In August 2008, Defense Minister Ehud Barak prepared himself for the possibility of early elections. As the Labor Party's candidate for prime minister, his campaign focused on his proven experience in statesmanship and security matters as a former chief of staff, minister and prime minister. It was designed to impede the rising popularity of Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who was running a campaign to head the Kadima Party and ultimately run for prime minister herself.

One of the most memorable slogans of that campaign was, "Who is apt to pick up the [emergency] phone at 3 a.m.?" Barak used rallies, parlor meetings and interviews to explain that a country faced with the complex problems of Israel does not have the privilege of letting someone lacking basic experience to stand at its helm. "This is not some episode of the ‘X Factor,’ ‘Dancing with the Stars’ or ‘Survivor.’ We are a ship cast about on a stormy sea, and we need someone to guide us to safe shores. … In situations such as these, a thoughtful people does not start to experiment. … If there really is a tempest at sea, you choose an experienced captain."

Almost a decade has passed since then. Peace is yet to come, and the threats to Israel's security are as viable and real as ever. But it seems that Barak no longer believes that experience is as critical, as he spent the past few weeks beside former Minister Avi Gabbay as Gabbay ran for leader of the Labor Party. Then, on July 10, when Barak's gamble paid off with Gabbay winning the runoff, Barak took to the social networks to celebrate. What about Gabbay's having no experience whatsoever in dealing with the very issues Barak described as critical? As a member of the Knesset, Gabbay never served on the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. He never sat in a room where life and death decisions were being made, quite literally, with all that that entails.

Then what does Barak see in Gabbay? You can rely on Barak to see in the new leader a chance for Barak himself to lead the country again. Since Gabbay's inexperience will only highlight Barak's own strengths, Barak will work behind the scenes to weaken the fresh new Labor chairman in a way that makes Barak stand out as the right person to lead the center-left camp in this difficult time.