Those who follow the latest remarks by Israeli officials and ex-officials might think that they have lost any sense of accountability: they warn us and threaten us instead of taking action. President Shimon Peres, a world class statesman, says that “time is running out on a peace deal with the Palestinians”, while former Mossad chief Meir Dagan supports the 2002 Saudi peace initiative and other Israeli ex-members of the security and diplomatic elite adopt a softened variation of the Arab peace initiative (the reincarnation of the Saudi peace initiative).

A more careful analysis reveals an interesting subtext: Israel's “old guard” members begin to acknowledge the most important pillar of the Saudi peace initiative, its affirmation that a military solution to the conflict will not achieve peace or security to the region, therefore a lasting peace is a strategic option.

In a funny sort of way those unelected on both sides, including ex-senior professionals and the Israeli President and Arab monarchs agree with Saudi initiative where as the elected politicians do not.

I have no intention of hintimg that Israel's democracy resembles Arab dictatorships. Nevertheless I do wish to make a point: all those who call for taking brave steps are free of popular considerations. They foresee what their people need, instead of trying to guess what the people want.

Elected leaders in Israel as well as in several Arab countries, ride the tiger: they are driven by a dominant anti-Arab or anti-Israeli popular sentiment, on the verge of racism, while nurturing it with militant declarations. The reason for that is clear: as politicians, it is much easier to gain popular support by portraying oneself as a decisive leader rather than a compromiser. This cynical game, however, is dangerous since those politicians might mistakenly believe the things they say about themselves, trying to show their “real” power.

Everybody understands that we are heading a deadly stalemate at the Middle East: Netanyahu refuses to discuss 1967 lines, thus pulling the rug from under the Palestinian negotiators.

The only way to avoid the stalemate is if leaders from both sides will stop acting like mediocre politicians and begin working together like experienced statesmen. Both Netanyahu and Abu Mazen already understand that the whole world is watching them, expecting them to take action. However, none of them has yet found the public courage needed to take unpopular steps such as an Israeli declaration that calls for Israeli return to 1967 lines, or Palestinian declaration about the right of Jews for having their own state.

As in Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken”, Netanyahu and Abu Mazen stand at the crossroads knowing that whatever road they choose, they will not be able to come back. They now have to take the one road less traveled. We, at RUSI can play a central role in bridging the gaps between both sides. RUSI's experience and academic research will bring a great contribution to this process.