Pique drives dove to low - sharing perch with a latter-day hawk
Whether inspired by his quest for peace, as he says, or by petty political vengeance, as others say, Shimon Peres' abandonment of the Labour Party in favour of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will probably be remembered as the low point in a long and eminent career.
Commentators virtually agree that Mr Peres' move was dictated by his loss last month of the Labour Party leadership to Amir Peretz - whom he had groomed as a successor - and by the trade union chief's refusal to offer him a guaranteed safe place on Labour's Knesset list in the March election.
'Pathetic' is a word that appeared frequently in yesterday's Hebrew newspapers to describe Mr Peres' motive in quitting the party that he had served in the Knesset for 46 years and in whose name he had twice served as prime minister.
Despite his differences with the new Labour leader, Mr Peres' standing would almost certainly have given him a senior position in the centre-left coalition government had he remained in the party.
His departure, therefore, seems more like a slap at Mr Peretz - and perhaps at the Labour voters who gave the union chief his majority - than a step to ensure his own role in political talks with the Palestinians.
In practical terms, it is a significant gain for Mr Sharon because it offers legitimacy to Labour voters who may switch their loyalty and boost the prime minister's image in the international community, which considers Mr Peres Israel's peace icon.
It is ironic that this dove has now perched alongside Mr Sharon who, more than anyone else, for decades symbolised Israeli hawkishness but has now changed his feathers.
To avoid antagonising right-wing Likud voters, whom he is trying to attract, Mr Sharon is unlikely to bring Mr Peres to the forefront during campaigning. Mr Peres will not join Mr Sharon's new Kadima party or serve in the next Knesset, but he is expected to be a minister if Mr Sharon is elected - a likely outcome.
Mr Sharon has indicated readiness to have the former premier deal with the development of Israel's peripheral Negev and Galilee regions - a subject dear to Mr Peres' heart - as well as economic co-ordination with the Palestinian Authority and other Arab countries.
It is not clear, however, what role Mr Peres would have, if any, in peace talks. He has always shown creativity in untangling the seemingly irreconcilable.
Despite their past political differences, the 82-year-old Mr Peres and 77-year-old Mr Sharon respect each other. But Mr Sharon has his own approach to talks and it is likely to be tougher than Mr Peres'.
