Olmert's new buddy

Yet the possibility of another option shouldn't be overlooked. Namely, Lieberman is a childish politician, nice on a personal level and infantile on the public level. At 48, after some 20 years in politics and sky-rocketing pretensions, we could have expected a little more earnestness from him.

Lieberman is convinced that Israel is on the verge of collapse. This is what he told Sima Kadmon in a weekend interview granted to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, and he has repeated this on several other occasions as well. If Israel is not destroyed by the Iranian bomb, it will collapse under the weight of internal pressure. There's only a dash of hope: Me, Avigdor Lieberman.

Now take these bombastic words and try to apply them to reality. The cabinet convened Sunday and voted for Lieberman's proposal to introduce presidential rule. The draft bill was passed by a single vote, despite the fact that all the cabinet ministers opposed it; each had their own reasons.

The majority of Knesset members also appose the bill, and if the draft isn't completely mutilated along the way, it will be dropped during the voting process. Nonetheless, Lieberman turned the vote for the bill into an imperative condition; if the cabinet doesn't approve it, he will not save the homeland.

Give him a joystick and he'll be happy

Olmert joined this game willingly: He's addicted to games whether it's soccer, basketball or Lieberman. The popular argument is that a grand conspiracy is taking place, a spin, a device aimed at diverting public opinion.

Often it appears that the truth is a lot less favorable: Olmert enters these games as a tactic to divert his own thinking. He's comfortable in the virtual world, far from Iran's centrifuges and the tunnels in the Philadelphi Route. Give him a joystick and he'll be happy.

Lieberman knows that even if he joins the government, his chances of saving the homeland are slim. He has already served two stints as a minister in the cabinet and his influence over its policies was negligent.

He knows that the post Olmert offered him, to coordinate the handling of strategic threats facing the country, is downright mockery. Olmert already erred once when he appointed Amir Peretz to the post of defense minister; such a mistake is not made twice.

Vitality and charm of an immigrant

Lieberman is a veteran Israeli: He has resided in Israel for the past 28 years; he breaths its air and experiences its experiences. In addition, he has the vitality and charm of an immigrant.

He packs his bags easily: He doesn't become transfixed on an idea, a person or a seat. It's no wonder, therefore, that another talented immigrant, Arieh Deri, regards him as a friend. These two reflect all the weaknesses of veteran Israel.

Yet he is also the product of the USSR's imperialist ideas. He is a homo sovieticus (one who is totally oppressed by and totally depends on the State). He has no patience for the surgical, partial solutions that enabled Israel to survive, develop and thrive for 58 years in a hostile region. Much of his criticism of Arabs is justified, yet his conclusions are hallucinatory.

By mere words he bombs the Aswan Dam; expands residential neighborhoods in Gaza and destroys a peace process with Syria. Only a few months ago he suggested an exchange of territories with a Palestinian State. Now he is proclaiming that he will not surrender any land. Is he an extremist? Absolutely. But, most importantly, he can't be taken seriously.

Upon entering Olmert's cabinet, he'll sit close to the exit. His inclusion in the government would in the first phase contribute to its stabilization and in the second phase to its collapse. Cabinet meetings will turn into a political circus between the quasi Left and quasi Right wings.

Based on past experience, the moment Olmert makes a move unpopular with the Right, Lieberman would burn the house down.

It may be said in his favor that he will do so with finesse.