Aseel Soldier - Occupied Jerusalem
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has returned to the political arena, determined to topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in elections scheduled for September.
Barak continued his preparations for the establishment of a new political bloc based on the center and left coalition to complicate Netanyahu's task in the face of him and to confront the parties "White Blue" and "Israel Our Home".
Barak believes that the opportunity is now ripe to topple Netanyahu, who is weakened daily by members of his party and religious parties, and that even if he wins the next election, he is expected to be forced to resign because of interrogations on files of corruption.
"He will now be recruited to protect Israel's future not by running for military office, but from the fear of democracy that Netanyahu has destroyed for his personal interests," he said.
| Left and center parties join forces to topple Netanyahu (Reuters) |
Welcome and opposition
Barak's political movement has reacted in the Israeli political circles. Former army deputy Yair Golan commented that he believes in Barak's ability to unite the center and left camp to "save Israel's judicial prestige and its deteriorating political and social conditions."
Former Israeli Internal Security Minister Moshe Shahal said he supports and supports every effort to bring down the Netanyahu government and the right, saying that Barak has enormous experience and capabilities.
For his part, Labor MK Amir Peretz pointed out that Barak's entry into the political arena will have a positive impact on Netanyahu's defeat, "but it is too early to talk about alliances."
In turn, former Minister Tzipi Livni announced her refusal to join the party of Ehud Barak because it will weaken the left and center forces, and the right will exploit this weakness.
Arab parties
On the possibility of Arab parties joining the Knesset to join the new Barak bloc in the event that it is presented to it, the Arab MP in the Knesset Osama al-Saadi said that they have nothing to do with Barak, who plays in the middle and left court,
He said in his speech to the island that Barak's move on this step as someone who shoots himself, he wants to unite the center and left parties, but his new party may not be able to overcome the discount rate, and thus waste these votes instead of the unification of forces against the right.
He added that Barak is trying to return to the political arena, but his chances are few, and that the Arab parties are busy now to restore the composition of the joint list to contest the elections with one strong list that can get the confidence of Arab voters and Jewish democratic forces to contribute to the overthrow of Netanyahu and the extreme fascist right in the upcoming elections.
Low popularity
On the scenarios of Barak's success or failure in confronting and defeating Netanyahu, the media advisor on Israeli affairs, Mohammed Musallaha, said that Barak's popularity is low and he has a problem convincing the right-wing voters to move to the center or left.
Masalha added that Barak was convinced that he supported the handover of Jerusalem and its partition and the establishment of a Palestinian state, while his opponent Netanyahu knew his talent for snatching opportunities.
However, the media advisor believes that the left and the center have an irreplaceable opportunity in the coalition, and asked: Will they go to the consultation and partnership with the Arabs in the joint list? Will the Arabs master the art of the possible in politics and be the Qabban's egg for any coup d'état coming in Israel?
Barak served as prime minister between 1998 and 2001 and took over the army portfolio from 2007 to 2013 and was commander-in-chief of the Israeli army during the withdrawal from Lebanon.