Prime minister rules out Barak joining Likud

Netanyahu quells rumors, assures faction members that defense minister will not be included on party list in next election.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Prime Minister Netanyahu with Defense Minister Barak 311 (R) (photo credit: Ammar Awad / Reuters)
Prime Minister Netanyahu with Defense Minister Barak 311 (R)
(photo credit: Ammar Awad / Reuters)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told his Likud faction Monday that Defense Minister Ehud Barak and his  Independence Party allies would not be on the Likud's Knesset slate in the next election.
Likud MKs Danny Danon and Tzipi Hotovely have drafted petitions signed by MKs in the Likud faction against reserving slots. They intend to present the petitions to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in an effort to preempt him from initiating such a move.
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When asked about the matter by Hotovely, Netanyahu said "Despite the misinformation that has angered our MKs, Ehud Barak has not been reserved a slot and he will not be parachuted in, not by air, nor by land, nor by sea."
Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar said there was no point in saving slots for the Independence Party because a poll indicated for the first time that it may pass the electoral threshold.
Independence Party MK Einat Wilf has said it is in the Likud's interest that her party run alone because it could attract votes away from Kadima.
Danon told Netanyahu that Barak should run with the new party being formed by former journalist Yair Lapid, where Danon said he could find a common ideology.