Ehud Barak: Witkoff’s Proposals Are Unrealistic… Netanyahu Is Selling Lies to the U.S.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak criticizes Netanyahu for prioritizing political survival over hostage recovery, warns of military failures, and accuses him of misleading the U.S.
Watan-Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak dismisses “Witkoff’s proposals,” harshly criticizes current PM Benjamin Netanyahu, and accuses him of prioritizing political survival over real solutions. Barak claims Netanyahu deceives the Americans, exploiting their limited understanding of regional dynamics and their focus on Ukraine.
In an interview with Israel’s public radio on Sunday morning, Barak stated, “If we lived in an ideal world, Witkoff’s proposals would be excellent. However, in reality, they pose serious problems,” stressing that the top priority should be securing the immediate release of all hostages.
Barak issued a dire warning: “Prolonging this debate over the deal is effectively a death sentence for the hostages, repeating the fate of missing Israeli airman Ron Arad in Lebanon four decades ago. The government has neither the moral authority for this nor for launching another war—especially one that could kill the remaining hostages.”
Barak: Netanyahu Manipulating U.S., War Won’t Defeat Hamas
A longtime political adversary of Netanyahu, Barak believes a renewed war in Gaza is unlikely due to Netanyahu’s focus on passing the state budget, as failing to do so would bring down his government.
Barak also criticized U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, stating, “Witkoff is preoccupied with Ukraine and lacks a deep understanding of the region. Netanyahu might manipulate him, creating an illusion of progress while distorting the reality of the Middle East.”
Repeating his criticism of the Israeli government, Barak argued, “Neglecting the hostages is a catastrophe for which Netanyahu and [Strategic Affairs Minister] Ron Dermer are responsible. Their primary concern is maintaining power.”
When asked about alternatives, Barak suggested that Israel must engage in serious negotiations to bring the hostages home immediately. He asserted that Hamas would eventually disappear, not through military efforts, but by implementing a political plan for “the day after” that replaces Hamas with another governing entity.
He added: “Militarily eliminating Hamas is a delusion. We’ve been to Jabalia four times, and nothing has changed. A fifth invasion won’t achieve anything significant. Instead, military action will kill the hostages, more soldiers will die, and we’ll end up back where we started. War will not bring victory—it will only harm Israel’s global standing and threaten the Abraham Accords.”
Barak further claimed that former U.S. President Donald Trump does not take plans for mass displacement in Gaza seriously and fails to grasp the complexity of the situation.
Before the Israeli government’s announcement of a new blockade on Gaza, Barak defended his opposition to another war, saying: “Ultimately, we will have to transfer authority to another entity to replace Hamas. That’s why we should act now, working with Arab countries and the U.S. while keeping the military option open for the future.”
The Illusion of Total Victory
Meanwhile, Israel’s Channel 14, known for its pro-Netanyahu stance, reported that Netanyahu personally decided to halt aid shipments to Gaza in coordination with the U.S. government. The Israeli government has also approved the potential mobilization of 400,000 reservists.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a new war crime under international law, stating, “We must unleash the gates of hell upon our savage enemy as soon as possible to achieve total victory.”
Similarly, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a convicted terrorist, echoed the call: “Now is the time to open the gates of hell, cut off electricity and water, and resume the war.”
The Hostages’ Families Forum is demanding the abandonment of “Witkoff’s proposals” in favor of Trump’s plan, which calls for either retrieving all hostages at once or escalating the war against Hamas. The group organized protests outside ministers’ homes on Sunday.
A Manufactured Crisis?
As Netanyahu’s government issues new threats of a more intense war and amasses military forces, the families of the hostages remain angry and in pain. Pointing fingers at the government, they accuse Netanyahu of orchestrating “a manufactured crisis.”
Time for a Decision
Before these latest developments, senior Israeli political analyst Shimon Shiffer wrote in Yedioth Ahronoth that “the only solution now is an all-for-all exchange deal, but our leadership refuses to accept it.”
Shiffer added, “The day will come when Trump curses Netanyahu, just as he did with Zelensky. He’s done it before.”
Fellow analyst Ben-Dror Yemini, in an article titled Trump is Playing with Fire, warned: “The U.S. administration’s embrace of Putin and its public dismissal of Zelensky should be a red flag for Israel.”
Yemini argued, “Perhaps Trump is making an unusual attempt to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. But the real fear is that this will only escalate tensions. This is concerning because it’s unclear whether this shift will pull Russia away from its alliance with Iran, or if Putin will succeed in softening relations between the White House and Tehran.”
