ]
| predecessor2 = ]
| successor2 = ]
| term_start3 = 6 July 1999
| term_end3 = 7 March 2001
| primeminister3 = ''Himself''
| deputy3 = ]
| predecessor3 = ]
| successor3 = ]
| office4 = ]
| term_start4 = 22 November 1995
| term_end4 = 18 June 1996
| primeminister4 = ]
| deputy4 = ]
| predecessor4 = Shimon Peres
| successor4 = ]
| office5 = ]
| term_start5 = 1 April 1991
| term_end5 = 1 January 1995
| president5 = ]<br /> ]
| primeminister5 = ]<br />]
| 1blankname5 = ]
| 1namedata5 = ]<br />Yitzhak Rabin
| deputy5 = ]<br />]
| predecessor5 = ]
| successor5 = ]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|2|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = ],<br />]
| party = ]
| otherparty = ] (until 2011)<br />] (2011–2012)<br/> ] (2012–2019)
| spouse = {{ubl | {{marriage|]|1968|2003|end=div}} | {{marriage|Nili Priel|2007}}}}
| children = 3
| alma_mater = ] (])<br />] (])
| profession = ]
| signature = Ehud Barak Signature.svg
| branch = ]
| rank = ] (Lieutenant general; highest rank)
| unit = ]
| commands = ]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]
| serviceyears = 1959–1995
| battles = ]<br />]<br />]
| awards = ]<br />]<br />]<br />]
| native_name_lang = he
| native_name = {{nobold|אֵהוּד בָּרָק}}
}}


'''Ehud Barak''' (]: '''&#1488;&#1461;&#1492;&#1493;&#1468;&#1491; &#1489;&#1468;&#1464;&#1512;&#1464;&#1511;''') (born ], ]) was the 10th ] from ] to ]. '''Ehud Barak''' ({{langx|he|אֵהוּד בָּרָק}} {{IPA|he|eˈhud baˈʁak||Ehud_barak.ogg|link=yes}}; born '''Ehud Brog'''; 12 February 1942) is an Israeli former general and politician who served as the tenth ] from 1999 to 2001. He was leader of the ] between 1997 and 2001 and between 2007 and 2011.


Born on a ], Barak is the eldest of four sons; his grandparents were murdered in ]. He graduated in physics and mathematics from the ] and later obtained a master's in engineering-economic systems from ].
Barak joined the ] in ] and served for 35 years, rising to the position of Chief of the General Staff and the rank of ], the highest in the Israeli military. During his service as a commando, Barak took part in a covert mission (], ] ]) in which he was disguised as a woman in order to gain access to terrorists. Barak was awarded the "Distinguished Service Medal" and four other citations for courage and operational excellence. He is considered the most decorated soldier in IDF history. Meanwhile, Barak earned his ] in Physics and Mathematics from the ] in ] in ], and his ] in Engineering-Economic Systems in ] from ] in ], ], ].


Barak's military career in the ] (IDF) began in 1959, spanning 35 years and culminating in his appointment as ] in 1991, serving until 1995. His military tenure is noted for his leadership in several operations, including "]" in 1972, the covert ], and the 1976 ]. A ], Barak shares with two others the honor of being the most highly decorated ] in Israel's history.
In politics, he served as Minister of the Interior (]) and Minister of Foreign Affairs (]-]). He was elected to the ] in ], where he served as a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. In ] Barak became the leader of the ].


In politics, his career began with his appointment as ] in 1995 under Prime Minister ]. Following Rabin's assassination, he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in ]' government. Barak was elected to the Knesset on the Labor Party list in 1996 and subsequently became party leader. Barak served as Israel's last left-wing Prime Minister from 1999 to 2001. His tenure was marked by significant events, including the decision to form a coalition with the Orthodox party ], the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Southern Lebanon in 2000, and participation in the ] aimed at resolving the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Barak's government faced challenges, notably the ].
Ehud Barak was elected Prime Minister of ] on ], ] and completed his term on ], ] after his loss to ] in a February special election for prime minister.


After defeat in the ], he left politics and engaged in international business and advisory roles. He made a political comeback in 2005, attempting to regain leadership in the Labor Party, and later served as ] - where he led ] in 2008–09 - and ] under ] and then in ]'s second ] between 2007 and 2013. His decision to form the Independence party in 2011 marked a shift in his politics, influencing the dynamics within the Netanyahu government. Despite retiring from politics in 2012, he attempted another comeback, running in the ] as the leader of ] - a new party he formed. His party merged with others to form an alliance called ], but it did not win enough seats for him to become a member of the ].<ref name=toi>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/declaring-netanyahus-time-as-up-ehud-barak-announces-formation-of-new-party/|title=Declaring Netanyahu's time as up, Ehud Barak announces formation of new party|date=26 June 2019|access-date=29 June 2019|author=Jacob Magid|work=]}}</ref> Outside of his political and military career, Barak has accumulated wealth through business endeavors and investments; his net worth is estimated to be $10–15 million.
]


==Early life and family==
Barak's term as ] had several notable events, most of them controversial:
]
* Forming a coalition with the '']'' party ], after Barak promised an end to "corruption" sponsored by religious parties.
Ehud Barak was born on ] ] in what was then ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Warrior, Military Strategist and Peacemaker |url=https://www.achievement.org/achiever/ehud-barak/#interview |access-date=3 April 2019 |work=Academy of Achievement |date=4 May 2001}}</ref> He is the eldest of four sons of Esther (née Godin; 25 June 1914 – 12 August 2013) and Yisrael Mendel Brog (24 August 1910 – 8 February 2002).{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}
* ] quits the coalition after they failed to agree on the powers to be given to a Shas deputy-minister in the Ministry of Education.
* The withdrawal from south ].
* The kidnapping of the bodies of three killed Israeli soldiers by ], aided by local ] force.
* Peace negotiations with ].
* The passing of the ] which gives a legal statute for ''haredi'' Jews' exemption from military service.
* The ] which meant to resolve the ] but failed. Barak, ] of ], and US president ] put the blame on ]. Barak claimed he exposed "Arafat's true intentions". Later, Barak was blamed by Israeli ] politicians that he killed the Israeli peace movement by presenting Arafat as a "peace refuser".
* The eruption of the ].
* The killing of 13 Israeli-Arabs by ] and one Jewish Israeli civilian by an Arab mob, in ].
* The ] with the leadership of the ], after his government had fallen.


