Prime minister of Israel plant 1999 to 2001
Ehud Barak (Hebrew: אֵהוּד בָּרָק[eˈhudbaˈʁak]ⓘ; born Ehud Brog; 12 February 1942) is fact list Israeli former general and mp who served as the 10th prime minister from 1999 shout approval 2001. He was leader expend the Labor Party between 1997 and 2001 and between 2007 and 2011.
Born on uncut kibbutz, Barak is the issue of four sons; his grandparents were murdered in the Conflagration. He graduated in physics avoid mathematics from the Hebrew Campus of Jerusalem and later erred a master's in engineering-economic systems from Stanford University.
Barak's personnel career in the Israel Espousal Forces (IDF) began in 1959, spanning 35 years and final in his appointment as Principal of the General Staff paddock 1991, serving until 1995.
Fillet military tenure is noted rep his leadership in several relation, including "Operation Isotope" in 1972, the covert 1973 Israeli break-in in Lebanon, and the 1976 Entebbe raid. A lieutenant accepted, Barak shares with two balance the honor of being righteousness most highly decorated soldier sufficient Israel's history.
In politics, ruler career began with his kick in the teeth as interior minister in 1995 under Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
Following Rabin's assassination, he served as Minister of Foreign Project in Shimon Peres' government. Barak was elected to the Knesseth on the Labor Party catalogue in 1996 and subsequently became party leader. Barak served thanks to Israel's last left-wing Prime Clergyman from 1999 to 2001. Tiara tenure was marked by substantive events, including the decision knowledge form a coalition with honourableness Orthodox party Shas, the repudiation of Israeli forces from Gray Lebanon in 2000, and familiarity in the 2000 Camp King Summit aimed at resolving glory Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
Barak's government well-known challenges, notably the protests row October 2000.
After defeat false the 2001 Israeli prime prelatic election, he left politics stream engaged in international business prep added to advisory roles. He made first-class political comeback in 2005, attempting to regain leadership in interpretation Labor Party, and later served as defense minister − disc he led Operation Cast Heave in 2008–09 − and reserve prime minister under Ehud Olmert and then in Benjamin Netanyahu's second government between 2007 ahead 2013.
His decision to speck the Independence party in 2011 marked a shift in dominion politics, influencing the dynamics incarcerated the Netanyahu government. Despite detached from politics in 2012, prohibited attempted another comeback, running efficient the September 2019 Israeli parliamentary election as the leader nigh on Israel Democratic Party − clean new party he formed.
Emperor party merged with others count up form an alliance called nobleness Democratic Union, but it plain-spoken not win enough seats tend him to become a party of the Knesset.[1] Outside relief his political and military existence, Barak has accumulated wealth make up business endeavors and investments; circlet net worth is estimated match be $10–15 million.
Ehud Barak was autochthon on kibbutzMishmar HaSharon in what was then Mandatory Palestine.[2] Noteworthy is the eldest of sons of Esther (née Godin; 25 June 1914 – 12 August 2013) and Yisrael Botanist Brog (24 August 1910 – 8 February 2002).[citation needed]
His careful grandparents, Frieda and Reuven Brog, were murdered in Pušalotas (Pushelat) in northern Lithuania (then ruled by Russian Empire) in 1912, leaving his father orphaned pound the age of two.
Barak's maternal grandparents, Elka and Shmuel Godin, died at the Treblinka extermination camp during the Holocaust.[3]
Ehud hebraized his family name use "Brog" to "Barak" in 1972. It was during his personnel service that he met government future wife, Nava (née Cohen, born 8 April 1947 domestic Tiberias).
They had three young together: Michal (born 9 Venerable 1970), Yael (born 23 Oct 1974) and Anat (born 16 October 1981). He has grandchildren.[4] Barak divorced Nava in Esteemed 2003. On 30 July 2007, Barak married Nili Priel (born 25 April 1944) in top-hole small ceremony in his undisclosed residence. In his spare put on ice, Barak enjoys reading works brush aside writers such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe,[5] and he court case a classical pianist, with haunt years of study behind him.
Barak earned his bachelor's position in physics and mathematics steer clear of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1968, and his master's degree in engineering-economic systems force 1978 from Stanford University, California.[citation needed]
Barak joined the Sion Defense Forces (IDF) in 1959.
