Former PM Ehud Barak lashed out at reports that former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz intends to run at the helm of the new Achi Israeli Party.
By GIL HOFFMANUpdated: OCTOBER 11, 2018 04:02Then-defense minister Ehud Barak gestures as prime minister Ehud Olmert (center) convenes a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on September 9, 2007(photo credit: RONEN ZVULUN/REUTERS)
Former prime minister Ehud Barak issued surprising criticism on social media Wednesday night of the yet unannounced candidate considered to have the best chance of defeating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the 2019 election, former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz.Barak lashed out at reports that Gantz intends to run at the helm of the new Achi Israeli Party that was formed by Yeroham Mayor Michael Biton and Haredi Women’s College founder Adina Bar-Shalom. Without mentioning him by name, Barak accused Gantz of playing into Netanyahu’s hands.“All the ideas of forming new parties headed by people who are all very fitting and wanted in Israeli politics, no matter how good their intentions are, could actually strengthen the flexibility of the suspect from Balfour Street,” Barak said, referring to Netanyahu and his official Jerusalem residence.Barak added that “those who think that if wonders could be done to replace Avi Gabbay at the helm of the Zionist Union with Magician A or B, Netanyahu could be toppled are believing an illusion that will disappear.”Writing on social media, Barak called to unite many parties, movements and people in a call to replace Netanyahu – making that goal a top priority.“We have to focus more on how and less on who, and if we do, it can be done,” he wrote.
