It seems to me that the main reason for Netanyahu and Ehud Barak cooperating at the moment is their mutual understanding that dealing with the Iranian nuclear threat is urgent and the utmost priority of Israel. Since Barak currently has the best capacities of dealing with that threat (as his excellent military record proves) and to potentially confidently lead the Israeli security forces in whatever the aftermath of dealling with the Iranian threat will be - he has received the appointment, and I think that rightfully so. Barak's politics may be rightfully disputed, but it is difficult to argue about the fact that he is a military genius.

My guess is that once (hopefully soon) the Iranian nuclear threat is removed then Barak and Labour party will quit or be pushed out of the government.

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Daniel Pipes replies:

Yours is the generous reading. The more crabbed version would have Barak desperate for the office of Defense Minister. I don't know enough about him to judge.