Israel Snap Analysis: Defense Minister Barak's Win-Win Strategy?

On Sunday, Isrraeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer had heated argument  during a Labor Party meeting.

Barak's associates  said he had opposed the secret meeting between Ben-Eliezer and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Zurich and told Prime Minister Netanyahu as much, though he ultimately decided not to veto the mission. Ben-Eliezer was angry with Barak cause he is accusing Barak of leaking information of the meeting with Turks. He allegedly told Barak's media spokesman, Barak Seri, "I'll skewer you. I am Iraqi. You don't know who are dealing with."

If it is true that it was the Defense Minsitry leaking the meeting to media --- and not the Foreign Minsitry of Avigdor Lieberman, as was initally reported --- then what is on Barak's mind? Is this a win-win strategy: if Netanyahu is not capable of dealing with Lieberman, then Barak takes over while if the Prime Minister succeeds, Barak grabs a portion as Lieberman leaves the coalition?

Comments

[Yonatan Amir]

Barak cannot take over the coalition, he does not have the necessary support. He can only try to gain political capital and hope for the coalition to collapse when the Labor Party is better prepared for an election.
If Yisrael Beitenu leaves the coalition, that would bring Kadima closer to joining the coalition - an unwanted option as far as Barak and the Labor Party, as that would leave them with no meaningful roles to play.

[Free Credit Report Commercials]

[...] Israel Snap Analysis: Defense Minister Barak's Win-Win Strategy … [...]