Barak is not the only one who has drawn red lines. It is important to remember that many red lines have changed over time and what seems to be a frightening threat today could become acceptable in the future. For years, many Israelis were willing to mount the barricades to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. The question facing us today is no longer whether there will be a Palestinian state, but what will the nature of that state be, what will its borders be and whether it will pose a threat to Israel. Some security measures are justifiably viewed today as clear red lines, but it may be that in several years, if true peace becomes the order of the day, these will also change.
Red lines do no only refer to enemies without.
Leaders often have internal red lines. The red line of a leader such as the late Hafez Assad vis a vis his nation was blurred compared to Barak, who will have to go to a national referendum on any deal he achieves. Red lines must be limited, as much as possible, even in a conflict as complex as the one with the Palestinians. For Israel, the first red line is an end to the conflict. Nonetheless, it should be emphasized that the price of reaching this goal will be very heavy when it comes to sensitive issues such as Jerusalem and the refugees.