Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon, in an official statement this morning, expressed sorrow over the decision by Ehud Barak to resign from politics. Barak, in his parting letter last night, had blamed Sharon for \"mixing in\" internal Labor matters, for implying last week that he would not mind if Shimon Peres were Defense Minister, and for expecting him [Barak] to merely take orders from the Prime Minister. Likud MK Silvan Shalom said this morning that it would not be reasonable to expect the Prime Minister, elected by such a wide margin, not to be the one to determine defense policy.
Barak\'s resignation apparently paves the way for a national unity government. He had been the target of intense criticism, both within and without Labor, for his decision of a few days ago to accept the job of Defense Minister, instead of fulfilling his post-defeat promise to resign from politics. Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon, rebounding quickly from the loss of Barak in his future government, has reportedly asked Shimon Peres to replace him as Defense Minister. Peres is likely to turn down the offer - which some Likud officials say was never given.
While Peres may or may not have been offered the post of Defense Ministry, problems still abound in Labor. A fight may be underway between supporters of Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and Matan Vilnai - both of whom are former IDF generals - to replace Barak as Defense Minister. In addition, while party secretary Ra\'anan Cohen has asked for the Finance Ministry instead of Defense - Sharon had originally offered Labor its choice - Minister Dalia Itzik says this is not a decision that Cohen can make alone.
Barak\'s resignation apparently paves the way for a national unity government. He had been the target of intense criticism, both within and without Labor, for his decision of a few days ago to accept the job of Defense Minister, instead of fulfilling his post-defeat promise to resign from politics. Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon, rebounding quickly from the loss of Barak in his future government, has reportedly asked Shimon Peres to replace him as Defense Minister. Peres is likely to turn down the offer - which some Likud officials say was never given.
While Peres may or may not have been offered the post of Defense Ministry, problems still abound in Labor. A fight may be underway between supporters of Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and Matan Vilnai - both of whom are former IDF generals - to replace Barak as Defense Minister. In addition, while party secretary Ra\'anan Cohen has asked for the Finance Ministry instead of Defense - Sharon had originally offered Labor its choice - Minister Dalia Itzik says this is not a decision that Cohen can make alone.