Israel hits Hamas government buildings, reservists mobilized

Published on November 17, 2012

Israeli aircraft bombed Hamas government buildings in Gaza on Saturday, including the prime minister's office, after Israel's cabinet authorized the mobilization of up to 75,000 reservists in preparation for a possible ground invasion.

Israeli peace activist says Hamas’ Jabari received truce document—and Israel knew

Published on November 15, 2012

Israeli peace activist Gershon Baskin said that hours before Israel assassinated Ahmed Jabari, the Hamas military leader received a draft of a permanent truce agreement with Israel.

Barak: Current episode with Gaza ‘not over’

Published on November 13, 2012

Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the current episode of rocket fire from Gaza is not over, during a visit to the border with Gaza.

Jewish settlers to move into contested Hebron building

Published on October 12, 2012

Israel’s defense minister, Ehud Barak, has reportedly ordered authorities to allow the Jewish owners of a building in Hebron to move into it.

Barak after clear-the-air meeting with Bibi: We ‘see eye-to-eye’

Published on October 8, 2012

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “see eye to eye” on the Iran threat and U.S.-Israel ties.

Barak orders haredi Orthodox conscription

Published on August 1, 2012

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the Israeli Defense Forces to draft haredi Orthodox men as it does other Jewish Israelis.

Panetta to meet Barak, Netanyahu, Peres in quick trip to Israel

Published on August 1, 2012

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta arrived in Israel to discuss United States-Israel defense ties and the potential threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.

Israel: Syria Government Still in Control of Chemical Weapons

Published on July 24, 2012

The Syrian government is still in full control of its chemical weapons stockpiles, a senior Israeli defense official said on Tuesday.

Amid new Iran nuke rumors, Barak and Panetta to meet

Published on May 17, 2012

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak will meet with his U.S. counterpart, Leon Panetta, in Washington amid reports that Iran may have achieved the capability to build a nuclear bomb.

President Obama's diplomacy has been given a chance

By Michael Berenbaum
Published on May 4, 2012

According to Jewish tradition, prophecy cased with the end of the Biblical era, , but it doesn’t take a prophet to predict that Israel will not be attacking Iranian nuclear installations, at least not for a while.

Iranian national believed responsible for Thai blasts

Published on February 14, 2012

Bombs that exploded in a Bangkok house being shared by an Iranian national were being prepared for a large-scale attack against an Israeli target, unnamed Israeli officials are quoted as saying.

South Sudan president makes lightening visit to Israel

Published on December 20, 2011

The president of the new country of South Sudan arrived in Israel for a short working visit during which the possibility of repatriating Sudanese infiltrators to the country set to be discussed.

Obama to meet with Ehud Barak

Published on December 16, 2011

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak will meet with President Obama on Friday morning, according to sources.

Barak: No strike on Iran anytime soon

Published on December 1, 2011

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Thursday an Israeli attack on Iran is not imminent but all options remain open to stop what Israel sees as an Iranian bid to develop nuclear weapons.

Iran: Explosion occurred during research on weapons that could strike Israel

Published on November 16, 2011

A massive explosion that killed 17 troops including an officer regarded as the architect of Iran's missile defences last week took place during research on weapons that could strike Israel, the Islamic Republic's military chief said on Wednesday.

Netanyahu trying to persuade cabinet to support attack on Iran

Published on November 3, 2011

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak are trying to muster a majority in the cabinet in favor of military action against Iran, a senior Israeli official has said. According to the official, there is a "small advantage" in the cabinet for the opponents of such an attack.

Obama calls for keeping pressure on Iran

Published on November 3, 2011

President Obama called for keeping up international pressure on Iran amid news reports that Israel may be preparing for war with the Islamic Republic.

Israel test-fires ballistic missile: Israel Radio

Published on November 2, 2011

Israel test-fired a ballistic missile on Wednesday, Israel Radio said, amid a heightened public debate over the possibility of an Israeli attack against Iran's nuclear program.

Turkey suspends defense, trade ties with Israel

Published on September 6, 2011

Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country has suspended defense industry ties with Israel and halted trade pending a decision on permanently suspending all trade.

Teen injured critically when Gaza rocket hits bus

Published on April 7, 2011

An Israeli teen was critically injured when a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit the school bus in which he was riding.

Barak’s new faction receives ministerial positions

Published on January 18, 2011

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and the four other lawmakers that split from the Labor Party will remain in the government with ministerial positions. The Labor lawmakers who joined Barak in forming a new faction on Monday are Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon; Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai; Deputy Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Orit Noked; and freshman Knesset member Einat Wilf. The new ministerial positions were announced Tuesday.

Barak: Final status talks within months

Published on December 14, 2010

After meeting with U.S. leaders, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak predicted that comprehensive talks with the Palestinians on all final status issues would begin within months.

Barak, Obama’s favored warrior, assumes diplomatic posture

Published on May 4, 2010

Fifteen years after Ehud Barak walked into politics wearing the warrior's mantle, he is easing into the diplomat's lapels.

