That theory, shared by the left and far-right, according to which the pro-settlement right controls the government, has just faced its first real-world test. In the midst of all the rage and vituperation the right could summon — indeed, when the right was joined by 85% of the Israeli public, according to an Yisrael Hayom poll last week — the cabinet, led by Netanyahu, nevertheless voted to release terrorists in order to facilitate peace talks with the Palestinians. The theory lost and Netanyahu won.

It is impossible to say with any certainty whether the new peace talks have any chance of success, whether the Palestinian Authority is capable of negotiating and then delivering on an agreement, whether Netanyahu’s maximum offer can meet the Palestinians’ minimum demands, whether either or both sides will negotiate in good faith. The good money, most Israelis still believe, is on the skeptics.

Netanyahu hasn’t proven he wants peace, or that he can achieve it. But with the prisoner release he has proven one thing that the world was keenly interesting in knowing: that as Israel enters into peace talks, Netanyahu runs the show in Jerusalem.

Read in full at Times of Israel.