News Brief

The Knesset Ethics Committee last week dismissed a complaint against Kadima MK Yitzchak Ben Yisrael, over statements he made about the effectiveness – or lack thereof – of Ehud Barak as Defense Minister. The committee pushed aside a complaint by the Ometz good government organization demanding that it censure Ben Yitzchak, for saying that Barak was "the worst defense minister in Israel's history." According to the committee, Ben Yitzchak had a right to make such a statement, although it did not necessarily agree.

Ben Yisrael also called Barak "arrogant," adding that he had no right to feel so, given his poor record as Prime Minister. Ben Yisrael made the remarks in a speech before a Beersheva audience in September.