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February 23, 2001/Shevet 30, 5761, Vol. 53, No.21
Barak's second resignation paves way for coalition
DAVID LANDAU
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's second resignation appears to be his final zigzag for now.
Two weeks after his whopping electoral defeat at the hands of Likud leader Ariel Sharon, Barak, the Labor Party's leader, reversed his reversal of his election night resignation, informing Sharon that he would not serve as defense minister in a unity government but would indeed resign.
Political observers say the move will probably ease Labor's way into a unity government under Sharon, though the party will now enter a hectic period as it prepares to elect a new leader.
Several important Labor figures who support a unity government had threatened to vote against the move if Barak was involved.
In a bitter letter, Barak accused Sharon of failing to live up to his own pledge that the two would collaborate in a unity government in a spirit of mutual trust. That spirit had been shattered, Barak said, because Sharon had made clear that he expected to decide policy autocratically and keep Labor out of core decision making.
Barak referred obliquely to Sharon's determination to bring far-right politicians into his government, in defiance of Barak's demand that these groups be kept out if Labor joins.
However, political observers say the main reason Barak decided to quit was the mounting wave of disaffection - in Labor and the country at large - when he backtracked from his election-night resignation.
During his term, Barak was accused of constant policy shifts that undermined his credibility. Just days after announcing his resignation on Feb. 6, Barak insisted on running Labor's unity negotiations with Likud. It soon emerged that Barak intended to lead Labor into the unity government and take the No. 2 spot of defense minister.
Barak argued that the move was mandated by the national interest, even though his own personal and political interests would be better served by retiring from political life for now.
Open rebellion soon erupted in Labor. Major party figures spoke out publicly and harshly against Barak's "zigzagging."
Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami wrote to Barak and accused him of unethical behavior that prejudiced the fundamental morality of the Israeli political process.
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