In a surprise announcement on Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said he's quitting politics and won't run in the January 22 national election.<br/> <br />A main architect of Israel's policy towards Iran's nuclear programme, Barak said he wants to dedicate more time to his family and says he's had enough of political life.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI DEFENCE MINISTER EHUD BARAK SAYING:<br/> <br />"Today I stand before you to share my decision to resign from political life and not to run in the coming election for Knesset. It was a decision taken not without difficulties but eventually whole-heartedly."<br/> <br />Opinion polls had predicted a poor showing for the small Independence Party that Barak currently leads, but recently indicated voter support had strengthened as a result of Israel's eight-day offensive in Gaza that ended in a ceasefire last Wednesday.<br/> <br />The 70-year-old has been a key player in Israel's tough policy towards Iran's nuclear ambitions and a point man in the Jewish State's strategic relations with the United States.<br/> <br />He has been defence minister since 2007 and served as prime minister from 1999 to 2001.
