Labor Party leader Defense Minister Ehud Barak holds the key to the prime minister’s future in his hands. Following a series of meetings in his home on Tuesday night, which were sparked by day one of testimony by Moshe Talansky, it appears that Barak on Wednesday plans to give Prime Minister an ultimatum, either he step down from office or suspend himself or Labor will be compelled to pull out of the coalition, forcing new elections.

Barak denied the accuracy of portions of a Channel 1 News report on Tuesday night, but stated on Wednesday morning, he will confer with party leaders and together, a decision will be made.

Labor leaders fear if they permit the current status quo to continue, the party will pay at the polls in the next election, prompting Barak to move ahead with the ultimatum. On the other hand, there will be those who insist with Olmert moving at a brisk pace on three tracks towards negotiating peace agreements, it would be bad timing to collapse the coalition at present.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)