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NEWS DESK | He was the Israeli prime minister who pulled the IDF out of southern Lebanon, but could never get that elusive peace deal with the Palestinians. But now he's back to challenge Prime Minister Netanyahu for the premiership in the midst of the political firestorm the premier created. Our Ellie Hochenberg has the story.
Story:
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak announces his return to politics on Wednesday to challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the September 17 elections.
Speaking at a press conference in Tel Aviv, Barak predicted that Netanyahu had "reached the end of his career," while announcing the establishment of his new party which will be formed in the coming days.
“Bibi this is your last chance to go home on your own,” Barak said, urging the prime minister not to throw Israel into “chaos” in order to “save" himself "from prison.”
“The Netanyahu regime must be felled, not saved,” Barak said.
Netanyahu's Likud party issued a statement shortly after, saying “We don’t get involved in how the left divides its seats between Ehud Barak and (Blue and White’s Yair) Lapid and (Benny) Gantz.”
Barak led the Labor party to victory in 1999 when he was elected Prime Minister, beating then Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, Barak became the shortest-serving Prime Minister in Israel's history when he was beaten by Ariel Sharon in 2001 after calling a special election.
Returning as Labor party leader in 2007, Barak was appointed Defense Minister by then Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, a position he kept under Netanyahu until 2013.
In his retirement years, Barak became one of Netanyahu's biggest critiques, calling repeatedly for his resignation.
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