His paternal grandparents, Frieda and Reuven Brog, were murdered in ] (Pushelat) in northern ] (then ruled by ]) in 1912, leaving his father orphaned at the age of two. Barak's maternal grandparents, Elka and Shmuel Godin, died at the ] during ].<ref></ref>
==Quotes==


Ehud ] his family name from "Brog" to "Barak" in 1972. It was during his military service that he met his future wife, ] (née Cohen, born 8 April 1947 in ]). They had three daughters together: Michal (born 9 August 1970), Yael (born 23 October 1974) and Anat (born 16 October 1981). He has grandchildren.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mako.co.il/weekend-articles/Article-aa3dd3bda2b2441006.htm|title=טייקון בהתהוות: איך זה שלאהוד ברק יש כל כך הרבה כסף?|date=13 February 2014}}</ref> Barak divorced Nava in August 2003. On 30 July 2007, Barak married Nili Priel (born 25 April 1944) in a small ceremony in his private residence. In his spare time, Barak enjoys reading works by writers such as ],<ref>{{cite web|last=Weitz |first=Gidi |date=9 May 2011 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-s-end/peace-politics-and-patek-philippe-an-interview-with-ehud-barak-1.360701 |title=Peace, politics, and Patek Philippe: An interview with Ehud Barak |newspaper=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127123751/http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-s-end/peace-politics-and-patek-philippe-an-interview-with-ehud-barak-1.360701|archive-date=27 November 2013 |url-status=live |access-date=14 March 2013}}</ref> and he is a classical pianist, with many years of study behind him.
"The Palestinians are like crocodiles, the more you give them meat, they want more."


Barak earned his ] in ] and ] from the ] in 1968, and his master's degree in engineering-economic systems in 1978 from ], ].{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}
"They are products of a culture in which to tell a lie creates no dissonance. They don't suffer from the problem of telling lies that exists in Judaeo-Christian culture."


==Military career==
""If I were a Palestinian of the right age, I'd eventually join one of the terrorist organizations."
]]]
]
Barak joined the ] (IDF) in 1959. He served in the IDF for 35 years, rising to the position of ] and the rank of '']'' (Lieutenant-General), the highest in the Israeli military.
During his service as a commando in the elite ], Barak led several highly acclaimed operations, such as: "Operation Isotope", the mission to free the hostages on board the hijacked ] at Lod Airport in 1972; the covert ] in Beirut, in which he was disguised as a woman to kill members of the ]; Barak was also a key architect of the June 1976 ], another rescue mission to free the hostages of the ] aircraft hijacked by terrorists and forced to land at the ] in Uganda. These highly acclaimed operations, along with ], led to the dismantling of Palestinian terrorist cell ]. It has been alluded that Barak also masterminded the ] on 16 April 1988, in which PLO leader ] was killed.<ref>{{cite news|work=] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8488249.stm |title=Long history of Israel's 'covert killing' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201065627/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8488249.stm |archive-date=1 February 2010 |date=29 January 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>


During the ], Barak commanded an improvised regiment of tanks which, among other things, helped rescue paratrooper battalion 890, commanded by ], which was suffering heavy losses in the ]. He went on to command the ] and the 611st "Pillar of Fire" and ] divisions, before his appointment to head the IDF's ]. Barak also participated in the ], overseeing it from ]
<center>
Barak later served as head of Aman, the ] (1983–85), head of ] (1986–87) and Deputy Chief of the General Staff (1987–91). He served as ] between 1 April 1991 and 1 January 1995. During this period he implemented the first ] and participated in the negotiations towards the ].
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" style="font-size:90%;"

Barak was awarded the ] and four Chief of Staff citations (''Tzalash HaRamatkal'') for courage and operational excellence.<ref>Gal Perl Finkel, , ], 9 August 2018.</ref> These five decorations make him the most decorated soldier in Israeli history (jointly with close friend ]).<ref>Offer Drori, , 4 February 2009 (Hebrew) {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013074728/http://www.global-report.com/drori/a342512-%D7%92%D7%99%D7%91%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%99-%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%9C-%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%91%D7%99-%D7%94%D7%A2%D7%99%D7%98%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%A6%D7%93%D7%A7-%D7%94%D7%99%D7%A1%D7%98%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%99 |date=13 October 2012 }}</ref> In 1992 he was awarded the ] (Commander) by the United States.<ref> on 14 January 1993 in ]. Note that according to IDF regulations foreign medals are not worn on the uniform.</ref> In 2012, he was again awarded by the United States with the ].<ref>{{cite web|access-date=14 March 2013 |url=http://blogs.defensenews.com/intercepts/2012/11/photo-of-the-day-nov-30-2012-panetta-barak-hug-it-out-edition/ |title=Photo of the Day: Nov. 30, 2012 (Panetta, Barak Hug it Out Edition) |work=] |date=30 November 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121093751/http://blogs.defensenews.com/intercepts/2012/11/photo-of-the-day-nov-30-2012-panetta-barak-hug-it-out-edition/ |archive-date=21 January 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Political career==

On 7 July 1995, Barak was appointed ] by ]. When ] formed a new government following Rabin's assassination in November 1995, Barak was made ] (1995–96).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/mfa-archive/1996/pages/fm%20barak-%20address%20to%20njcrac%20-%20feb%2011-%201996.aspx|title=FM Barak- Address to NJCRAC – Feb 11- 1996|publisher=Mfa.gov.il|date=11 February 1996|access-date=14 March 2013}}</ref> He was elected to ] on the Labor Party list in ], and served as a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Following internal elections after Peres' defeat in the ] in 1996, Barak became the leader of the Labor Party.

