Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak announced Wednesday that he is returning to politics and forming a new party that will aim to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the upcoming election.
Noting he would be joined in the party by former Maj. Gen. Yair Golan, Professor Yifat Biton, and businessman Kobi Richter, the former Labor leader did not say what his new party would be called. He did, however, hint at a possible alliance with centrist and left-wing parties to defeat Likud.
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Speaking at a Tel Aviv press conference, Barak said, "This is not time to be on the fence. … Netanyahu's regime, with its radical messianic zealots and its corrupt leadership must be toppled," Barak said, in a reference to the prime minister's far-right religious allies.
The 77-year-old Barak, who was once Netanyahu's army commander, served as IDF chief and then prime minister from 1999-2001. Most recently, he served as Netanyahu's defense minister. He retired from politics in 2013, but has been an outspoken critic of Netanyahu since.
Barak said his as-yet-unnamed party would work with other opposition parties to create a large enough bloc to form a parliamentary majority after the Sept. 17 election.
It remains unclear what impact Barak will have on the race. Once seen as the heir apparent to the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Barak engaged in peace negotiations with the Palestinians during his time as prime minister. But his popularity plummeted after the Second Intifada uprising erupted in September 2000 and he was quickly voted out of office.
Supporters view him as perhaps the only figure with the security credentials and gravitas to challenge the long-ruling Netanyahu. But critics see him as a failed prime minister.
Barak joins a political field already crowded with former military brass. The Blue and White party is headed by former army chief of staff Benny Gantz and two other ex-generals.
In his impassioned speech, Barak addressed Netanyahu "as your former commander" and said he "can't continue and hold on to the reins of power."
"For your own good, and for the good of the state and everything you've contributed to it during your life, your time as a political leader is over," Barak said.
"Bibi, the time has come – your last chance to go home of your own free will," Barak said at the news conference, using Netanyahu's nickname in an apparent suggestion that he step down.
An opinion poll broadcast on Channel 12 TV after Barak's announcement forecast his party would win six of parliament's 120 seats.
Political commentators said a comeback for Barak, who once led the left-wing Labour Party, could fragment Israel's center-left and harm the chances of Netanyahu's strongest challenger, the Blue and White party, led by former IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz.
At the press conference, Barak had a message for the party.
"To my friends in Blue and White, I say: Our rivalry is with Netanyahu and his path. … This is a time for connections and full unconditional mobilization. We will form the basis for further political connections."
The Labor party congratulated Barak on his return to politics.
Amir Peretz, who has announced he is running for Labor leader, said Barak's return would strengthen the left-wing bloc and serve as another step to replace the Netanyahu government."
Fellow Labor leader candidate Itzik Shmuli: "I am happy about Barak's intention to run in the upcoming elections. We have been in close contact recently, and I am happy that he made the right decision to join the joint struggle. With my election as chairman of the Labor party, the first phone call will be to Barak in order to create a meaningful connection with him and with other forces in order to increase the chances of winning. "
Fellow Labor leader candidate Itzik Shmuli said, "I am happy about Barak's intention to run in the upcoming elections. We have been in close contact recently, and I am happy that he made the right decision to join the joint struggle. With my election as chairman of the Labor party, the first phone call will be to Barak in order to create a meaningful connection with him and with other forces in order to increase the chances of winning."
In a statement following Barak's press conference, the Likud party said it would "not get involved in the way in which the Left divides its mandates between Ehud Barak and [Blue and White party leaders Yair] Lapid and Gantz."
After the election in April, Netanyahu attempted to form a governing coalition with religious and nationalist allies but failed to cobble together a parliamentary majority amid infighting between allies.
Rather than give his main rival a chance to build a government, Netanyahu's Likud party instead pushed through a measure to dissolve the Knesset, Israel's parliament, and send the country to unprecedented repeat elections in September.
Netanyahu now seeks to score a decisive electoral victory in the face of possible indictment on corruption charges. Israel's attorney general has already recommended Netanyahu be indicted, but under Israeli law, Netanyahu is entitled to defend himself at a hearing before formal charges are filed. Netanyahu, 69, has denied any wrongdoing and says he is a victim of a political witch hunt.
