Several prominent associates of former Prime Minister Ehud Barak are preparing for his political comeback and have set up a company that could serve as an organizational platform for his future political activity, according to a report in Haaretz newspaper on Sunday. The report said a public-benefit company called "Ahrayut Leumit ["National Responsibility"] -- Israel is My Home" was formed in December. Under Israeli law, public-benefit companies are mostly nonprofit organizations. Ahrayut Leumit's mission statement claims its purpose is "to promote the principles of Israel's Declaration of Independence among Israelis, including Israel's character as a Jewish and democratic state based on freedom, justice, peace and equal rights." According to the report, the company was registered by attorney Oshi Elmaliah, Barak's former political adviser and the director of Barak's Atzmaut ("Independence") party. The company has seven shareholders on its board of directors, including Barak's niece, Tal Brog, and former longtime Barak advisers Dana Zeidman and Itai Winterstein. Barak announced his retirement from political life in 2012. Since the 2015 elections, he has become an increasingly vocal critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, using social media, local and international symposiums and media interviews to attack Netanyahu's policies. Barak has repeatedly denied rumors of a political comeback. "Ehud Barak has and continues to assist many political entities and organizations that are not affiliated with any particular party, but seek to promote the values of democracy, rule of law, freedom of expression and the defense of IDF values," a statement by Barak's office said. "He has not changed his position that at this time he has no intention of returning to politics as part of any of the parties in the Knesset."