===Prime Minister of Israel===
] (1999)]]
], joined by President ] (1999)]]

In the ], Barak beat ] by a wide margin. However, he sparked controversy by deciding to form a coalition with the ultra-Orthodox party ], who had won an unprecedented 17 seats in the 120-seat ]. Shas grudgingly agreed to Barak's terms that they eject their leader ], a convicted felon, and enact reform to "clean up" in-party corruption. Consequentially, the left wing ] party quit the coalition after they failed to agree on the powers to be given to a Shas deputy minister in the Ministry of Education.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

In 1999 Barak gave a campaign promise to end Israel's 22-year-long occupation of ] within a year. On 24 May 2000 Israel ] from Southern Lebanon. On 7 October, three Israeli soldiers were killed in a border raid by ] and their bodies were subsequently captured. The bodies of these soldiers, along with the living Elhanan Tenenbaum, were eventually exchanged for Lebanese captives in 2004.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

The Barak government resumed peace negotiations with the ], stating that "Every attempt to keep hold of this area as one political entity leads, necessarily, to either a nondemocratic or a non-Jewish state. Because if the Palestinians vote, then it is a ], and if they don't vote it is an ]."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/13/opinion/dont-give-up-on-mideast-peace.html |author=] |title=Don't Give Up on Mideast Peace |newspaper=International Herald Tribune |date=12 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415235950/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/13/opinion/dont-give-up-on-mideast-peace.html |archive-date=15 April 2012 }}</ref> As part of these negotiations, Barak took part in the ] which was meant finally to resolve the ] but failed. Barak also allowed Foreign Minister ] to attend the ] with the leadership of the ], after his government had fallen.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

===Domestic issues===
On 22 August 1999, Barak appointed the ] which dealt with the controversial issue of ultra-Orthodox Jews' exemption from military service.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.knesset.gov.il/docs/heb/tal.htm |script-title=he:הועדה לגבוש ההסדר הראוי בנושא גיוס בני ישיבות - דו"ח |trans-title=The Committee to Formulate the Proper Arrangement Regarding the Enlistment of Yeshiva Students - Report |language=he |access-date=13 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003022722/https://www.knesset.gov.il/docs/heb/tal.htm |archive-date=3 October 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Following the failure of the Camp David summit with Arafat and Bill Clinton in the summer of 2000, when the original 7 years mandate of the PNA expired, and just after Israel pulled out its last troops out of southern Lebanon in May 2000, the weeks-long ] led to the killing of twelve Israeli Arabs and one Palestinian by ] and one Jewish civilian by Israeli Arabs.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

===Resignation===
In 2001, Barak called ].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Staff |date=2001-02-06 |title=Barak concedes defeat |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/feb/06/israel6 |access-date=2024-02-06 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In the contest, he was defeated by Likud leader ], and subsequently resigned as Labor leader and from the Knesset. He left Israel to work as a senior advisor with United States–based ]. He also partnered with a private equity company focused on "security-related" work.

===Return to politics===
] Ehud Barak, with Prime Minister ] after the ], March 2011]]
In 2005, Barak announced his return to Israeli politics, and ran for leadership of the Labor Party in ]. However, in light of his weak poll showings, Barak dropped out of the race early and declared his support for veteran statesman ]. Following his failed attempt to maintain leadership of the Labor party, Barak became a partner of the investment company SCP Private Equity Partners, ]. He also established a company "Ehud Barak Limited" which is thought to have made over ] 30 million.<ref>{{cite web|last=Blau |first=Uri |access-date=14 March 2013 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/magazine/ehud-barak-ltd-1.221318 |title=Ehud Barak Ltd |newspaper=Haaretz Daily Newspaper |date=24 May 2007 |archive-date=11 March 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311113557/http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/magazine/ehud-barak-ltd-1.221318}}</ref>

After Peres lost the race to ] and left the Labor party, Barak announced he would stay at the party, despite his shaky relationship with its newly elected leader. He declared, however, that he would not run for a spot on the Labor party's ] list for the ]. Barak's attempt to return to a prominent role in Israel politics seemed to have failed. However, Peretz's hold on the Labor leadership proved unexpectedly shaky as he was badly damaged by negative views of his performance as Defense Minister during the 2006 Lebanon War, which was seen as something less than a success in Israel.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MTA3OTE5NjI0NA |title=Kadima nominates Peres for president |work=Kuwait Times }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In ], Barak launched a bid to recapture the leadership of the Labor party in a letter acknowledging "mistakes" and "inexperience" during his tenure as Prime Minister.<ref>{{cite news|work=] |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-israel-barak-idUKL0776362420070107 |title=Former Israeli PM Barak in New Leadership Bid |date=7 January 2007 |archive-date=17 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017131657/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2007/01/07/uk-israel-barak-idUKL0776362420070107}}</ref> In early March 2007, a poll of Labor Party primary voters put Barak ahead of all other opponents, including Peretz.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/poll-barak-ayalon-lead-peretz-in-the-labor-leadership-primaries-1.214656 |title=Poll: Barak, Ayalon lead Peretz in the Labor leadership primaries |author=Yossi Verter |newspaper=Haaretz |date=3 March 2007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908202019/http://www.haaretz.com/news/poll-barak-ayalon-lead-peretz-in-the-labor-leadership-primaries-1.214656 |archive-date=8 September 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=22 September 2016}}</ref> In the first round of voting, on 28 May 2007, he gained 39% of the votes, more than his two closest rivals, but not enough to win the election.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6695007.stm |title=Peretz loses Israeli party vote |access-date=30 May 2007 |work=BBC News |date=3 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422234256/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6695007.stm |archive-date=22 April 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

