Minister of Defense Ehud Barak announces post-election retirement .Good morning everyone The State of Israel has experienced some tough times during the past two weeks, and I am proud to be part of the team that directed Operation Pillar of Defense, both militarily and diplomatically, to its Fifty three years ago, in November 1959, I .successful conclusion enlisted to the IDF and for forty seven years, I have served the people Today I stand before you to tell you .of Israel to the best of my ability about my decision to retire from political life, instead of running in the I took this decision not without doubts, .upcoming Knesset election .but ultimately with a whole heart I would be lying if I said that the warmth that I felt from the public, and of you some even the positive coverage that I received from For .[journalists] — not of course from all of you — did not please me someone who has not always been spoiled with this [positive media coverage], I know how to appreciate support and was glad to receive .it Practically, I will finish in my role as defense minister with the .formation of the new government in approximately three months This is the culmination of seven and a half years in this office, two .terms under three governments, one of which I was at the head Years in which, along with others, I led the defense establishment and the IDF, through the rehabilitation after the Second Lebanon War, strengthening our 'long arm' and building our operational capabilities to cope with the Iranian threat for if and when a decision should be EFTA00659312