For the first time ever, Israel's Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon last night pledged to lead negotiations with the Palestinians for their statehood, and set out some of his parameters for that independent state.
Responding to US-led pressure for a resumption of substantive peace talks, Mr Sharon reiterated his determination to resist any negotiations so long as Intifada violence continued.
But "when we reach the negotiations that we all want," he told party activists, "they will be handled by the Prime Minister's Office. And I will stand at the head of the team."
Mr. Sharon has previously endorsed Palestinian statehood, in principle, but last night he sketched out his framework for two-state co-existence, saying that Israel would not compromise its sovereignty in Jerusalem, would insist on maintaining security areas in the West Bank and would retain control of all of Palestine's "external borders."
He added that the new state would have to be demilitarized, and barred from signing treaties with countries regarded as hostile to Israel. That framework falls far short of the peace proposals championed by his predecessor, Mr Ehud Barak, which failed to secure a permanent accord at last year's Camp David summit and several subsequent rounds of negotiation. Nevertheless, it represents a further moderation of Mr Sharon's positions.
Hitherto, he has recoiled from personal involvement in negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, President Mr Yasser Arafat. Mr Sharon has spoken of Palestinian statehood reluctantly, as a fait accompli, rather than setting out a vision, however unpalatable to the Palestinians, of the modalities for statehood.
The shift is clearly a consequence of the changed world order after September 11th, which has seen Mr Arafat widely praised for his support of the US-led coalition and his determination to suppress Palestinian displays of backing for Osama bin Laden.
Evidently, Mr Sharon, who only two weeks ago castigated the coalition for preparing to "sacrifice" Israel to "appease the Arabs," has decided that Israel's interests are better served by his public endorsement of the need to return to the negotiating table. Inevitably, however, last night's speech will increase the dissent within his own right-wing Likud party over his perceived overly moderate attitude to Mr Arafat.
Meanwhile, as another Hamas activist was killed yesterday in Gaza - the third in three days - the Israeli government defended its policy of "targeted" killings of militants, which has been heavily criticised by the US and others.
The Foreign Minister, Mr Shimon Peres, said the killings would be halted if Mr Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority arrested the militants instead.