Is Israel's prime minister, Ariel Sharon, determined to establish his place in history as the man who finally settled his country's relationship with the Palestinians? Or is he a cynical operator who will put the retention of power before the establishment of peace?
Israeli voters can decide for themselves in the general election next March and while Mr Sharon is favourite to come out of it as prime minister, there is considerable disagreement on what his policies would be for a third term in office.
Mr Sharon's decision to leave Likud, the party he helped create 32 years ago, and set up his own party has transformed Israel's politics. A recent opinion poll suggested that his party, Kadima, would secure at least 30 seats in the 120-seat Knesset making it the largest party. Mr Sharon has already secured the support of 14 Likud MPs. Shimon Peres, the former prime minister and leader of the Labour Party, has also thrown his support behind Kadima and appeared at a press conference with Mr Sharon yesterday.
The approval enjoyed by Kadima should not come as a surprise. Two-thirds of Israelis favour a peace settlement with the Palestinians that would lead to the creation of a Palestinian state, even if it means giving up land in the West Bank. The Labour Party, under its new leader Amir Peretz who ousted Mr Peres, wants peace negotiations resumed immediately while the Likud, which will probably be led by the hardline Benjamin Netanyahu, is set against either Palestinian statehood or further withdrawals of Jewish settlements. Mr Sharon, it is said, sits in the middle of these positions saying that peace negotiations will resume but only when the Palestinians, who have their own election in January, put the militants out of business - no easy task. Likud believes Mr Sharon is planning another withdrawal while Labour suspects that he will go no further in search of peace.
The voters will give thanks, however, that Israel is more at peace then when they last trudged to the polls in 2003. The economy is growing at a respectable 4.7 per cent and tourism is on the increase. Mr Sharon will take credit for this but not for recent harsh economic measures. Fortunately for him, they were the brainchild of Mr Netanyahu when he was finance minister.
This is the first Israeli election in years to be contested by three large parties any of whom might come through as the largest. The state of Israel will be 60 years old in 2008 and there would be no better way to celebrate it than by establishing permanent and agreed borders. If Mr Sharon wants his place in history, then that should be his stated goal.