After three controversial years in office, his sudden departure was almost shocking. On Wednesday, Benny Begin, son of another former prime minister, Menachem Begin, announced that he would not be taking up his seat in the Knesset as head of the far right National Union party. Mr Barak has yet to spell out what concessions he is prepared to make to the Palestinians, but he is known to favour retaining most Jewish settlements. In a 1996 interview, he also said he did not think there was room for a second properly sovereign state west of the Jordan River. The Palestinians welcomed his victory - glad, like many Israelis, to see the back of Mr Netanyahu.
Palestinian officials say they look forward to a dialogue based, once more, on a measure of trust.
But they know future negotiations will be long and difficult, and fear that likely improvements in US-Israeli relations could weaken their own much improved standing in Washington. Resuming relations Mr Barak has spoken of his desire to resume negotiations with Syria and withdraw Israeli troops from southern Lebanon within a year of taking office. On election night, katyusha rockets fired by Hezbollah guerillas landed across northern Israel. The timing had less to do with Israel's elections than an earlier Israeli attack which killed two Lebanese civilians, but Mr Barak reminded the Tel Aviv crowd of his commitment. When he is not dealing with his Arab neighbours, Mr Barak will have to try and heal deep divisions among his own people.