Schlaglicht Israel Nr. 25 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen 28. Januar – 10. Februar 2008 1. Barak bleibt in der Koalition Nach der Veröffentlichung des endgültigen Winograd-Berichtes am 30.01.08 über Verfehlungen der politischen Führung im Libanonkrieg im Sommer 2006 gab es Spekulationen bezüglich der Reaktion des Verteidigungsministers Ehud Barak. Der Vorsitzende der Arbeitspartei hatte im Mai des vergangen Jahres angekündigt, aus der Re­gierungskoalition auszutreten und Neuwahlen zu veranlassen, sollte die Winograd-Kommission ein harsches Urteil über Premierminster Olmert fällen. Obwohl der Bericht sehr kritisch ausfiel, entschied sich Barak jedoch entgegen dieser Ankündigung dafür, in der Koalition zu verbleiben – keine Überraschung angesichts von Umfragewerten, die der Arbeitspartei im Falle von Neuwahlen keine großen Chancen einräumen. Andererseits machte Barak die Kluft zwischen sich und Olmert deutlich, indem er der Parlamentsrede Olmerts, in der dieser zum Winograd-Bericht Stellung nahm, fernblieb und sie dennoch scharf kritisierte. The man who saved Olmert "Maybe it would have been cleaner, from a national point of view, for Barak to announce a Labor walkout.[...] Olmert and Barak speak the same language[…]. Both have the same interest in blocking Bibi [Netanyahu] and the right as the tone-setters, the ones who are determined to hold back political moves toward peace.[…] To push the country into elections now would be suicide, especially when a Labor victory is not in his pocket. The good of the country, getting the army back on its feet and making diplomatic headway are more important than a promise made under different circumstances – all the more so, when there are no fabulous alternatives lining up that would make going to the polls worthwhile." Yoel Marcus, HAA 05.02.08. A responsible adult "When making the decision on whether to fulfill his miserable Labor primaries promise to Ophir Pines to quit the government or to act on what he views as his commitment and responsibility to the country, Pines apparently came in second place, what can we do.[…] Barak is not ignoring the harsh report,[his] associates said, he believes the report has complex implications and conclusions and he will address them when the time comes – yet he too realizes that what Israel’s leadership needs at this time is a responsible adult.[…] Some claim that from now on Barak will keep Olmert on a short leash. The possibility that Barak would bring the elections forward would be a constant threat on the prime minister and thus he will become a hostage of his most senior minister. This may be so. Yet Barak won’t have it easy either: As of this morning, he is facing a group of Knesset members from his own party who took upon itself the mission of embittering the life of the Olmert government. This“rebel group” pledges to vote against the coalition on all issues." Sima Kadmon, JED 04.02.08 Either in or out " Barak's choice does no honor to him and shames the Labor Party. Although the Israeli public is already indifferent to broken promises and empty declarations, when the head of the second largest and second most important party exploits the convenient advantage of remaining in the government, he holds that same government hostage to his career. There is no chance the government can be decisive and act. Even if the considerations for staying that he presented are reasonable, he cannot continue to sit in the government in the second most important position and further undermine the fragile trust between him and Olmert. 1