“Bibi [Benjamin Netanyahu] is a master politician. He doesn’t make mistakes.” This evaluation of the prime minister’s conduct was provided by a member of the mythical “farm forum” made up of confidants of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

The man had for years observed Netanyahu through the scope of a rifle. Netanyahu was the enemy, Ariel Sharon’s difficult rival for leadership of the Likud Party. Luckily for Sharon, Netanyahu never failed to fall into every trap on the political scene in those days.

“Panicker” was just one of the names the forum called him, a sobriquet meant to portray him as a hysterical and irresponsible man who tended to cave under pressure, unlike Sharon, who was blessed with nerves of steel. “Don’t touch Bibi, he’ll wreck things himself,” the boss’ close associates used to quote him as saying when describing the extent of the contempt in which Sharon held his rival. Indeed, Sharon was contemptuous of Netanyahu — but also fearful of him.

And now, the very man who was among the gang that branded Netanyahu “Mr. Hysteria” and made him a ridiculed persona with similar skill has generously paid him the ultimate compliment of his own accord.