Attending the Socialist International Conference in Athens in his capacity as Labor Party leader, Defense Minister Ehud Barak took advantage of the situation for a historical handshake. He shook the hand of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. Joining the two was PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen).

Barak told the Iraqi leader that when he was prime minister, his cabinet included six ministers of Iraqi origin. He attempted to convey his message in broken Arabic.

In his meeting with the PA leader, Barak explained once again that Israel is willing to make painful concessions towards achieving peace.

In his reference to the Iranian nuclear threat, Barak stated the ongoing nuclear enrichment efforts by Tehran represent a global threat, declining to comment on the words of a Pentagon official that an Israeli attack against Iran is likely by the end of 2008.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)