Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has announced he is quitting politics and will not stand in January’s elections.
The former prime minister said he was “exhausted” after decades as a senior official and wanted to spend more time with his family.
The 70-year-old will stay in his post at the defence ministry until the new government is formed after the election.
In a press conference on Monday morning Mr Barak said: "I want to dedicate more time to my family. I feel I have exhausted dealing with political life, which has never been a passion of mine, and I feel there is room to allow other people to serve in senior roles in Israel."
