(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/121126-barak-3a.photoblog600.jpg)Roni Schutzer / AFP - Getty ImagesIsrael's Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday announces that he is quitting political life after a decades-long career that also saw him serve as prime minister. By Martin Fletcher, NBC NewsNews analysis
TEL AVIV, Israel — Internet forums in Israel sprang to life when Ehud Barak made his surprise announcement that he would retire from politics (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/26/15448513-israels-defense-minister-barak-resigns-from-politics?lite#) in eight weeks. The overwhelming sentiment on Ynet (http://www.ynet.co.il/home/0,7340,L-8,00.html)and other newspaper forums — good riddance.
But the key question is, does he mean it? Consider his background.
Follow @NBCNewsWorld (http://twitter.com/NBCNewsWorld)Israel’s most decorated soldier, universally recognized as a brilliant special forces officer, in the army for 36 years. When he went into politics he became foreign minister within two years, then prime minister and now defense minister.
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