What is Israel's future?

[Beastly Boy]

12. I will not judge Barghouti based on what little I know about him, but he is no Mandella

An opinion of a single Israeli peacenick published fifteen years ago in an obscure British left-wing publication (worldwide circulation of 25,000) declaring him to be the Palestinian Mandella doesn't make him one. Having said this, if Barghouti can move the Palestinian sentiment one single bit towards a negotiated settlement for the two-state solution, I sincerely wish him all the luck in the world. But as of today, Barghouti's efforts in this direction remain at zero, with no signs of any movement. He is struggling to emerge as a unifying figure among Palestinians in the occupied territories, let alone gain any standing of authority in Israel proper.

I agree that there is no DeKlerk figure in Israeli politics today, and I never claimed there is one. What you quoted me say was that, based on past precedents (with the time frame of activity of the named individuals being immaterial to my point), I can see one emerge from among Israel's political leadership. Something I don't see happening with a Mandella figure emerging from among Palestinian leadership. So, to answer the rhetorical question in your header, yes, really. No chance. There is simply no past precedent that would make me the least bit hopeful of this happening any time soon, and Barghouti is no exception.