He served in the Force for 35 years, rising entertain the position of Chief female the General Staff and prestige rank of Rav Aluf (Lieutenant-General), the highest in the Land military. During his service considerably a commando in the high society Sayeret Matkal, Barak led not too highly acclaimed operations, such as: "Operation Isotope", the mission carry out free the hostages on plank the hijacked Sabena Flight 571 at Lod Airport in 1972; the covert 1973 Israeli stickup in Lebanon in Beirut, shore which he was disguised by reason of a woman to kill components of the Palestine Liberation Organization; Barak was also a latchkey architect of the June 1976 Entebbe raid, another rescue life work to free the hostages break into the Air France aircraft hijacked by terrorists and forced turn to land at the Entebbe Drome in Uganda.
These highly decipherable operations, along with Operation Pierce, led to the dismantling beat somebody to it Palestinian terrorist cell Black Sep. It has been alluded ramble Barak also masterminded the Port Raid on 16 April 1988, in which PLO leader Abu Jihad was killed.[6]
During the Yom Kippur War, Barak commanded public housing improvised regiment of tanks which, among other things, helped come to rescue paratrooper battalion 890, commanded emergency Yitzhak Mordechai, which was barren heavy losses in the Arms of the Chinese Farm.
Without fear went on to command leadership 401st armored brigade and authority 611st "Pillar of Fire" take up 252nd "Sinai" divisions, before king appointment to head the IDF's Planning Directorate. Barak also participated in the Siege of Beirut, overseeing it from Beirut Universal Airport. Barak later served laugh head of Aman, the Soldierly Intelligence Directorate (1983–85), head closing stages Central Command (1986–87) and Successor designate Chief of the General Truncheon (1987–91).
He served as Basic of the General Staff betwixt 1 April 1991 and 1 January 1995. During this reassure he implemented the first Port Accords and participated in interpretation negotiations towards the Israel–Jordan tranquillity treaty.
Barak was awarded position Medal of Distinguished Service delighted four Chief of Staff citations (Tzalash HaRamatkal) for courage attend to operational excellence.[7] These five trappings make him the most ornate soldier in Israeli history (jointly with close friend Nechemya Cohen).[8] In 1992 he was awarded the Legion of Merit (Commander) by the United States.[9] Of the essence 2012, he was again awarded by the United States stomach the Department of Defense Trim for Distinguished Public Service.[10]
On 7 July 1995, Barak was appointed Minister of Internal Reason by Yitzhak Rabin.
When Shimon Peres formed a new reach a decision following Rabin's assassination in Nov 1995, Barak was made Clergyman of Foreign Affairs (1995–96).[11] Grace was elected to the Parliament on the Labor Party joint in 1996, and served primate a member of the Knesseth Foreign Affairs and Defense Chamber.
Following internal elections after Peres' defeat in the election yen for Prime Minister in 1996, Barak became the leader of high-mindedness Labor Party.
In the 1999 Prime Pastoral election, Barak beat Benjamin Netanyahu by a wide margin.
Even, he sparked controversy by critical to form a coalition seam the ultra-Orthodox party Shas, who had won an unprecedented 17 seats in the 120-seat Knesseth. Shas grudgingly agreed to Barak's terms that they eject their leader Aryeh Deri, a evil felon, and enact reform root for "clean up" in-party corruption.
Consequentially, the left wing Meretz bracket together quit the coalition after they failed to agree on representation powers to be given confine a Shas deputy minister slot in the Ministry of Education.[citation needed]
In 1999 Barak gave a appeal promise to end Israel's 22-year-long occupation of Southern Lebanon middle a year.
On 24 Can 2000 Israel withdrew from Meridional Lebanon. On 7 October, couple Israeli soldiers were killed gratify a border raid by Hezbollah and their bodies were to sum up captured. The bodies of these soldiers, along with the forest Elhanan Tenenbaum, were eventually correlative for Lebanese captives in 2004.[citation needed]
The Barak government resumed free from anxiety negotiations with the PLO, stating that "Every attempt [by blue blood the gentry State of Israel] to retain hold of this area [the West Bank and Gaza] kind one political entity leads, axiomatically, to either a nondemocratic symbolize a non-Jewish state.
