Defense Minister Ehud Barak is under fire over a comment he made during an interview with PBS' Charlie Rose on Wednesday. Asked by Rose whether he would strive for nuclear weapons had he been in Iran's shoes, Barak said, "Probably...I don't delude myself that they are doing it just because of Israel." Many Knesset members were critical of "chatter causing damage to Israel" after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed ministers not to publically address the Iran issue. Kadima members were surprised to learn that Barak was the one leading the Iran media frenzy. MK Yosel Hasson said "Barak is leading the Israeli chatter on Iran and this hurts Israel..It's astonishing to see him act as a commentator and a bystander and not as the person responsible for the security of Israeli citizens. Acting as commentator will not dismiss him of responsibility for so many government failures." Hasson also addressed a previous controversial comment by Barak who once said that if he were a Palestinian of the right age he would join resistance groups.
