Ever the optimist, Barak blames out-of-touch politicians for his trouble and insists his peace policies are popular. But a poll due out this week shows most Israelis think he bungled the negotiations with Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat, particularly by offering too much on Jeru-salem. But don’t write Barak off yet: as Israel’s Parliament breaks for its summer recess, he gets a three-month reprieve–ample time, he says, to build a new coalition. And if that fails, there’s always another crack at peace with the Palestinians.
