Ehud Olmert, peacenik?

Ehud Olmert's epiphany came too late, but I think it's a very important step outside the box that will help future negotiators--and their constituencies-- get real about making peace.

How come?

Among other reasons, because Olmert's public change of heart makes fools of U.S. peace negotiators who for the last 16 years have bent over backwards not to push Israeli prime ministers too hard while demanding everything from Palestinian counterparts. It turns out, maybe the Israelis needed, even wanted, a push! After hearing that Israeli prime ministers have epiphanies when they're about to leave office, maybe the next U.S. president will provide the next Israeli prime minister with sound advice rather than unsound coddling. Why, Olmert even complains that his mentor and predecessor as prime minister should have done more. "Ariel Sharon spoke about painful costs and refused to elaborate," Olmert says. "I say, we have no choice but to elaborate." But the likes of Dennis Ross (Clinton) and Condi Rice (Bush) were too often at pains to make sure that Israeli leaders like Sharon did not risk too much with Israeli voters.

What good did that do? None, as far as I can tell. My scorecard:

Rabin: agreed to negotiated withdrawals from Arab territories (West Bank and Gaza), signed Oslo peace accord, assassinated by Jewish zealot

Netanyahu: resisted agreed withdrawals from Arab territories, defeated for re-election

Barak: unilaterally withdrew from Arab territory (Lebanon), failed in Camp David talks, defeated for re-election

Sharon: unilaterally withdrew from Arab territory (Gaza), refused peace talks, collapsed into a coma

Olmert: re-invaded an Arab territory (Lebanon), unilaterally withdew from an Arab territory (Lebanon), re-entered inconclusive peace negotiations on withdrawals from Arab territories (Golan Heights and West Bank), resigned amid corruption scandal

--By Scott MacLeod/Cairo