Defense minister's contacts say former PM's unilateral pullout to blame for war.
By JPOST.COM STAFF
The Second Lebanon War was a failure, said former prime minister Ehud Barak on Thursday, adding that Israel was, nevertheless, "still the strongest country that lies between Libya and Iran."
"When the dust clouds settle after the Winograd Committee's conclusions... one lesson will be learnt: In the state of Israel, there is no substitute for experience," Barak continued during a speech he delivered to pre-army recruits.
The former prime minister went on to say that there was no doubt that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and former chief of staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz were talented individuals with good intentions but "what happened during the war proves that more experience is needed."
In response, associates of Peretz blamed Barak for the strengthening of Hizbullah. "The man who took the IDF out of Lebanon in a unilateral retreat and without any agreement involving an international force, is the one responsible for turning a blind eye."
Barak also reiterated his perception that Israel must allow the Palestinians to create a state of their own.
"Israel's citizens understand the solution [for the Israel-Palestinian conflict] is the creation of two states. We are here and they are there," he said.
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