Obama to Barak: U.S. committed to Israel’s security

Published on April 26, 2010

President Obama told Israel's defense minister that the United States is committed to Israel's security.

Barak asks court to delay outpost home demolition

Published on April 15, 2010

Defense Minister Ehud Barak asked the Israeli Supreme Court to delay discussion on the demolition of homes in a West Bank outpost.

Ehud Barak: Settlement freeze is a national necessity

Published on September 8, 2009

Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday called a freeze in West Bank settlements a 'national necessity,' a day after he approved building permits for nearly 500 new housing units in six separate blocs.

Barak to Settler Leaders: Evacuate Outposts

Published on September 2, 2009

Some 23 unauthorized outposts will be evacuated, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told settler leaders. Barak met with leaders of the Yesha Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria Monday at the main Israeli army base in Tel Aviv.

Netanyahu Made an Offer Barak Couldn’t Refuse

Published on March 24, 2009

There is no debate over two of the achievements of the Labor-Likud coalition agreement that was initialed on Tuesday morning: It was reached after negotiations unprecedented in their brevity - taking less than 24 hours - and it grants Labor a scandalous package of positions for its mere 13 Knesset seats, almost out of generosity.

LABOR JOINING BIBI: Kosher Stamp or Fig Leaf?

Published on March 24, 2009

Depending on one’s interpretation, Labor’s decision to join Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud-led coalition grants Israel’s incoming government either a kosher seal of approval or a fig leaf to disguise a right-wing agenda.

Analysis: New Hamas Gaza rocket attacks pose dilemma for Israel

By Leslie Susser
Published on December 26, 2008

The renewal of intense Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli civilian areas has put Israelis in a somber mood during the usually festive week of Chanukah.

Who will succeed Olmert?

Published on July 31, 2008

No matter who emerges as the successor to Ehud Olmert, new general elections for prime minister -- and, by extension, the entire Knesset -- may not be far away

Now that Obama is in Israel, what should we expect?

Published on July 23, 2008

Barack Obama arrived in Israel and stressed the historic ties between the United States and the Jewish state. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is on a Middle East and European tour aimed at shoring up his foreign policy credentials.

Olmert seen as lackluster at Paris

By Roy Eitan
Published on July 15, 2008

Weighed down by political scandal and challenges at home, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert appeared unusually subdued during his visit to Paris for the Union for the Mediterranean conference

Israel-Hamas truce begins and Israelis are ready if it fails

By Roy Eitan
Published on June 24, 2008

Israeli officials said Egypt has agreed to hold off on opening its border with Gaza -- a key Hamas demand -- until there is progress in talks on Shalit's return. The IDF is expected to be ready for a last-resort invasion of Gaza, if the cease-fire fails.

Cease-fire with Hamas appears imminent

By Leslie Susser
Published on June 17, 2008

With a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas expected to take effect this week, the question is what impact -- if any -- such a deal will have on the wider efforts to reach accommodation with the Palestinians.

A way to peace: carrot-and-stick approach might break impasse

By Gidi Grinstein
Published on October 12, 2006

Political impasses are unstable. So is ours. Sooner or later, the volatile situation will erupt, and a new reality will be created.

Walking the Tightrope

By David Landau
Published on November 30, 2000

If Prime Minister Ehud Barak achieves a deal with Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat, he may yet pull back from the brink of political defeat and win the election.

Rethinking Restraint

By Naomi Segal
Published on November 23, 2000

A terror bombing against an Israeli school bus in the Gaza Strip this week is forcing Prime Minister Ehud Barak to reevaluate his response to Palestinian violence.

Running Low

By David Landau
Published on March 9, 2000

Surfacing this week, the Mordechai affair deals Barak's motley coalition another awkward blow.

Finally, the Solution?

By Douglas Davis
Published on November 4, 1999

"We have just completed a very good meeting. I feel we have revitalized the peace process," Clinton said after Tuesday's meeting, which took place amid commemorations in the Norwegian capital of the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Partisan Bickering

By Michael Shapiro
Published on October 14, 1999

With Congress and the White House battling over the budget, Israel's nearly $3 billion in annual aid as well as funds to help Israel and the Palestinians implement last year's Wye River accord have been caught in the political wrangling.

Barak’s Threatened Promises

By Julie Wiener
Published on July 8, 1999

Reform and Conservative leaders -- who have been lobbying for years to have their rabbis, institutions and practices recognized in the Jewish state -- do not expect the government of Prime Minister Ehud Barak to usher in an era of change.

The Temperature’s Rising

By Naomi Segal
Published on July 1, 1999

The attacks marked the heaviest cross-border violence since a cease-fire in 1996 ended with Operation Grapes of Wrath, Israel's 16-day campaign in Lebanon against Hezbollah.

Ties Still Bind

By Marlene Adler Marks
Published on May 20, 1999

We can once again put to rest the age-old stereotype that American Jews are disinterested in Israel. As this week's Gallop poll indicates, nothing could be farther from the truth.

Dress Reversal

Published on September 10, 1998

How a certain cocktail dress could determine the future of Middle East diplomacy.