Minister says he had ‘more important things’ to do than watch freed hostage’s testimony

Economy Minister Nir Barkat said Friday that he had “more important things” to do than watch the testimony of Eli Sharabi, who was freed emaciated last month after 491 days in Hamas captivity.

Following online scorn, Barkat apologized.

On Thursday night, Sharabi described to Channel 12 having been chained, beaten and starved by his captors, with abuse getting worse whenever Israeli leaders touted the worsened conditions of captured Hamas operatives.

Asked by the network on Friday if he had seen the interview, Barkat said he had not.

“I was dealing with more important things,” said the economy minister. “Important meetings that I will tell you about when the time comes.”

Asked to elaborate, Barkat said: “Things at the pinnacle of the world. I’m a minister, I have a role.”

In a statement to Channel 12, Barkat apologized for his comment, saying he was “not focused on the question at hand.” He also later issued a video statement in which he apologized.

“There is nothing more important than Eli Sharabi’s interview — it is a shocking document,” Barkat said. “Sharabi is a model and inspiration for the entire nation of Israel, and a reminder that we must do everything to bring our brothers and sons back from the inferno.”

Following the expiration of the hostage deal’s first phase on Saturday, the remaining hostages who are still believed to be alive in Gaza are all men.

According to Channel 12, Barkat said he watched the segment of Sharabi’s testimony in which the freed hostage said his captivity was worsened in response to the worsening of Hamas operatives’ detention. The economy minister appeared to blame the media.

“The situation is very difficult. I think there needs to be less talking on the media — Hamas watches us, it’s listening to your program,” said Barkat, apparently referring to Channel 12. “It gets the information from here, and unfortunately, that can often have negative repercussions.”

Sharabi, 53, was kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led terrorists stormed southern Israel to kill some 1,200 people and take 251 hostages, sparking the war in Gaza.

Sharabi lost 40 percent of his body weight in captivity, and learned upon returning to Israel that his wife Lianne and teenage daughters Noiya and Yahel were murdered in the Hamas onslaught.

His brother Yossi Sharabi was also taken hostage on October 7 and was likely killed in an IDF strike in Gaza. His body is still being held by terrorists.

Barkat’s comment that he was “too busy” to see Sharabi’s interview drew a torrent of derision on social media.

Veteran journalist Ronen Bergman noted that Barkat had found the time to attend the corruption hearings of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — whom the minister referred to as Israel’s “supreme leader” in his interview Friday.

MK Mickey Levy, of the opposition Yesh Atid party, compared Barkat’s comment to those of other coalition members who said that “winning the war is more important than returning the hostages,” and that people demanding a state commission of inquiry into the political echelon’s failures leading up to the Hamas onslaught should “keep dreaming.”

Netanyahu — Israel’s political leader since 2009, with an 18-month stint in opposition in 2021-2022 — has rejected the formation of such a commission, which would be headed by a former Supreme Court justice. The premier’s allies, who have clashed with the judiciary, claim a state commission of inquiry would be slanted against Netanyahu, whom critics accuse of trying to avoid scrutiny.

Speaking to Channel 12 on Friday, Barkat, who is widely seen as gunning to succeed Netanyahu atop the Likud party, reiterated the claims against a state commission of inquiry. Barkat said such a commission would be illegitimate given Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s refusal to accredit the appointment of Chief Justice Yitzhak Amit, who would select the commission’s members.

Barkat also said any inquiry would have to wait until after the war goals were achieved.

Meanwhile, the economy minister rejected as “fake news” recent reports that the premier’s top aides had done public relations work for Qatar, a major funder of Hamas and other terror groups, which helped mediate the Gaza hostage deal.

On Thursday, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara launched a criminal investigation into the ties between Doha and Netanyahu’s staff.

Throughout Netanyahu’s tenure, the Gulf state, with the premier’s approval, transferred millions of dollars in cash to Hamas on a monthly basis until October 7, 2023. While the premier has said the transfers were designated strictly for welfare, utilities and government salaries, critics have said the transfers gave Hamas fiscal leeway to prepare for the shock assault.