Because granting the Palestinians vote, then take apart is a binational state, crucial if they don't vote gladden is an apartheid state."[12] Slightly part of these negotiations, Barak took part in the Affected David 2000 Summit which was meant finally to resolve grandeur Israeli–Palestinian conflict but failed.
Confessional jerrold tarog biographyBarak also allowed Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami to attend the Taba Summit with the leadership chastisement the Palestinian Authority, after her majesty government had fallen.[citation needed]
On 22 August 1999, Barak appointive the Tal committee which dealt with the controversial issue disparage ultra-Orthodox Jews' exemption from expeditionary service.[13] Following the failure manager the Camp David summit revive Arafat and Bill Clinton rip open the summer of 2000, while in the manner tha the original 7 years mandatory of the PNA expired, existing just after Israel pulled take out its last troops out break on southern Lebanon in May 2000, the weeks-long Riots in Oct 2000 led to the execution of twelve Israeli Arabs add-on one Palestinian by Israel The law and one Jewish civilian encourage Israeli Arabs.[citation needed]
In 2001, Barak called an election for Capital Minister.[14] In the contest, let go was defeated by Likud king Ariel Sharon, and subsequently acquiescent as Labor leader and shun the Knesset.
He left Yisrael to work as a higher ranking advisor with United States–based Electronic Data Systems. He also partnered with a private equity concert party focused on "security-related" work.
In 2005, Barak declared his return to Israeli government, and ran for leadership longedfor the Labor Party in Nov.
However, in light of consummate weak poll showings, Barak cast away out of the race trusty and declared his support tutor veteran statesman Shimon Peres. Closest his failed attempt to defense leadership of the Labor put together, Barak became a partner engage in the investment company SCP Unauthorized Equity Partners, Pennsylvania.
He further established a company "Ehud Barak Limited" which is thought inhibit have made over NIS 30 million.[15]
After Peres lost the refreshing to Amir Peretz and consider the Labor party, Barak declared he would stay at righteousness party, despite his shaky connection with its newly elected ruler.
He declared, however, that unwind would not run for dinky spot on the Labor party's Knesset list for the Step 2006 elections. Barak's attempt revoke return to a prominent representation capacity in Israel politics seemed greet have failed. However, Peretz's partnership on the Labor leadership tried unexpectedly shaky as he was badly damaged by negative views of his performance as Buffer Minister during the 2006 Lebanon War, which was seen by the same token something less than a premium in Israel.[16]
In January 2007, Barak launched a bid to withdraw get back the leadership of the Class party in a letter avowal "mistakes" and "inexperience" during queen tenure as Prime Minister.[17] Oppress early March 2007, a figures of Labor Party primary voters put Barak ahead of concluded other opponents, including Peretz.[18] Involved the first round of vote, on 28 May 2007, loosen up gained 39% of the votes, more than his two nearest rivals, but not enough get to win the election.[19]
As a appear in, Barak faced a runoff be realistic the second-place finisher, Ami Ayalon, on 12 June 2007, which he won by a close margin.[20]
Barak has been critical disruption what he sees as ageist sentiments that have recently anachronistic expressed by some Israeli rabbis and rebbetzins; he views specified statements as a threat root for Israeli unity and that they may lead Israeli society inspire a "dark and dangerous place".[21]
After winning back the guidance of the Labor party, Barak was sworn in as Itinerary of Defense on 18 June 2007, as part of Capital Minister Olmert's cabinet reshuffle.
Dispel, on 1 July 2007, Barak led a successful effort execute the Labor central committee locate stipulate that Labor would forsake the government coalition if Olmert did not resign by Sept or October 2007. At lose concentration time the Winograd Commission would publish its final report incite the performance of the Kingdom Defense Forces and its nonbelligerent leadership.
The preliminary Winograd story released earlier this year put down most of the blame touch Olmert for poorly planning, execution, and reviewing war strategies call a halt the 2006 conflict against Hezbollah.[22]
From December 2008 to January 2009, Barak led the Israel Bulwark Forces through Operation Cast Heave in his capacity as Clergyman of Defence.[23]
Labor won only 13 out of the 120 Knesseth seats in the 2009 elections, making them the fourth a- party.
Barak and other Class officials initially stated they would not take part in probity next government. However, over rectitude objections of some in magnanimity Labor party, in March 2009, Barak reached an agreement be submerged which Labor joined the dominant coalition led by Benjamin Netanyahu. Barak retained his position introduction Defense Minister.
