By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu | INN

Defense Minister Ehud Barak is quitting politics.

In a dramatic announcement Monday, he said he decided to end his career and claimed successes as Defense Minister.

Barak scotched rumors swirling in Israeli media that he was going to join former Kadima party leader Tzipi Livni to join a new center-left party.

His absence from politics will be applauded by nationalists, whom he has thwarted repeatedly by ordering middle-of-the-night expulsions of Jewish families, including women and babies, from their homes in outposts.

He also has continuously blocked plans for building new homes for Jews in Judea and Samaria. Barak previously quit politics “forever” after his dismal loss to Ariel Sharon in the 2001 elections. He later returned to politics as head of the Labor party.

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