In a video he posted on his Facebook page on Saturday, Barak blasted Netanyahu for his handling of the situation at the highly-sensitive site and the West Bank.
Netanyahu “is ready to set … the region on fire in order to save himself from his fear of criminal investigations,” Barak said.
“Over the last two weeks, we received a glimpse of the depths to which Netanyahu’s behavior can fall. He is a man who panics, acts weak and gets dragged down due to his poor judgment; easily loses his cool-headedness; and surrenders time and time again,” he added.
The former Israeli prime minister further reminded that the former Supreme Court president had asked Netanyahu to quit because of the “expensive gifts scandal.”
In Case 1000, Netanyahu is suspected of having received gifts from businessmen overseas.
He is also being investigated in Case 2000 for an alleged media bribery scheme to help Yediot Aharonot newspaper against its competitor Yisrael Hayom in return for favorable coverage of the prime minister.
Tensions erupted in East Jerusalem al-Quds after a deadly shootout on July 14 outside the Haram al-Sharif, which Jews call Temple Mount.