Until recently, Amir Peretz, now at the centre of decision-making in Israel's war with Hezbollah, was best known as a trade union leader issuing strike threats.
Unless finance ministers agreed to wage rises or slowed down privatisation of state industries, the country would be brought to a halt with strikes, Mr Peretz, former chairman of Israel's national trade federation, the Histadrut, would warn during flamboyant press appearances.
Now, as Israeli defence minister, Mr Peretz threatens Lebanon with further devastation.
In a visit on Thursday to the north of Israel, an area hit by Hezbollah rockets during eight days of fighting, he warned Beirut it would have to agree to prevent Hezbollah attacks if it wanted an end to Israeli air strikes, which have taken the lives of at least 319 people in Lebanon.
'We are responsible for all the citizens of Israel and we will defend all the citizens but we demand from Beirut that if it wants its sovereignty it has to take responsibility,' he said. 'If it doesn't take control of its own territory and remove the terrorist organisations, it cannot complain that its sovereignty is being harmed.'
If there have been any winners in the conflict thus far, it is Labour Party leader Mr Peretz and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The popularity of each has surged as they preside over a conflict that the overwhelming majority of Israelis, including those on the left wing, see as justified. Relentless daily rocket strikes across the north have sparked a feeling that this is a time to rally around the government.