All it takes is the publication of an ad with a single word -- "Liar" -- and everyone knows to whom it refers. The public, the ministers within his government, the leaders of neighboring countries and world leaders in general -- all know that one cannot trust a single word out of his mouth, that his political behavior is nothing but a chain of tricks, lies, and deceit.

What is the source of this phenomenon? I posed this question to Zivit Abramson, a highly respected sociopsychologist. In her opinion, chronic lying is not a trait. It is a symptomatic behavior, pointing to the existence of profound underlying psychological problems.

In the case of the Prime Minister, the lies constitute a compulsive and inseparable expression of a familiar syndrome. In a healthy individual's behavior there is a certain balance between personal concerns and strivings, and consideration for the needs of others. Among those individuals with the syndrome manifested by Netanyahu, the very quality that makes a person into a socialized individual -- empathy for the other person -- has not developed. The needs of others and the needs of the community do not play a role in considerations which determine such an individual's behavior. This is the source of all the ambivalence felt by the public since Netanyahu has taken over governing.

In connection with the question regarding his true political intentions, the answer is that he wants to be Prime Minister. Presently, the public is wondering whether he is for or against a withdrawal, whether he wants or does not want to carry it out. The simple answer is that it absolutely does not matter to him. Such questions have no interest for him at all. All that he is interested in is to remain Prime Minister, maintain power and prestige and enjoy the good life.

Individuals such as Netanyahu manifest their syndrome as follows:

• The perception of laws and rules: A normal individual knows the laws and

understands that they apply to him, personally. A mentally ill individual does not know nor does he understand the law, and consequently cannot know that it applies to him. Whereas those individuals with the disorder in question here do know and understand the laws, but they feel that the laws concern only others, not themselves.

• These individuals ascribe tremendous importance to external status

symbols and demonstrations of respect. They have a childish concept of what constitutes an "important person." What such individuals really crave is not being Prime Minister but King. They want to be treated with extreme respect along with their family, without having to earn this respect with any particular actions. Hence the particular fondness of the Prime Minister for travelling with his wife and children and a large entourage of retainers and servants.

• Their concept of reality is flawed in the sense that they lack the

ability to make a connection between words and actions. This lack is not an intellectual deficiency but rather an emotional one. In fact, those afflicted with this syndrome tend to demonstrate a particularly high level of intellectual intelligence, accompanied by a particularly low level of emotional intelligence. As children, they learned that it is important what you say ("Say that you are sorry and that you will never do this again!") and not what you do.

• Their concept of time is flawed. Their concern is strictly with the

present. Their battle is always with a current problem, with the goal being to immediately remove any pressure and threats to their personal objectives. Their means of dealing with a challenge is to say anything that the other party wants to hear (to say, not to do!). In this respect they demonstrate brilliant creativity. An interesting characteristic of these individuals (which points to a flawed perception of reality) is that, contrary to the garden-variety liar, they are not troubled by the revelation of a discrepancy between their words and reality, or between their own words in the morning and their words in the evening. When such a contradiction is revealed, they once again react with a sound bite which seemingly resolves the discrepancy instantly. What they lack entirely is a general overview, with a long-range sense of the future.

• A person afflicted with this syndrome is incapable of forming deep,

genuine and lasting emotional bonds -- the kind that make the interests of the other no less important than those of his own. And therein lies the source of an absolute absence of loyalty, even to those closest to him. He perceives himself as a loner and all the others as enemies or potential enemies (a mechanism of inference convinces him that others, like him, are also preoccupied solely with their own personal objectives).

The tragedy is that individuals in this group are by are large persons of great charisma, with great persuasive skills, with tremendous influence and with a brilliant ability to impress and to maneuver -- the maintenance of which absorbs all of their mental energy. A person with common sense may recognize that something is wrong with this successful and impressive individual -- but not right away. It takes time. Through a slow process, there accumulates a general and growing sense of unease and anger among those around this individual, which culminate with the sudden public revelation that the emperor is not only naked but crazy as well. He is not responsible for it, and he should not be punished. It's just that he does not belong in this office.

The question is this: Just how much harm does such an individual have the opportunity to cause to his family (a profound personal disappointment to those closest to him), to his partners (financial losses caused by cheating), or to his countrymen and state and, perhaps, to the entire world (it has already happened in the twentieth century) -- before those involved comprehend that they are dealing with an individual suffering from a deep personality disorder, and that one must fear him like a fire?