As a result, Barak faced a runoff against the second-place finisher, ], on 12 June 2007, which he won by a narrow margin.<ref>{{cite news|title=Barak wins Labor Party primary election: party officials|newspaper=]|date=12 June 2007}}</ref>

Barak has been critical of what he sees as racist sentiments ] some Israeli ]s and ]s; he views such statements as a threat to Israeli unity and that they may lead Israeli society into a "dark and dangerous place".<ref name=rabbis>{{cite news|newspaper=Haaretz |access-date=1 January 2011 |date=29 December 2010 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/barak-anti-arab-letters-by-rabbis-and-rabbis-wives-leading-israel-into-dark-place-1.334093 |title=Barak: Anti-Arab letters by rabbis and rabbis' wives leading Israel into dark place |first=Mazal |last=Mualem |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101124410/http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/barak-anti-arab-letters-by-rabbis-and-rabbis-wives-leading-israel-into-dark-place-1.334093 |archive-date=1 January 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Defense Minister====
] (2007)]]

====As head of the Labor Party====
After winning back the leadership of the Labor party, Barak was sworn in as ] on 18 June 2007, as part of Prime Minister ]'s cabinet reshuffle. However, on 1 July 2007, Barak led a successful effort in the Labor central committee to stipulate that Labor would leave the government coalition if Olmert did not resign by September or October 2007. At that time the ] would publish its final report on the performance of the ] and its civilian leadership. The preliminary Winograd report released earlier this year laid most of the blame on Olmert for poorly planning, executing, and reviewing war strategies in the ] against ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Harel|first1=Amos|title=Remember the Second Lebanon War|url=http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-s-end/remember-the-second-lebanon-war-1.450891|newspaper=Haaretz|publisher=Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd}}</ref>

From December 2008 to January 2009, Barak led the ] through ] in his capacity as Minister of Defence.<ref>{{cite web|title= Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict|publisher=United Nations Human Rights Council|url=http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2009/09/15/UNFFMGCReport.pdf|access-date=13 July 2014|page=106|date=15 September 2009}}</ref>

Labor won only 13 out of the 120 Knesset seats in the ], making them the fourth largest party. Barak and other Labor officials initially stated they would not take part in the next government. However, over the objections of some in the Labor party, in March 2009, Barak reached an agreement under which Labor joined the governing coalition led by ]. Barak retained his position as Defense Minister.

====Leaving the Labor Party====
In January 2011, Labor Party leader Barak formed a breakaway party, ], which enabled him to maintain his loyal Labor's MK faction within Netanyahu's government, and prevented the departure of Labor party as a whole from Netanyahu's coalition-government. Labor previously threatened to force Barak to do so. After Barak's move, Netanyahu was able to maintain a majority of 66 MK (out of 120 in the ]), previously having 74 MKs within his majority coalition.

In February 2011, Barak attended a ceremony at the UN for the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. Barak told the UN General Assembly that "an independent, strong, thriving and peaceful State of Israel is the vengeance of the dead."<ref name="jpost.com">{{cite web|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |title=Barak at UN: Strong Israel is revenge of the Nazis' victims |url=http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=207716 |author=Jordana Horn |date=10 February 2011 |access-date=10 February 2011 |archive-date=23 October 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023011146/http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=207716}}</ref>

Barak's Independence party was due to run in a ], but decided not to in 2012, and retired from politics. Barak planned to quit since ] but postponed it until later that year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/23525/Default.aspx?archive=article_title |author=Ryan Jones |title=Ehud Barak drops out of Israeli politics |newspaper=] |date=26 November 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022133959/http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/23525/Default.aspx?archive=article_title |archive-date=22 October 2013}}</ref>

Barak stated during an American television interview that he would "probably" strive for nuclear weapons if he were in Iran's position, adding "I don't delude myself that they are doing it just because of Israel". This comment has been criticized and compared to Barak's comment in 1998 during a television interview when he said that if he were a Palestinian he would probably have joined one of the terror organizations.<ref>{{cite news|title=Barak criticized over Iran comments |newspaper=] |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/premium/loginpage?destination=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/barak-criticised-over-iran-comments-1.13168}}</ref>

In 2023 it was revealed that Barak had visited ] around 30 times from 2013 to 2017 and had also flown on his jet, having first met Epstein in 2003. Barak denied any wrongdoing.<ref>{{cite news |last=ToI Staff |last2=JTA |author-link2=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=4 May 2023 |title=Ehud Barak met with Jeffrey Epstein dozens of times, flew on private plane — report |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/ehud-barak-met-with-jeffrey-epstein-dozens-of-times-flew-on-private-plane-report/ |work=] |issue= |postscript=. JTA article: Lapin, Andrew. Noam Chomsky, Ehud Barak, Leon Botstein and a Rothschild are among the names on Jeffrey Epstein’s newly uncovered calendar. May 1, 2023. www.jta.org/2023/05/01/united-states/noam-chomsky-ehud-barak-leon-botstein-and-a-rothschild-are-among-the-names-on-jeffrey-epsteins-newly-uncovered-calendar}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Noam Chomsky, Ehud Barak and Woody Allen all met with Epstein after conviction |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/world/noam-chomsky-ehud-barak-and-woody-allen-all-met-with-epstein-after-conviction-vocm1y6d |work=] |date=2 May 2023}}</ref>

====Return to political life====
On 26 June 2019, Barak announced his return to politics and his intention to form a new party named the ], intending to challenge Netanyahu in the ]. The party ran with Meretz and other parties in the ] alliance, which received five seats. Barak himself did not enter the Knesset.<ref name=toi/>

