Mr Ariel Sharon, the man who orchestrated Israel's failed invasion of Lebanon 17 years ago, yesterday called for a postponement of May's general elections and the formation of an emergency "unity" government to bring the troops back out.
Speaking amid unprecedented public anguish at the loss of soldiers' lives in the so-called "security zone" that Israel continues to occupy as a buffer strip in south Lebanon, Mr Sharon, the Israeli Foreign Minister, called for a "unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon", to be overseen by a government of national consensus, including representatives not only from the current hardline coalition but from the main opposition Labour party and other political groups as well.
Such a government, he suggested, could serve for a limited period, and focus solely on two key issues: extricating the troops from their losing battle with Hizbullah guerrillas in south Lebanon - where four Israelis, including a general, were killed on Sunday - and advancing peace efforts with the Palestinians.
It was in the national interest to present a united front in these two areas, Mr Sharon argued. The bitter internal disputes over policy, he said, were weakening Israel at a critical period.
If asked, most Israelis would probably endorse the logic of Mr Sharon's argument. But they won't be asked. The Prime Minister, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, forced to call elections when his coalition collapsed two months ago, was adamant yesterday that voting day would be on May 17th, as scheduled. Mr Netanyahu was also confident that, if re-elected, he would be able to negotiate a solution in Lebanon and restart Palestinian peace moves without having to call in the opposition.
By the same token, Labour's leaders rejected Mr Sharon's initiative as a gimmick, and crowed that the very tabling of the idea demonstrated "that even Sharon realises Netanyahu is a failure, and is incapable of managing the affairs of the state".
Labour's leader, Mr Ehud Barak, has indicated that, if he prevails in May, he will seek to establish a unity government - including members of Mr Netanyahu's Likud party, but probably not Mr Netanyahu himself. The third major candidate for the prime minister-ship, the former defence minister, Mr Yitzhak Mordechai, also envisages forming a broad government.
It is hugely ironic that Mr Sharon, one of the most controversial and divisive figures in Israeli politics, is now championing the cause of unity. AFP adds: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke for the first time yesterday of a "unilateral" end to Israel's occupation of south Lebanon. Hailed as a "spectacular U-turn" by commentators, his announcement came at the end of a day of open divisions within his government. "The possibility of a unilateral Israeli military withdrawal from Lebanon exists, but it must be accompanied by adequate security arrangements," Mr Netanyahu told the privately run Channel Two television.