BARAK NAMED NEW DEFENSE MINISTER

Ehud Barak appointed defense minister (JNW)
Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak has been named defense minister replacing Amir Peretz.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert appointed Barak Friday, two days after he (Barak) was elected to lead the once-powerful – but now diminished – Labor Party.

Barak is Israel’s most highly-decorated soldier, and a man widely regarded as a national hero.

He will assume his new post Monday, when he is sworn into the Knesset and after Peretz’s resignation takes effect.