THE RETURN OF EHUD BARAK

BARAK IS SEEKING THE LEADERSHIP OF THE LABOR PARTY. I GUESS HE FIGURES THAT OLMERT ISN'T WEAK OR INCOMPETENT ENOUGH. SOMEONE HAS TO MAKE MORE CONCESSIONS TO THE PALESTINIANS IN EXCHANGE FOR NOTHING.

Barak senses the moment is right,throws his hat back into Labor ring By Leslie Susser
JERUSALEM, Jan. 8 (JTA) -- Ehud Barak's return to political life has thrown the race for Labor Party leadership -- and the post of defense minister that comes with it -- wide open.

Incumbent Amir Peretz is widely perceived to have failed dismally at both jobs. The Israel Defense Force's relatively poor showing in the summer's war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, along with a string of inept party and political decisions by Peretz, created near perfect conditions for Barak's comeback. Still, the former prime minister will not have everything his way and will face several strong candidates in the race for party leadership...

Barak’s new leadership challenge comes six years after the end of his controversial 21-month tenure as prime minister, which began with great expectations for a comprehensive Middle East peace and ended with the violence of the Palestinian intifada and Barak’s landslide electoral defeat. Barak was widely criticized at the time for his arrogance, inability to take advice and cavalier treatment of close colleagues.