Netanyahu faces toughest fight after best ally quits

The surprise resignation of Avigdor Lieberman, the hitherto all- powerful chief of staff of the Israeli prime minister, is sending shock- waves through the political establishment. Patrick Cockburn in Jerusalem asks if his departure means Mr Netanyahu's days are numbered.

He looks evil or, at best, menacing. A heavy-set Russian immigrant with a black beard, full lips and dark, suspicious eyes, he became a symbol of what many Israelis dislike about their government. "A dangerous and detestable man," said one Israeli politician who did not want his name mentioned.

Now Avigdor Lieberman, 38, the man who made Mr Netanyahu leader of the Likud party and then, against the odds, prime minister of Israel, is gone. On Sunday he surprised the Israeli political world by announcing his resignation as director- general of the prime minister's office.

His departure comes in the wake of the most damaging crisis to hit Mr Netanyahu since he took power and one for which Mr Lieberman was blamed. Last week the Prime Minister, apparently breaking a promise to his ministers, moved to gain control of the nomination of Likud party candidates. This threatened the careers of all the party leaders, including cabinet ministers, who had ever opposed Mr Netanyahu.

Mr Lieberman took the blame, as he has so often done in the past. So tightly have he and Mr Netanyahu bonded since they met in 1987 that nobody quite knows where Mr Lieberman ends and Mr Netanyahu begins. Israeli politicians agree Mr Netanyahu will be briefly strengthened by getting rid of his chief henchman, but they wonder if, as in the US when President Nixon fired Bob Haldeman, his chief of staff, Israel's political leadership is not beginning to disintegrate.

Nobody doubts Mr Lieberman was key to the rise of Mr Netanyahu. Born in Kishinev, in Moldova, he emigrated to Israel in 1978 and swiftly gravitated to the far right, belonging to a political club called Castel at Hebrew University. Along with Tzachi Hanegbi, the present Justice Minister, he was accused of organising attacks on Palestinian students.

Working as a security guard and, at one point, as the bouncer at the university disco, Mr Lieberman became a minor force within the Russian immigrant community. In 1987, when he first met Mr Netanyahu, then Israel's ambassador at the UN, his career began to flourish. He was the campaign manager who got Mr Netanyahu into the Knesset in 1988 and organised his bid for the leadership of Likud in 1993.

Mr Netanyahu had all the skills with the media but Mr Lieberman was the organiser of victory. He became director-general of Likud, reducing its debts by summary firings. He kept his nerve after the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, the prime minister, in 1995 and saw Mr Netanyahu just squeak home in the general election. As director-general of the prime minister's office Mr Lieberman was held responsible for encouraging an atmosphere of paranoia and playing on Mr Netanyahu's deeply suspicious nature.

He leaves office swearing loyalty to his boss. But Mr Netanyahu has shown in the past that he has limited time for old supporters. But the Prime Minister, some of whose ministers now believe they must get rid of him before he gets rid of them, is now facing his toughest fight since he took office. He soon may wish that he had Mr Lieberman by his side.