==Financial assets==
In an interview with '']'' reported in January 2015, Barak was asked to explain the source of his "big" capital, with which he "bought 5 apartments and connected them," and by which he "lives in a giant rental apartment in a luxury high rise." Barak said he currently earns more than a $1 million a year, and that from 2001 to 2007, he also earned more than a $1 million every year, from giving lectures and from consulting for ]s. Barak also said he made millions of dollars more from his investments in Israeli real estate properties.<ref name=Haaretz-2015-01-08 />

In the interview, Barak was asked whether he is a lobbyist who earns a living from "opening doors". The interviewer stated "You have arrived recently at the Kazakhstan despot ] and the president of ]. You are received immediately." Barak confirmed that he has been received by these heads of state but denied earning money from opening doors for international business deals for Israeli and foreign corporations, and said he does not see any ethical or moral problems in his business activities. He further said there is no logic to demand of him, after "the natural process in democracy has ended" to not utilize the tools he accumulated in his career to secure his financial future. When asked if his financial worth is $10–15 million, Barak said "I'm not far from there."<ref name=Haaretz-2015-01-08> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923115549/http://www.haaretz.co.il/magazine/.premium-1.2533408 |date=23 September 2016}} (8 January 2015), '']''</ref>

==Awards and decorations==
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==See also==
{{Portal|Israel}}
* ]
* ]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* ] ''Elusive Peace: How the Holy Land Defeated America''.
* Clinton, Bill (2005). ''My Life''. Vintage. {{ISBN|1-4000-3003-X}}.
* Dromi, Uri (5 November 2005). "Still craving peace 10 years after Rabin". '']'', p.&nbsp;20.

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{MKlink|id=28}}
* {{C-SPAN|43484}}
* {{Charlie Rose view|1169}}
* {{IMDb name|1383992}}
* {{Aljazeeratopic|person/ehud-barak}}
* {{EItopic|people/114.shtml}}
* {{JPosttopic|Ehud_Barak}}
* {{NYTtopic|people/b/ehud_barak}}
* at '']'', profile

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Latest revision as of 04:57, 18 November 2024

Prime minister of Israel from 1999 to 2001

Ehud Barak
אֵהוּד בָּרָק
Official portrait, 1999
10th Prime Minister of Israel
In office
6 July 1999 – 7 March 2001
PresidentEzer Weizman
Moshe Katsav
DeputyYitzhak Mordechai
David Levy
Binyamin Ben-Eliezer
Preceded byBenjamin Netanyahu
Succeeded byAriel Sharon
Minister of Defense
In office
18 June 2007 – 18 March 2013
Prime MinisterEhud Olmert
Benjamin Netanyahu
DeputyMatan Vilnai
Preceded byAmir Peretz
Succeeded byMoshe Ya'alon
In office
6 July 1999 – 7 March 2001
Prime MinisterHimself
DeputyEfraim Sneh
Preceded byMoshe Arens
Succeeded byBinyamin Ben-Eliezer
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
22 November 1995 – 18 June 1996
Prime MinisterShimon Peres
DeputyEli Dayan
Preceded byShimon Peres
Succeeded byDavid Levy
Chief of General Staff
In office
1 April 1991 – 1 January 1995
PresidentChaim Herzog
Ezer Weizman
Prime MinisterYitzhak Shamir
Yitzhak Rabin
DeputyAmnon Lipkin-Shahak
Matan Vilnai
MinisterMoshe Arens
Yitzhak Rabin
Preceded byDan Shomron
Succeeded byAmnon Lipkin-Shahak
Personal details
BornEhud Brog
(1942-02-12) 12 February 1942 (age 82)
Mishmar HaSharon,
Mandatory Palestine
Political partyIsrael Democratic Party
Other political
affiliations
Labor Party (until 2011)
Independence (2011–2012)
Independent (2012–2019)
Spouses
  • Nava Cohen ​ ​(m. 1968; div. 2003)
  • Nili Priel ​(m. 2007)
Children3
Alma materHebrew University of Jerusalem (BSc)
Stanford University (MS)
ProfessionMilitary officer
AwardsMedal of Distinguished Service
Tzalash (4)
Legion of Merit
DoD Medal for Distinguished Public Service
Signature
Military service
Branch/serviceIsraeli Defense Forces
Years of service1959–1995
RankRav Aluf (Lieutenant general; highest rank)
UnitSayeret Matkal
CommandsChief of General Staff
Deputy Chief of General Staff
Central Command
Military Intelligence Directorate Aman
Sayeret Matkal
Battles/warsSix-Day War
Yom Kippur War
Entebbe raid

Ehud Barak (Hebrew: אֵהוּד בָּרָק [eˈhud baˈʁak] ; born Ehud Brog; 12 February 1942) is an Israeli former general and politician who served as the tenth prime minister from 1999 to 2001. He was leader of the Labor Party between 1997 and 2001 and between 2007 and 2011.

Born on a kibbutz, Barak is the eldest of four sons; his grandparents were murdered in the Holocaust. He graduated in physics and mathematics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and later obtained a master's in engineering-economic systems from Stanford University.

Barak's military career in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began in 1959, spanning 35 years and culminating in his appointment as Chief of the General Staff in 1991, serving until 1995. His military tenure is noted for his leadership in several operations, including "Operation Isotope" in 1972, the covert 1973 Israeli raid in Lebanon, and the 1976 Entebbe raid. A lieutenant general, Barak shares with two others the honor of being the most highly decorated soldier in Israel's history.

In politics, his career began with his appointment as interior minister in 1995 under Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Following Rabin's assassination, he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in Shimon Peres' government. Barak was elected to the Knesset on the Labor Party list in 1996 and subsequently became party leader. Barak served as Israel's last left-wing Prime Minister from 1999 to 2001. His tenure was marked by significant events, including the decision to form a coalition with the Orthodox party Shas, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Southern Lebanon in 2000, and participation in the 2000 Camp David Summit aimed at resolving the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Barak's government faced challenges, notably the protests in October 2000.

