Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, a main architect of Israel's policy toward Iran's nuclear program, said in a surprise announcement on Monday, Nov 26, that he was quitting politics and would not run in the January 22 national election, Reuters reported.

"I have decided to retire from political life and not to run for the next Knesset ... I will end my term as Defense Minister once the next government is established, in about three months," he told a news conference.

Opinion polls had predicted a poor showing for the small party that Barak currently leads, Atzmaut.