Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak traded accusations Sunday over Olmert's newly published autobiography. Olmert accused Barak of attempting to foil a valuable security operation and of “begging” to join Kadima. Barak termed the former PM's statements “pathetic.”
“If one is writing, one must write the truth... Since I am writing memoirs about the creation of Kadima, and Kadima's place as influential in politics, how could I not write about who begged to join Kadima, and who didn't, and how those who didn't join Kadima called it 'a party of refugees'?” Olmert asked at a Geneva Initiative conference.
The former prime minister also made reference to “a person who tried to undermine bold initiatives that the government sought to promote.” Olmert hinted that Barak had attempted to stop the 2007 Israeli strike on a Syrian nuclear facility.
Barak's office released a statement Sunday terming Olmert's charges “pathetic, and unworthy of response.”
Barak and Olmert engaged in political feuding in 2008, when Barak called on Olmert to step down as prime minister. At the time, Olmert's aides said the then-prime minister had no intention of stepping down, adding, “if Barak wishes to step down, he is welcome to do so.”
Olmert's memoir caused grief within Kadima as well. Current Kadima head MK Tzipi Livni issued a statement denying Olmert's claim that she had opposed the inclusion of Dan Meridor in the party.