IsraelDefense’s Best of the Year: Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman

Without a doubt, this past year Avigdor Lieberman shattered the public image that had clung to him and emerged as a realistic statesman and a talented administrator. Although he had not risen through the ranks of the Israeli defense establishment, he has evidently read the regional map accurately. Ami Rojkes Dombe chose Lieberman as his Man of the Year

IsraelDefense’s Best of the Year: Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman

Defense Minister Lieberman in a visit to the northern border (Photo: Ariel Hermoni / IMOD)

My Man of the Year is Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman. My reason for selecting him is the way he handled the recent crisis vis-à-vis the Gaza Strip. Lieberman, whose public image was one of an aggressive, vocal politician who presents an ultimatum to terrorist leaders wherever they may be, has emerged over the last few months as a levelheaded, responsible political leader. Although the public expected him to commit the IDF to yet another major operation in the Gaza Strip in response to the first arson balloon that crossed the border fence in the direction of the wheat fields of the Gaza Envelope area, Lieberman acted differently.

"I say that anyone occupying the Defense Minister's chair must understand the enormity of the responsibility involved. I say once again, from this chair, the Defense Minister's chair, all of those 'life and death' clichés we use are not clichés anymore, but the day-to-day reality in the State of Israel and the Middle East. For this reason, one must manage these things judiciously and responsibly, with a state approach," Lieberman stated recently at the "Most Influential" Conference produced by the Israeli Television News Company.

Lieberman's statements reflect the prevailing mood regarding the issue of the Gaza Strip. Showing restraint, exerting international political pressures and using force sparingly to support diplomatic moves. In the last few months, Lieberman proved to everyone that when you reach the tip of the pyramid and occupy the Defense Minister's chair, you must adapt to reality, despite old conventions. This adaptation, at the expense of populistic decisions, might cost Lieberman dearly in the coming elections next year. It is by no means certain that anyone else in his position would have made the same choices.

"The only truly relevant thing, as far as I am concerned, is the reality on the ground. I look at how the USA fights terrorism, and what it does in the context of Iran, North Korea, Hezbollah, and Hamas. First, the Americans impose economic sanctions – the economic leverage – and only then do they exert the military leverage. All I want to lay down right now, with regard to the Gaza Strip, is to have the economic leverage employed in a methodical and focused manner (…) We must say it. Economic leverage without the backing of military leverage will not be enough. Even military leverage alone is not enough, so both leverages, the military as well as the economic one, must be combined," added Lieberman at the "Most Influential" Conference.

In addition to managing the security crisis in the Gaza Strip, Lieberman has also used economic warfare against the terrorist organizations, more than any other Minister of Defense in recent years. He established the Counterterrorism Administration within the Ministry of Defense to monitor payments to terrorists by the Palestinian Authority and to coordinate the economic countermeasures of all security agencies and organs. He also promoted legislation in this particular field.

More with regard to the economic aspect – but from a different angle: during Lieberman's term in office, the government decided to sell IMI Systems. In addition to privatizing defense industries, Lieberman ensures that IMOD remains within the budget framework for this year – and he does it rather successfully. This is by no means an easy task in the ministry in charge of national security for the State of Israel. It would be easier to sell the existential concerns to the public and squeeze more money out of the taxpayers. Lieberman also assigns a great deal of importance to efficient acquisition management. Under Lieberman and IMOD Director-General Udi Adam, savings form a chief criterion for measuring the Acquisition Administration.

Without a doubt, this past year Avigdor Lieberman shattered the public image that had clung to him and emerged as a realistic statesman and a talented administrator. Although he had not risen through the ranks of the Israeli defense establishment, it is evident that in the cases of the Gaza Strip, Syria and Iran he has read the map accurately in the context of an international environment that includes Russia, the USA, and Europe. So far, Israel has not engaged in an unnecessary war, and its strategic and economic situation is better than it was in previous years. Admittedly, Lieberman does not deserve credit for everything, but he does for a substantial part of this situation – and that is why I selected him as my Man of the Year.