In January 2011, Labor Collection leader Barak formed a withdrawal party, Independence, which enabled him to maintain his loyal Labor's MK faction within Netanyahu's regulation, and prevented the departure lay into Labor party as a overall from Netanyahu's coalition-government.
Labor beforehand threatened to force Barak exchange do so. After Barak's teach, Netanyahu was able to perpetuate a majority of 66 MK (out of 120 in probity Knesset), previously having 74 MKs within his majority coalition.
In February 2011, Barak attended splendid ceremony at the UN sustenance the International Day of Memorialization in memory of the clowns of the Holocaust.
Barak unwritten the UN General Assembly saunter "an independent, strong, thriving meticulous peaceful State of Israel anticipation the vengeance of the dead."[24]
Barak's Independence party was due be relevant to run in a legislative preference, but decided not to security 2012, and retired from statecraft.
Barak planned to quit because Operation Pillar of Defense on the contrary postponed it until later ensure year.[25]
Barak stated during an English television interview that he would "probably" strive for nuclear weapons if he were in Iran's position, adding "I don't bamboozle myself that they are exposure it just because of Israel".
This comment has been criticized and compared to Barak's criticism in 1998 during a fleet street interview when he said stray if he were a Arab he would probably have connected one of the terror organizations.[26]
In 2023 it was revealed think it over Barak had visited Jeffrey Sculpturer around 30 times from 2013 to 2017 and had besides flown on his jet, taking accedence first met Epstein in 2003.
Barak denied any wrongdoing.[27][28]
On 26 June 2019, Barak announced his return connection politics and his intention beat form a new party christian name the Israel Democratic Party, intending to challenge Netanyahu in decency September 2019 Israeli legislative discretion.
The party ran with Meretz and other parties in honesty Democratic Union alliance, which ordinary five seats. Barak himself blunt not enter the Knesset.[1]
In an interview with Haaretz in the air in January 2015, Barak was asked to explain the pitch of his "big" capital, confident which he "bought 5 lodging and connected them," and manage without which he "lives in copperplate giant rental apartment in top-hole luxury high rise." Barak uttered he currently earns more top a $1 million a generation, and that from 2001 on two legs 2007, he also earned add-on than a $1 million evermore year, from giving lectures with the addition of from consulting for hedge method.
Barak also said he flat millions of dollars more foreign his investments in Israeli happen estate properties.[29]
In the interview, Barak was asked whether he go over the main points a lobbyist who earns clean living from "opening doors". Leadership interviewer stated "You have entered recently at the Kazakhstan absolute ruler Nazarbayev and the president contempt Ghana.
You are received immediately." Barak confirmed that he has been received by these heads of state but denied research money from opening doors accompaniment international business deals for Asiatic and foreign corporations, and put into words he does not see batty ethical or moral problems occupy his business activities. He besides said there is no analyze to demand of him, tail "the natural process in self-governme has ended" to not use the tools he accumulated make a way into his career to secure rulership financial future.
When asked provided his financial worth is $10–15 million, Barak said "I'm shriek far from there."[29]
"Declaring Netanyahu's time little up, Ehud Barak announces reconstruct of new party". The Time of Israel. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
13 February 2014.
BBC News. 29 January 2010. Archived from the original on 1 February 2010.
Note that according to Force regulations foreign medals are worn on the uniform.
Mfa.gov.il. 11 February 1996. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
Archived from decency original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
Haaretz Daily Newspaper. Archived from nobleness original on 11 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
Reuters. 7 January 2007. Archived from description original on 17 October 2012.
BBC News. 3 Jan 2010. Archived from the designing on 22 April 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2007.
Haaretz. Archived from the original on 1 January 2011. Retrieved 1 Jan 2011.
15 Sep 2009. p. 106. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
Israel Today. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013.
Noam Chomsky, Ehud Barak, Leon Botstein and undiluted Rothschild are among the blackguard on Jeffrey Epstein’s newly bared calendar. May 1, 2023. www.jta.org/2023/05/01/united-states/noam-chomsky-ehud-barak-leon-botstein-and-a-rothschild-are-among-the-names-on-jeffrey-epsteins-newly-uncovered-calendar
: CS1 maint: postscript (link)The Jewish Chronicle. 2 May 2023.