Members of the Likud party are concerned that Ehud Barak will continue to serve as defense minister in the next government, according to a Monday-morning report by the Makor Rishon daily. A senior Likud minister told the newspaper that Barak's agreement to construction in Judea and Samaria (Shomron) and the recognition of the Ariel University Center as a university show that the party is preparing public opinion ahead of an appointment of Barak to another term.

The information staff of Likud-Beyteinu denied the report.