Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman’s peace plan, revealed Nov. 28 by the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, is important for more than just its content, which is not really new and simply adapts previous ideas to recent regional developments. It shows that the Yisrael Beitenu chairman has found a one-time opportunity to replace Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister.

Over the last few weeks, Liberman realized that the polls indicate he can no longer compete with the popularity of HaBayit HaYehudi's chairman, Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett, within the right-wing electorate. He could clearly sense this trend during the days of the Protective Edge operation. He and Bennett each separately occupied the Netanyahu-opposition role within the Cabinet, portraying him as an irresolute and weak leader and challenging his position as leader of the right. But while Bennett benefited from this militant approach, calling for the occupation of the Gaza Strip, Liberman actually suffered. This outcome became evident in polls taken during the operation that showed HaBayit HaYehudi headed by Bennett receiving as many as 20 seats, while Yisrael Beitenu dropped to just 10 seats or even fewer.

Liberman, one of the most pragmatic and realistic politicians in Israel, recalculated his approach accordingly. He realized that he would have to wage a Sisyphean battle against Bennett on one side and Netanyahu and the Likud on the other over right-wing support in the next elections, and that this would be one sure way to lose relevancy and fail. On the other hand, the political center could restore him to the position that he loves most. It could make him the one person to decide who will be the next prime minister, and in one possible scenario, it could even make him the man to succeed Netanyahu as resident of the house on Balfour Street.

Toward the end of last week, as the coalition continued to crumble, Liberman pulled out Yisrael Beitenu’s peace plan, which had undergone a facelift over the past few weeks in preparation for the upcoming elections. As expected, the well-publicized release of this plan provided a pragmatic dimension to Liberman’s image, one that appeals to the political center of the Israeli electorate. According to the information released, Liberman’s diplomatic vision actually encompasses a regional peace plan with a willingness to compromise over territories. In the document, he explains that there is no choice but to abandon the idea of the Greater Land of Israel in favor of a comprehensive solution to the conflict, which encompasses the Arab world.