Ehud Barak narrowly won the Labor leadership race Tuesday and is now once again the chairman of his party.
That party’s fortunes have sunk to abysmal levels since Barak was forced to relinquish its helm after being soundly thrashed by Ariel Sharon six years ago.
And that thrashing came after he failed abjectly in his efforts at appeasement “peacemaking.â€
Barak was the one who, at Camp David in 2000, offered Yasser Arafat and his Palestinian Arabs everything including the kitchen sink.
Thankfully, Arafat refused the offer. He wanted the plug as well.
What the Jew-killing maniac then did, of course, was go back to Ramallah and from there launch the Oslo War (“second intifadaâ€) that saw thousands of Jews slaughtered and maimed on Israel’s streets.
Barak – Israel’s most-decorated soldier ever – could do nothing to stop the terror.
Earlier on in that same year, he decided – it seemed at the time almost on a whim – to pull the IDF out of southern Lebanon.
The withdrawal was ignominious on a number of counts:
As the Arab side saw it, Israel’s mighty military raced out with its tail between its legs.
Israel abandoned the Christian South Lebanon Army (SLA) whose brave soldiers had long fought – and often died – alongside Israel’s.The withdrawal rendered almost senseless the death of every Israeli and Lebanese soldier who died to keep the “security zone†in place.And it not only opened the way for Hizb’allah to establish its mini-state replete with bristling rockets on Israel’s northern frontier – Barak’s action positively galvanized the Iranian-backed terrorists into action. They ran in as Israel ran out.
Glowing with euphoria at Labor headquarters late last night, Barak declared:
“Today begins the long journey toward bringing back level-headed, responsible, and experienced leadership to the State of Israel.â€
He spelled out his ambitions in no uncertain terms. He wants to be prime minister again.
May God forbid it.
An insightfully intelligent piece! Those who are great in war are often the worst in peace. Such is true with Barak. Viva Israel!
I agree with the writer completely! Barak was probably the worst P.M. ever. I believe that he is a well-meaning fool who ought not to become Israel’s next P.M.!
May G-d forbid it, indeed!
Israel keeps making the same mistakes over and over again. The same fools are voted into power. The same failed policies are constantly offered as solutions. The state keeps loosing respect in the eyes of world opinion, and now even many Jews are despairing that things will ever improve. Israel’s political operatives are corrupt. Her democracy is failing. Her press is obtuse, and her intellectuals are living in an alternate universe. The one force that works, a peoples armed forces, are prevented from winning wars. What else needs to be said? I’m not a particularly religious person, but it seems that only divine intervention can now save an increasingly dangerous situation.
MAY OUR LORD BRING TO NAUGHT ALL OF BARAK’S WISHES, AND PUT A MAN IN AS P. M. THAT WILL STAND STRONG FOR ISRAEL AND DEFEND GOD’S CHOSEN NATION ALWAYS.
I have been watching the scene in the Holy Land for some time. I also pray for President Bush that he will not assert any more pressure on Israel for forfeiting more of Go’d covenanted land to the Arabs. They want piece for peace!!!!!!!!!!!
I concur with some of the expressions by other responders that the Lord will bring to naught all of Barak’s wishes. I firmly believe that God is still in charge if we will listen to Him. Do you feel that Benyamin Netanyahu could be in the running for President. He appears to be very level headed.
Your comments are welcome.
Blessings and SHALOM
Tom Zwiers
I was under the impression that Barak offered, as you said, “ALL” to Arafat including part of Jerusalem, only to have it turned down. It showed Arafat for what he really was and what he wanted. But the real clincher was that Israel had to Vote on the deal first before it became law. Israel would NEVER have voted for it and that would have made it null and void. It was a real test and Arafat fell for it. Lets give Barak some credit. He is a not complete fool. Bush on the other hand…….
Barak, Bibi, Olmert — they are all the same. Barak offered “everything including the kitchen sink,” Bibi gave away Hebron, Olmert gave away Gaza. I think it’s quite obvious that the Lord is trying to show that there is only one qualified leader — Messiah. Man is not able, he only gets worse. As we look at the leaders in Israel and the U.S., we can see that they have continually declined in righteousness, and will continue to do so. Let us look to the Lord. As Isaiah said, “Stop regarding man, whose breath is in his nostrils. For why should he be esteemed?” (Isaiah 2.22)
Are there not any ( Joshua’s or Davids) in Israel today ? Maybe Jesus will be the next Man of God to appear in Israel . Soon I believe that Israel will be ready to call on the name of the Lord Jesus to lead them .
What a mess ! There’s no healthy common sense in Israel governments actions. While trying to please other countries. Sad to see what is going to happen in few months with Hamas (Hizubulah, Syria, Phalestiens, Iran, Al-Queade, and who knows what other groups that will appear ) actions. Too bad Israel can’t work with Lebanon to secure some of the regions. And then there’s Bush living in the Never-Never Land. Olmear is like bad shepard who is selling lambs and good-land to gain favors. Like Old-Testament Israel king buying peace from Syria. Wake up Israel. Oh God of Abraham, Isak and Jacob help your Nation of Israel ! I know You will.