(Ben Caspit in Ma'ariv)....It was one small step for the peace process, on giant leap for Binyamin Netanyahu. Even the most difficult of treks has to start somewhere. Yesterday, at Bar Ilan University, Netanyahu took his first small and hesitant step.... If Netanyahu had the slightest belief that there was some chance that the Palestinians would be capable of acquiescing to any of the conditions he had set, he would have refrained from saying what he did. The right wing will say today that now the slippery slope has begun, the left wing will say that this was too little too late, but what is really important is what the Americans will say. They are saying that this is an important first step. Now they are waiting for additional ones.
Netanyahu spoke for half an hour yesterday. Thirty minutes of sheer right wing rhetoric aimed at concealing one small leftist statement.
One, single, isolated but significant statement. In the end he uttered those horrible words, what he had only alluded to until today. He said "Palestinian state" and was able to remain alive. Looked to his right, looked to his left, felt for his vital organs and realized much to his amazement: everything is still where it should be, in peace (and security).
Netanyahu wrapped up his painful concession yesterday with almost impenetrable defensive layers. This was not a political initiative, this was an Independence Day speech, or perhaps an address for the eve of Memorial Day. Netanyahu was visibly excited, he erred here and there, which actually goes to show that he is human after all and thus provided some validation to his words. An Obama he is not, but his words yesterday worked for something like three quarters of the people residing in Zion. From this aspect, he did a pretty good job. If he had delivered this speech before the UN, maybe someone might have been convinced. The "courage and integrity" which he promised were equally divided between the two sides: for almost half an hour Netanyahu displayed honesty and integrity in our favor, and for about half a minute in their favor. However - and one must not forget this - Netanyahu did his best to return home in one piece. To leave Bar Ilan University standing on two feet. In this sense, he was successful. He said the frightening words and ran. Whoever says that only the right wing can make concessions of this kind is correct. Ariel Sharon proved this. Netanyahu has to prove this now.