After defeat in the 2001 Israeli prime ministerial election, he left politics and engaged in international business and advisory roles. He made a political comeback in 2005, attempting to regain leadership in the Labor Party, and later served as defense minister - where he led Operation Cast Lead in 2008–09 - and deputy prime minister under Ehud Olmert and then in Benjamin Netanyahu's second government between 2007 and 2013. His decision to form the Independence party in 2011 marked a shift in his politics, influencing the dynamics within the Netanyahu government. Despite retiring from politics in 2012, he attempted another comeback, running in the September 2019 Israeli legislative election as the leader of Israel Democratic Party - a new party he formed. His party merged with others to form an alliance called the Democratic Union, but it did not win enough seats for him to become a member of the Knesset. Outside of his political and military career, Barak has accumulated wealth through business endeavors and investments; his net worth is estimated to be $10–15 million.

Early life and family

Barak (behind, second from left) with his family in 1964

Ehud Barak was born on kibbutz Mishmar HaSharon in what was then Mandatory Palestine. He is the eldest of four sons of Esther (née Godin; 25 June 1914 – 12 August 2013) and Yisrael Mendel Brog (24 August 1910 – 8 February 2002).

His paternal grandparents, Frieda and Reuven Brog, were murdered in Pušalotas (Pushelat) in northern Lithuania (then ruled by Russian Empire) in 1912, leaving his father orphaned at the age of two. Barak's maternal grandparents, Elka and Shmuel Godin, died at the Treblinka extermination camp during the Holocaust.

Ehud hebraized his family name from "Brog" to "Barak" in 1972. It was during his military service that he met his future wife, Nava (née Cohen, born 8 April 1947 in Tiberias). They had three daughters together: Michal (born 9 August 1970), Yael (born 23 October 1974) and Anat (born 16 October 1981). He has grandchildren. Barak divorced Nava in August 2003. On 30 July 2007, Barak married Nili Priel (born 25 April 1944) in a small ceremony in his private residence. In his spare time, Barak enjoys reading works by writers such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and he is a classical pianist, with many years of study behind him.

Barak earned his bachelor's degree in physics and mathematics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1968, and his master's degree in engineering-economic systems in 1978 from Stanford University, California.

Military career

Ehud Barak as Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces
Citations and war ribbons of Ehud BaraK

Barak joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in 1959. He served in the IDF for 35 years, rising to the position of Chief of the General Staff and the rank of Rav Aluf (Lieutenant-General), the highest in the Israeli military. During his service as a commando in the elite Sayeret Matkal, Barak led several highly acclaimed operations, such as: "Operation Isotope", the mission to free the hostages on board the hijacked Sabena Flight 571 at Lod Airport in 1972; the covert 1973 Israeli raid in Lebanon in Beirut, in which he was disguised as a woman to kill members of the Palestine Liberation Organization; Barak was also a key architect of the June 1976 Entebbe raid, another rescue mission to free the hostages of the Air France aircraft hijacked by terrorists and forced to land at the Entebbe Airport in Uganda. These highly acclaimed operations, along with Operation Bayonet, led to the dismantling of Palestinian terrorist cell Black September. It has been alluded that Barak also masterminded the Tunis Raid on 16 April 1988, in which PLO leader Abu Jihad was killed.

During the Yom Kippur War, Barak commanded an improvised regiment of tanks which, among other things, helped rescue paratrooper battalion 890, commanded by Yitzhak Mordechai, which was suffering heavy losses in the Battle of the Chinese Farm. He went on to command the 401st armored brigade and the 611st "Pillar of Fire" and 252nd "Sinai" divisions, before his appointment to head the IDF's Planning Directorate. Barak also participated in the Siege of Beirut, overseeing it from Beirut International Airport. Barak later served as head of Aman, the Military Intelligence Directorate (1983–85), head of Central Command (1986–87) and Deputy Chief of the General Staff (1987–91). He served as Chief of the General Staff between 1 April 1991 and 1 January 1995. During this period he implemented the first Oslo Accords and participated in the negotiations towards the Israel–Jordan peace treaty.

Barak was awarded the Medal of Distinguished Service and four Chief of Staff citations (Tzalash HaRamatkal) for courage and operational excellence. These five decorations make him the most decorated soldier in Israeli history (jointly with close friend Nechemya Cohen). In 1992 he was awarded the Legion of Merit (Commander) by the United States. In 2012, he was again awarded by the United States with the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.

Political career

On 7 July 1995, Barak was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs by Yitzhak Rabin. When Shimon Peres formed a new government following Rabin's assassination in November 1995, Barak was made Minister of Foreign Affairs (1995–96). He was elected to the Knesset on the Labor Party list in 1996, and served as a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Following internal elections after Peres' defeat in the election for Prime Minister in 1996, Barak became the leader of the Labor Party.

Prime Minister of Israel

Barak at the Pentagon (1999)
Ehud Barak shaking hands with Yasser Arafat, joined by President Bill Clinton (1999)

In the 1999 Prime Ministerial election, Barak beat Benjamin Netanyahu by a wide margin. However, he sparked controversy by deciding to form a coalition with the ultra-Orthodox party Shas, who had won an unprecedented 17 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. Shas grudgingly agreed to Barak's terms that they eject their leader Aryeh Deri, a convicted felon, and enact reform to "clean up" in-party corruption. Consequentially, the left wing Meretz party quit the coalition after they failed to agree on the powers to be given to a Shas deputy minister in the Ministry of Education.

