Former MK and cabinet minister Saleh Tarif has been appointed as a special emissary of Defense Minister Ehud Barak, acting as his representative to the Arab world. The former MK has been serving in the post for the past two months, clandestinely making contacts with the Arab world on behalf of Barak.

Such contacts included meetings with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), delivering messages for Barak and exchanging information.

According to a report in the daily HaMevaser, the appointment is problematic since Tarif was convicted on bribery charges for trying to advance the interests of an associate, an Arab money changer, giving a bribe to a senior Population Registry official in 2004. Tarif, the first member of Israel’s Druse community to hold a cabinet post, was found guilty.

The report states the Prime Minister’s Office is not pleased with the appointment, which did not pass any government body, with Barak’s office acting to appoint the private citizen/businessman without consulting any agency.

Responding to the report, officials in the PM’s Office declined comment but unofficially, officials involved in contacts with the PA (Palestinian Authority) confirm Tarif’s role does indeed complicate efforts to advance diplomatic efforts on the PA front.

Tarif released a statement that he does address political matters, but he does so privately, insisting he does not represent anyone.

Officials in the defense minister’s office explain that Tarif is a strategic advisor to Barak in the Labor Party and as such, his appointment does not require any official approval.

The Almagor Terror Victims Association has turned to Barak, calling upon him to dismiss Tarif from his position in light of the criminal conviction against him. The organization explains that his conviction on bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges presents a formidable problem with his serving as a senior advisor, as has been ruled in a number of cases by the state attorney general.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)