Defense Minister Ehud Barak called Sunday for the establishment of a wide emergency national government. Speaking on Channel 10 television, the Labor party leader said: "The right thing for Israel today, in the face of Iran's threats, the negotiations with the Syrians and Palestinians, the economic tsunami and the loss of faith in the political system is a very wide national emergency government."

If establishment of such a government proves impossible, Barak said, "we need to go to elections and let the people decide."