Signs are increasing that Ehud Barak may not resign from politics. Sources close to the outgoing Prime Minister say that he has already decided to accept Ariel Sharon\'s offer to serve as Defense Minister in the new government. He intimated last night that he may renege on his post-election promise to step down from politics, saying that although \"my heart tells me to leave politics for a while,\" he must \"take into consideration the many calls I have received, including from President Katzav and Prime Minister-elect Sharon,\" to remain.
Barak said that in any event, he will be the one to decide who the Labor party\'s government ministers will be. This drew strong fire from Interior Minister Chaim Ramon, a political opponent of Barak within Labor, who said today that \"the days are over\" when Barak makes such decisions by himself. Ramon also said that he is very wary of the agreements Barak and Sharon may have reached in their private meetings. \"These issues must be decided by an authorized party committee,\" he said. \"It\'s not even certain that most Labor members want the Defense and Foreign Affairs portfolios. Most people that I\'ve spoken to say they prefer that the party choose Finance [as one of the two senior portfolios offered Labor by the Likud]...\"
In response to the increasing reports that Barak may join the unity government, Ramon said early this evening that he would do everything he could to torpedo a government in which Barak is a member. Knesset Members of the left-wing Meretz party also criticized Barak for what appears to be his acceptance of Sharon\'s offer; Yossi Sarid said, \"This is just one zig-zag too many.\"
Barak said that in any event, he will be the one to decide who the Labor party\'s government ministers will be. This drew strong fire from Interior Minister Chaim Ramon, a political opponent of Barak within Labor, who said today that \"the days are over\" when Barak makes such decisions by himself. Ramon also said that he is very wary of the agreements Barak and Sharon may have reached in their private meetings. \"These issues must be decided by an authorized party committee,\" he said. \"It\'s not even certain that most Labor members want the Defense and Foreign Affairs portfolios. Most people that I\'ve spoken to say they prefer that the party choose Finance [as one of the two senior portfolios offered Labor by the Likud]...\"
In response to the increasing reports that Barak may join the unity government, Ramon said early this evening that he would do everything he could to torpedo a government in which Barak is a member. Knesset Members of the left-wing Meretz party also criticized Barak for what appears to be his acceptance of Sharon\'s offer; Yossi Sarid said, \"This is just one zig-zag too many.\"