Opinions in this part of the world can swing from one end of the political spectrum to the other in days, and sometimes, in hours and even minutes. Then Mr. Barak's spin-doctors went to work and won him a landslide victory. As inconceivable as this may sound, the same thing could still happen this time around. President-elect Bush, Mr. Clinton, Prime Minister Putin, President Mubarak and King Hassan converge in Jerusalem and attend the historic peace ceremony held in the U.S. Embassy fairgrounds. The U.S. government vows to move its embassy to whatever is left of Jerusalem.
Children line the streets and wave flags.
Youths throw flowers at the motorcade. Israeli voters would have forgotten all about him. In fact, right now Ariel Sharon is ahead of Mr. Barak in the polls by the same margin as Mr. Netanyahu was three weeks ago. The most important lesson of this topsy-turvy game called Israeli politics is something that even affirmed agnostics are coming to realize. No single individual will determine the fate of the Middle East, not Messrs. Clinton, Arafat, Barak, Sharon or Netanyahu.