Netanyahu: Barak "brought Nasrallah to our fence"

Source: Al-Manar TV, 11-7-2007
Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu harshly criticized the 2000 "Israeli" occupation withdrawal from Lebanon, led by then "Israeli" Prime Minister Ehud Barak, saying the move was irresponsible, and that Barak`s administration "brought [Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan] Nasrallah to our fence."
The Likud leader, who also served a term as prime minister, spoke at a Likud Party conference marking the first anniversary of the Second Lebanon War, saying Barak was "amateur, rash and adventurous." Barak won the Labor Party primary on June 12, and polls show the he poses the biggest threat to Netanyahu`s likely bid for the position of prime minister in the next elections.
"Barak is a dilettante and reckless politician who has a tendency to pursue political adventures," Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu called the 12 months that have passed since the Second Lebanon War broke out "a year of failure and treading in place. We believe we can pull this country out of the quagmire; we can walk down a different path."
The conference was attended by other senior Likud figures, who also chose to sling barbs at Barak. MK Gideon Sa`ar said that by not retaliating for Hizbullah`s capture of three "Israeli" occupation soldiers near in October 2000, Barak, who was then prime minister, "had created an infrastructure for abductions."
Earlier Tuesday, the Likud Central Committee decided the party`s leadership primary would be held on August 14. The committee`s decision comes in the wake of sharp exchanges Monday between Netanyahu and his associate and MK Silvan Shalom, who said he was quitting the race.