In an op-ed written by former Prime Minister Ehud Barak that was published Wednesday in the Washington Post, Barak slammed the Prime Minister’s leadership, describing the level of mistrust between the United States and Israel.
“Israel will receive $3.8 billion a year,” Barak wrote, referring to yesterday’s agreement, “an important contribution to our security but far less than what could have been obtained before the prime minister chose to blatantly interfere with U.S. politics.”
Barak explained that this agreement is indicative of the level of mistrust between Prime Minister Netanyahu and the American administration and criticized the deal itself saying, “given the more than 20 percent cumulative rise in the cost of arms since the last 10-year agreement entered into force (in 2007), the newly agreed-upon amount represents no greater purchasing power - and even these funds will be conditioned on Israel refraining from requesting additional funding from Congress. Accentuating the degree of mistrust, according to new details reported Wednesday, the administration secured an Israeli written commitment to return any additional money that Congress might provide. In the past, Congress has added - with White House consent - $600 million to $700 million every year for Iron Dome and other defense systems.”
Barak criticized the prime minister’s leadership, stating that “Netanyahu has consistently nourished fear of existential threats and unleashed ghosts of enemies from within, when domestic realities called for unity and confidence and regional developments required a sober assessment and steady hand.”
Barak explained that Netanyahu’s leadership has divided the nation and concluded by stating that, “Israel needs a policy that restores credibility to our relations with Washington; prioritizes the unity of the people over the unity of the land; enhances security via cooperation with like-minded nations; and promotes democratic values rather than messianic visions.”
Recently, the former prime minister has been harshly critical of Netanyahu, leading people to wonder if he has plans to make a comeback. Criticizing Israeli leadership in a foreign newspaper was once considered beyond the pale but has become commonplace for the left.