In 1999 Barak gave a campaign promise to end Israel's 22-year-long occupation of Southern Lebanon within a year. On 24 May 2000 Israel withdrew from Southern Lebanon. On 7 October, three Israeli soldiers were killed in a border raid by Hezbollah and their bodies were subsequently captured. The bodies of these soldiers, along with the living Elhanan Tenenbaum, were eventually exchanged for Lebanese captives in 2004.

The Barak government resumed peace negotiations with the PLO, stating that "Every attempt to keep hold of this area as one political entity leads, necessarily, to either a nondemocratic or a non-Jewish state. Because if the Palestinians vote, then it is a binational state, and if they don't vote it is an apartheid state." As part of these negotiations, Barak took part in the Camp David 2000 Summit which was meant finally to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict but failed. Barak also allowed Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami to attend the Taba Summit with the leadership of the Palestinian Authority, after his government had fallen.

Domestic issues

On 22 August 1999, Barak appointed the Tal committee which dealt with the controversial issue of ultra-Orthodox Jews' exemption from military service. Following the failure of the Camp David summit with Arafat and Bill Clinton in the summer of 2000, when the original 7 years mandate of the PNA expired, and just after Israel pulled out its last troops out of southern Lebanon in May 2000, the weeks-long Riots in October 2000 led to the killing of twelve Israeli Arabs and one Palestinian by Israel Police and one Jewish civilian by Israeli Arabs.

Resignation

In 2001, Barak called an election for Prime Minister. In the contest, he was defeated by Likud leader Ariel Sharon, and subsequently resigned as Labor leader and from the Knesset. He left Israel to work as a senior advisor with United States–based Electronic Data Systems. He also partnered with a private equity company focused on "security-related" work.

Return to politics

Israeli Minister of Defense Ehud Barak, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the Victoria Affair, March 2011

In 2005, Barak announced his return to Israeli politics, and ran for leadership of the Labor Party in November. However, in light of his weak poll showings, Barak dropped out of the race early and declared his support for veteran statesman Shimon Peres. Following his failed attempt to maintain leadership of the Labor party, Barak became a partner of the investment company SCP Private Equity Partners, Pennsylvania. He also established a company "Ehud Barak Limited" which is thought to have made over NIS 30 million.

After Peres lost the race to Amir Peretz and left the Labor party, Barak announced he would stay at the party, despite his shaky relationship with its newly elected leader. He declared, however, that he would not run for a spot on the Labor party's Knesset list for the March 2006 elections. Barak's attempt to return to a prominent role in Israel politics seemed to have failed. However, Peretz's hold on the Labor leadership proved unexpectedly shaky as he was badly damaged by negative views of his performance as Defense Minister during the 2006 Lebanon War, which was seen as something less than a success in Israel.

In January 2007, Barak launched a bid to recapture the leadership of the Labor party in a letter acknowledging "mistakes" and "inexperience" during his tenure as Prime Minister. In early March 2007, a poll of Labor Party primary voters put Barak ahead of all other opponents, including Peretz. In the first round of voting, on 28 May 2007, he gained 39% of the votes, more than his two closest rivals, but not enough to win the election.

As a result, Barak faced a runoff against the second-place finisher, Ami Ayalon, on 12 June 2007, which he won by a narrow margin.

Barak has been critical of what he sees as racist sentiments that have recently been expressed by some Israeli rabbis and rebbetzins; he views such statements as a threat to Israeli unity and that they may lead Israeli society into a "dark and dangerous place".

Defense Minister

Ehud Barak and Condoleezza Rice (2007)

As head of the Labor Party

After winning back the leadership of the Labor party, Barak was sworn in as Minister of Defense on 18 June 2007, as part of Prime Minister Olmert's cabinet reshuffle. However, on 1 July 2007, Barak led a successful effort in the Labor central committee to stipulate that Labor would leave the government coalition if Olmert did not resign by September or October 2007. At that time the Winograd Commission would publish its final report on the performance of the Israel Defense Forces and its civilian leadership. The preliminary Winograd report released earlier this year laid most of the blame on Olmert for poorly planning, executing, and reviewing war strategies in the 2006 conflict against Hezbollah.

From December 2008 to January 2009, Barak led the Israel Defense Forces through Operation Cast Lead in his capacity as Minister of Defence.

Labor won only 13 out of the 120 Knesset seats in the 2009 elections, making them the fourth largest party. Barak and other Labor officials initially stated they would not take part in the next government. However, over the objections of some in the Labor party, in March 2009, Barak reached an agreement under which Labor joined the governing coalition led by Benjamin Netanyahu. Barak retained his position as Defense Minister.

Leaving the Labor Party

In January 2011, Labor Party leader Barak formed a breakaway party, Independence, which enabled him to maintain his loyal Labor's MK faction within Netanyahu's government, and prevented the departure of Labor party as a whole from Netanyahu's coalition-government. Labor previously threatened to force Barak to do so. After Barak's move, Netanyahu was able to maintain a majority of 66 MK (out of 120 in the Knesset), previously having 74 MKs within his majority coalition.

In February 2011, Barak attended a ceremony at the UN for the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. Barak told the UN General Assembly that "an independent, strong, thriving and peaceful State of Israel is the vengeance of the dead."

Barak's Independence party was due to run in a legislative election, but decided not to in 2012, and retired from politics. Barak planned to quit since Operation Pillar of Defense but postponed it until later that year.

Barak stated during an American television interview that he would "probably" strive for nuclear weapons if he were in Iran's position, adding "I don't delude myself that they are doing it just because of Israel". This comment has been criticized and compared to Barak's comment in 1998 during a television interview when he said that if he were a Palestinian he would probably have joined one of the terror organizations.

In 2023 it was revealed that Barak had visited Jeffrey Epstein around 30 times from 2013 to 2017 and had also flown on his jet, having first met Epstein in 2003. Barak denied any wrongdoing.

