Ehud Barak says he's quitting Israeli politics Associated Press Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 11:29 a.m., Monday, November 26, 2012 JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak abruptly quit politics Monday, potentially robbing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of a key ally who enabled his hardline government to present a moderate face to the world. The Obama administration embraced him as a moderating influence on Netanyahu's hardline policies toward the Arab world and Iran's nuclear program. The Netanyahu-Barak alliance had its strains over this issue — with the prime minister reportedly objecting to Barak's newly moderate position that Israel should defer to the U.S.