Israelis go to the polls tomorrow in a prime ministerial election that could make the difference between peace and war, stability and chaos, anarchy and good order in the Middle East. But the most passionate electorate in the world is for once consumed with apathy.
Two former army generals - one a conservative, the other a conciliator - are competing to head the next government. If the incumbent, Mr Ehud Barak, succeeds he will continue his policy of seeking a comprehensive agreement with the Palestinians; should the prize go to his rival, Mr Ariel Sharon, the possible consequences are unpredictable and some would say alarming.
Yet as these great issues are being decided, there is hardly a ripple on the surface of Israeli life. Driving in parts of Tel Aviv at the weekend, one saw very few election banners for either side. The same was true on the highway to Jerusalem until, a few miles outside the Holy City, a convoy of trucks displaying pro-Barak slogans was seen ambling through the traffic with little or no fanfare.
There is a saying, "Two Israelis, three opinions", but the normally feisty electorate has failed to become agitated by this contest between the "top brass". The reason is that Mr Barak, between 17 and 21 percentage points behind, has very little prospect of success.
Where did he go wrong, the clearcut winner of 21 months ago who sailed in on a tide of hope that the peace process could be revived? Israeli liberals blame the Palestinians for footdragging in negotiations and allowing the vacuum to be filled by violence. Palestinians, who have their own internal divisions, say the Israelis were too vague about what they were prepared to give and too ambitious in what they wanted to take.
Now a hardliner looks almost certain to take over, a man whose military and political track record inspires anger and even loathing on the part of many Palestinians. Stymied in negotiations and startled by the new Palestinian Intifada, many Israelis have turned to one of the toughest and most uncompromising in their gallery of politicians. The title of Mr Sharon's autobiography sums up his personality and political style well: it is called simply Warrior.
Meanwhile, violence continued yesterday, with Israeli sources reporting that an armed Palestinian man was killed by a patrol near the Gaza Strip.