Avigdor Lieberman had no hand in Israel’s recent attacks in the Gaza Strip, but he has emerged as one of the top political winners from the onslaught.

Polls published since the 22-day Gaza campaign ended on January 18 show that the ultra-nationalist politician’s opposition Yisrael Beiteinu party may gain as many as 16 seats in Israel’s 120-member parliament in the February 10 elections, up from the some 10 seats projected before the assault started. That may catapult the party founded by Mr Lieberman 10 years ago to become the third-biggest in parliament – possibly surpassing Defence Minister Ehud Barak’s once-mighty centre-left Labour party.