During an interview on 103FM, former prime minister and former IDF chief of staff Ehud Barak criticized Netanyahu for presenting what he called an unrealistic vision to US President Donald Trump. He referred to a meeting between the two leaders where Netanyahu reportedly suggested that military action against Iran could lead to regime collapse, stating: "We will act, the regime will crack, there is an opportunity to eliminate the leadership, this will topple the regime." Barak dismissed these claims, arguing that such expectations were far from reality.
Despite some military achievements, Barak emphasized that key strategic objectives remained unachieved. "My clear assessment is that there was hubris here," he said, warning that overconfidence had placed Israel in a precarious position. Barak highlighted that Hezbollah remains a formidable force in Lebanon, Hamas continues to grow stronger in Gaza, and Iran's nuclear capabilities are still a serious threat. "None of the major goals were achieved," he added.
Barak also warned of the potential consequences of Netanyahu's "victory" rhetoric, questioning the credibility of Netanyahu's claims that Hezbollah had been "thrown back for decades" or that Israel had "removed the threat" posed by Hamas. According to Barak, Netanyahu's optimistic statements were not grounded in reality. "The lack of seriousness is so transparent," he remarked.
Turning his attention to Israel's deterrence strategy, Barak acknowledged that Israel's enemies had been weakened since October 7, but noted that the current approach was creating diplomatic friction. "The IDF has proven its capabilities and made enemies think twice before messing with Israel," Barak stated. However, he cautioned that Israel's military actions in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria were beginning to alienate key regional allies, including Egypt and Jordan. Barak explained that Israel's expansionist policies were causing concern among the Gulf states, which feared the IDF's growing territorial ambitions.
Barak also voiced concerns about the upcoming elections, warning of the potential for election interference. He spoke of the possibility that Netanyahu might manipulate events in order to secure his grip on power. "If four or five days before the elections, Netanyahu is not sure he is going to win, I wouldn't rule out a fabricated crisis," Barak speculated. He referred to the potential for a "ticking bomb in Iran" or a resurgence of Hamas or a third intifada to disrupt the electoral process. "He’ll announce a state of emergency and postpone the elections by another six months."
Barak further predicted that advanced technologies, such as deepfakes, could be used to spread disinformation on election day. "We’re expecting a flood of these things," he warned, referencing the phenomenon of deepfake videos, which can be used to create false narratives. "There will be videos released on election day that no one will be able to prove are fake."
Potential for civil unrest during election counting
Finally, Barak discussed the potential for civil unrest during the election counting process. He suggested that disruptions could lead Netanyahu to declare the elections incomplete and extend his tenure. "No one will be able to stop the rioters," Barak said, warning that such actions could lead to widespread distrust in the election results.
In closing, Barak emphasized the importance of preparing for these eventualities in advance. He proposed that Israel’s legal authorities, including the Shin Bet and the police, should be ready to act if Netanyahu attempts to overstep his authority and undermine democratic processes. "Talk about it beforehand," Barak urged, "so that Netanyahu knows that there will be consequences if he manipulates the system."