At first, US Secretary of State John Kerry was full of hope; he was eager and energized, and most of all, determined. Kerry was convinced that years of intimate familiarity with the Palestinian issue, his close friendship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his accomplishments with the Palestinian leadership would allow him to achieve what no one before him had: a permanent solution between the parties, or at the very least, a significant breakthrough on the way to achieving that.
We know how it ended. In a powerful but gloomy speech to the participants at the Saban Forum Dec. 4, Kerry exemplified what psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross described as the fifth stage of grief. After experiencing denial, anger, bargaining and depression, Kerry has reached the last stage: acceptance. He finally understands the truth of the situation. He can smell the scent of defeat. For two years, Kerry was a prophet of rage, ranting and raving at the gates. In this talk, however, he seemed sad and empty, at peace with himself and all the wiser for the experience. He was no longer trying to convince anyone or reprimand them. He simply gave a warning, before leaving his position as secretary of state.
