"Barak has been repeatedly warned that the United States would not
support an Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, and that Israel would have to
leave with its tail between its legs," the source said.
Barak's Labor Party has been trailing badly in the polls for Knesset
elections in February 2009. The sources said Barak, a 66-year-old former
prime minister
and chief of staff, has been concerned that this would mark his last bid for
power.
The defense minister has been opposed by most of the Cabinet regarding
an Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip. On Dec. 22, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen.
Gabi Ashkenazi broke weeks of silence and said Israel could not tolerate
daily missile strikes from the Gaza Strip.
"The realities of the situation in Gaza are unacceptable," Ashkenazi
told Army Radio. "The Israel Defense Forces is prepared for every possible
operation that could be required in the Gaza Strip. I'll present the
different options to the political echelons, and we'll do what we're ordered
to do."
The sources said Barak, whose relations with the U.S. government goes
back to the late 1970s, has been receiving millions of dollars for his
political campaign from Americans close to U.S. President-elect Barack
Obama. They said these Americans, including former officials of the
administration of President Bill Clinton, have urged Barak not to stage a
Middle East crisis when Obama enters office on Jan. 20.
"The messages began with the Bush administration and intensified after
Obama's victory in November," the political source said. "He [Barak] is
getting phone calls from Americans in Washington and Tel Aviv every day."
For his part, Barak has accused his rivals of using the Hamas missile
campaign for political gain. He said he would not be dragged into a
premature conflict with the Islamic regime.
"The time, place and manner in which our forces will act will be
determined by the professional echelon," Barak said.
