The US Administration has accused Israeli Defence Minister and Labour Party leader Ehud Barak of deceiving and misleading it about his ability to promote progress in the peace process. This, says Washington, led to the paralysis of the peace talks when Barak failed to fulfil his promises.
According to Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, US and Israeli sources said that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other top US officials believe that Barak misled them eighteen months ago over his ability to persuade Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make progress in the now-stalled peace negotiations with the Palestinians. Although, claims Haaretz, Washington “will continue working with Barak on security issues, he will no longer receive special treatment.”