Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak on Monday abruptly announced he 
was quitting politics, injecting new turmoil into the Israeli political 
system weeks ahead of general elections.
Barak, Israel's most-decorated soldier and one-time prime minister, 
said he would stay on in his current post until a new government is 
formed following the Jan. 22 balloting.
His resignation could mean the departure of the most moderating 
influence on hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who holds a wide
 lead in polls and is expected to easily win re-election. Barak, who 
heads a small centrist faction in parliament, often served as 
Netanyahu's unofficial envoy to Washington to smooth over differences 
with the Obama White House.
 http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Israeli%20Defence%20Minister%20Ehud%20Barak%20says%20leaving%20politics/7609496/story.html
 
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