Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Barak intimated last night that he may change his mind about stepping down from politics. He said that although \"my heart tells me to leave politics for a while,\" as he promised to do the night of his crushing election defeat to Ariel Sharon, he must \"take into consideration the many calls I have received, including from President Katzav and Prime Minister-elect Sharon,\" to stay on as Defense Minister in the new unity government. He said that in any event, he will be the one to decide who the Labor party\'s government ministers will be.
Interior Minister Chaim Ramon, a political opponent of Barak within Labor, said today that \"the days are over\" for Barak to make such decisions by himself. Ramon said that he is very wary of the decisions Barak and Sharon may have reached in their private meetings. Chaim Ramon thus joins Shimon Peres in his overt tensions with the Prime Minister - tensions that Likud members say are \"disturbing\" to the efforts to form a unity government.
Interior Minister Chaim Ramon, a political opponent of Barak within Labor, said today that \"the days are over\" for Barak to make such decisions by himself. Ramon said that he is very wary of the decisions Barak and Sharon may have reached in their private meetings. Chaim Ramon thus joins Shimon Peres in his overt tensions with the Prime Minister - tensions that Likud members say are \"disturbing\" to the efforts to form a unity government.