Barak: Syria falling apart before our eyes

Defense Minister Ehud Barak attended his last Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting on Monday, speaking of the dangers that the country faces on a number of fronts.

Barak, who announced his retirement from politics last November, warned that the incoming defense minister — the latest indications point to MK Moshe Ya’alon (Likud) as Barak‘s likely successor — would have much to grapple with.

At the opening of the meeting, Barak noted the potential for regional deterioration and said preparations must be made for that eventuality.

“Iran is not going to disappear and Syria is falling apart in front of our eyes,” he said.

On a more positive note, Barak said that in his assessment that Israel was “clearly” the strongest military power in the Middle East, and said he did not see any other country in the region capable of successfully attacking Israel by air or over ground. 

Interim committee chairman MK Avigdor Liberman (Likud-Beytenu) noted that the incoming defense minister would have to deal not only with expected budget cuts, but also with the challenge of implementing a universal draft for national service.

The universal draft, a central topic during the general elections held in January, is very unpopular among the ultra-Orthodox communities that currently do not serve in the army.