Yesterday Shimon Peres was elected the ninth president of Israel, while the Labor party voted Ehud Barak into it’s top position. While Peres’ position is more or less ceremonial, Barak’s return to significant leadership in the government marks an interesting shift.
After being disenchanted by the collapse of the peace process and the second intifada, Barak stayed away from the political scene until 2005 when he began to climb the ranks of Labor, again. There is no doubt in my mind that Barak’s perspective on both domestic and foreign affairs have changed since his term as prime minister.
I imagine that people will be keeping a close eye on how he interacts with Kadima as well as any further political ambitions.