Return to political life

On 26 June 2019, Barak announced his return to politics and his intention to form a new party named the Israel Democratic Party, intending to challenge Netanyahu in the September 2019 Israeli legislative election. The party ran with Meretz and other parties in the Democratic Union alliance, which received five seats. Barak himself did not enter the Knesset.

Financial assets

In an interview with Haaretz reported in January 2015, Barak was asked to explain the source of his "big" capital, with which he "bought 5 apartments and connected them," and by which he "lives in a giant rental apartment in a luxury high rise." Barak said he currently earns more than a $1 million a year, and that from 2001 to 2007, he also earned more than a $1 million every year, from giving lectures and from consulting for hedge funds. Barak also said he made millions of dollars more from his investments in Israeli real estate properties.

In the interview, Barak was asked whether he is a lobbyist who earns a living from "opening doors". The interviewer stated "You have arrived recently at the Kazakhstan despot Nazarbayev and the president of Ghana. You are received immediately." Barak confirmed that he has been received by these heads of state but denied earning money from opening doors for international business deals for Israeli and foreign corporations, and said he does not see any ethical or moral problems in his business activities. He further said there is no logic to demand of him, after "the natural process in democracy has ended" to not utilize the tools he accumulated in his career to secure his financial future. When asked if his financial worth is $10–15 million, Barak said "I'm not far from there."

Awards and decorations

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Chief of Staff Citation
Chief of Staff Citation Chief of Staff Citation Chief of Staff Citation
Six-Day War Ribbon War of Attrition Ribbon Yom Kippur War Ribbon
First Lebanon War Ribbon Medal of Distinguished Service Commander of the Legion of Merit

See also

References

  1. ^ Jacob Magid (26 June 2019). "Declaring Netanyahu's time as up, Ehud Barak announces formation of new party". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  2. "Warrior, Military Strategist and Peacemaker". Academy of Achievement. 4 May 2001. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  3. At special ceremony, UN pays tribute to victims of Holocaust UN News 10 February 2011
  4. "טייקון בהתהוות: איך זה שלאהוד ברק יש כל כך הרבה כסף?". 13 February 2014.
  5. Weitz, Gidi (9 May 2011). "Peace, politics, and Patek Philippe: An interview with Ehud Barak". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  6. "Long history of Israel's 'covert killing'". BBC News. 29 January 2010. Archived from the original on 1 February 2010.
  7. Gal Perl Finkel, Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water, The Jerusalem Post, 9 August 2018.
  8. Offer Drori, , 4 February 2009 (Hebrew) Archived 13 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  9. An image of Barak receiving the award on 14 January 1993 in the Pentagon. Note that according to IDF regulations foreign medals are not worn on the uniform.
  10. "Photo of the Day: Nov. 30, 2012 (Panetta, Barak Hug it Out Edition)". Defense News. 30 November 2012. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  11. "FM Barak- Address to NJCRAC – Feb 11- 1996". Mfa.gov.il. 11 February 1996. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  12. Jimmy Carter (12 April 2012). "Don't Give Up on Mideast Peace". International Herald Tribune. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012.
  13. הועדה לגבוש ההסדר הראוי בנושא גיוס בני ישיבות - דו"ח [The Committee to Formulate the Proper Arrangement Regarding the Enlistment of Yeshiva Students - Report] (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  14. Staff (6 February 2001). "Barak concedes defeat". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  15. Blau, Uri (24 May 2007). "Ehud Barak Ltd". Haaretz Daily Newspaper. Archived from the original on 11 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  16. "Kadima nominates Peres for president". Kuwait Times.
  17. "Former Israeli PM Barak in New Leadership Bid". Reuters. 7 January 2007. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012.
  18. Yossi Verter (3 March 2007). "Poll: Barak, Ayalon lead Peretz in the Labor leadership primaries". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  19. "Peretz loses Israeli party vote". BBC News. 3 January 2010. Archived from the original on 22 April 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2007.
  20. "Barak wins Labor Party primary election: party officials". International Herald Tribune. 12 June 2007.
  21. Mualem, Mazal (29 December 2010). "Barak: Anti-Arab letters by rabbis and rabbis' wives leading Israel into dark place". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 1 January 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  22. Harel, Amos. "Remember the Second Lebanon War". Haaretz. Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd.
  23. "Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict" (PDF). United Nations Human Rights Council. 15 September 2009. p. 106. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  24. Jordana Horn (10 February 2011). "Barak at UN: Strong Israel is revenge of the Nazis' victims". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  25. Ryan Jones (26 November 2012). "Ehud Barak drops out of Israeli politics". Israel Today. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013.
  26. "Barak criticized over Iran comments". The Irish Times.
  27. ToI Staff; JTA (4 May 2023). "Ehud Barak met with Jeffrey Epstein dozens of times, flew on private plane — report". The Times of Israel. JTA article: Lapin, Andrew. Noam Chomsky, Ehud Barak, Leon Botstein and a Rothschild are among the names on Jeffrey Epstein’s newly uncovered calendar. May 1, 2023. www.jta.org/2023/05/01/united-states/noam-chomsky-ehud-barak-leon-botstein-and-a-rothschild-are-among-the-names-on-jeffrey-epsteins-newly-uncovered-calendar{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  28. "Noam Chomsky, Ehud Barak and Woody Allen all met with Epstein after conviction". The Jewish Chronicle. 2 May 2023.
  29. ^ Ehud Barak warns that Israel under Netanyahu is on the road to disaster Archived 23 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine (8 January 2015), Haaretz

Bibliography

External links

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Preceded byBenjamin Netanyahu Prime Minister of Israel
1999–2001
Succeeded byAriel Sharon
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Preceded byShimon Peres Leader of the Israeli Labor Party
1997–2001
Succeeded byBenjamin Ben-Eliezer
Preceded byAmir Peretz Leader of the Israeli Labor Party
2007–2011
Succeeded byShelly Yachimovich
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