Sharon may have said a lot of things, but he also acted a lot of things, and his dark record goes back much longer than five years. But I already agreed that he may not pursue such a goal anymore.

I'm too tired to start a debate on Barak's final offer. But there are some issues to mention with Sharon: one is the Wall, which has a wider economic effect on the Palestinians who are cut off. The other is water. The third is the security perimeter to be maintained at the expense of Palestinian sovereignity. (Recall that he told that the Gaza pullout will be the worse for the Palestinians.) The fourth is the refugee question.

On your last paragraph, I agree, there are significant differences, but whether that is enough for anything approaching a fair peace, I am not so sure. (I imagine a really bold and fairer proposal would include a large territorial compensation, say as enlargement of Gaza, for any West Bank changes from 1968 borders and the refugee agreement and 1948. But this looks to me at present a political impossibility.)

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}