A warning of war for political survival

Speaking from Tel Aviv in an interview with FRANCE 24, Barak said Netanyahu was ready to strike Iran, potentially once Americans have voted in the US midterm elections, so that he can remain in office until the next Israeli election.

Barak also dismissed Netanyahu's claims that Iran was planning something as 'fake news'. "It has nothing to do with the national interest of Israel", he said.

'He lost dramatically'

The same interview carried Barak's verdict on the Israeli election. "Netanyahu did not win. He lost dramatically", the former prime minister said.

On his arithmetic, counting the Arab parties, Netanyahu's opponents won 67 seats, against 53 for the prime minister's right-wing and far-right coalition.

The path Barak sees for Eisenkot

Barak noted that opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot and his allies had ruled out a coalition with the Arab parties - but argued they can change their mind, just as Netanyahu would do in their place.

He pointed to what he said Netanyahu himself would do if faced with a similar arithmetic:

• •immediately invite Raam leader Mansour Abbas into government
• •make Abbas minister of interior

Rigging claims and Qatargate

Netanyahu's camp says the election was rigged, citing alleged Qatari funding of an Arab party - a claim Doha denies.

Barak suggested the Qatari funding claim was designed to divert attention from 'Qatargate', the investigation into alleged ties between two of Netanyahu's close aides and Qatar.

In his view, "The real suspect should be Netanyahu's own closest aides and government".