Defense Minister of Israel Ehud Barak declared that Israel was in an "all-out war against Hamas." Speaking in Monday morning's special Knesset session on the war, Barak said, "We have nothing against Gaza residents but we are engaged in an all-out war against Hamas and its proxies."

Defense Minister and Labor Party leader of Israel Ehud Barak said Wednesday that it is possible that several large neighborhoods in east Jerusalem will become, in the context of a peace agreement, part of the capital of a future Palestinian state.

In a major setback to beleaguered Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defence Minister Ehud Barak threatened to topple the coalition government if the Israeli leader does not step down to face corruption charges based on Morris Talansky's reports.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, recently elected to head the Labour Party, has been named as the new defense minister in the coalition government.