Yisrael Beytenu party chief Avigdor Lieberman's cynical use of the draft law is a reflection of a politician with no real ideology, no record to speak of, and an intense desire for revenge who understands that his path to Israel's highest office is blocked.
I met Lieberman in 1997, upon ending my role as Israel's ambassador to the U.N. At the time, Lieberman was serving as the director general of the Prime Minister's Office under Benjamin Netanyahu.
Later, in 2008, then-opposition leader Netanyahu offered me to join the Likud Party.
I consulted with Lieberman on the matter in his Knesset office and was surprised by his unequivocal response: Lieberman described Netanyahu in unflattering terms, to say the least. At the same time, he took the opportunity to suggest that I join Yisrael Beytenu. With some impressive sweet talk, something he excels at in one-on-one conversations, he presented an organized ideological platform. In time, I came to understand this was a pattern: Lieberman simply enjoys torpedoing Netanyahu's moves.
A decisive point in their relationship was the scandal involving the alleged appointment of Roni Aryeh Deri to attorney general, in an alleged attempt to avoid a trial on corruption charges. Netanyahu fired Lieberman in the wake of that scandal in what was to be a formative point in Lieberman's life, one he has yet to forgive or forget. Lieberman has a strong desire for revenge, one that continues to bubble up inside him to this day.
At a broader glance, this desire for revenge can be seen in all of Lieberman's contacts with Netanyahu, including his attempts to squeeze the prime minister and humiliate him in every round of coalition talks since the 2009 election. In adopting this tactic, he is able to portray Netanyahu as a man who can be pressured and prone to panic.
It is interesting to note that despite his years of zigzagging, Lieberman has worked over the years to foster an image of himself as a "bulldozer," although, in practice, he has no real record to speak of. To his credit, though, it must be noted that Lieberman is an excellent campaigner, who each election, decides on a catchy new gimmick, whether that be "Only Lieberman understands Arabic"; "No loyalty, no citizenship"; and now "Right-wing and secular."
In conclusion, Lieberman's obstinacy is not rooted in ideology, nor is it due to the desire for a particular government role. According to my assessment, Lieberman has reached the understanding that, as a member of Yisrael Beytenu, he has no chance of making it to a position from where he can replace Netanyahu as prime minister. It is from this starting point that we should analyze the motives behind his moves. The sad thing is that these caprices could thwart the establishment of a government that reflects the will of the people as expressed in the results of the election.
