On Thursday, Nov. 14, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman sat down to review the headlines in Israel’s media that awarded him the title “the responsible adult,” “the new Evet” or the “conciliatory and placating Liberman.” Two days earlier, the newly-appointed foreign minister jabbed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he called for an “all-clear siren” and urged a stop to washing dirty linen with the United States in public. “We cannot negotiate today’s world without American assistance,” Liberman stated at the ceremony for his reinstatement as foreign minister.

Asked on Thursday whether from now on he would be the new, conciliatory, moderate Liberman, he replied with roaring laughter to his interlocutor: Baloney, these are journalistic delusions. So, what will you be? Liberman was hard-pressed by his interlocutor. Evet replied: “Let’s all wait and see.”

Liberman is by far the most unpredictable politician in Israel. Following his acquittal, everyone opined that he would veer to the right, torpedo the negotiations with the Palestinians and try to take over the Likud Party. A few days later it became apparent that Liberman had swerved to the left. What direction will he take next week? There is no way of telling. In my opinion, Liberman himself doesn’t know. On one hand, he is a calculated politician who can predict and foresee a few moves ahead, allowing him to carefully plan his political maneuvers. On the other hand, he is unpredictable. Having a short fuse, he fires on the go, changing plans on the move. He takes advantage of political opportunities when they present themselves, even if it means that he has to come to an abrupt halt and turn — tires screeching — in the exact opposite direction. 

For 17 years Liberman was questioned by Israel’s law-enforcement agencies. This is unheard of in Israel’s modern history. He was under a cloud well before becoming a politician himself while serving as the director-general of the prime minister's office during Netanyahu’s first term back in 1996.