Yes. It just might.
In all the years peace has been "negotiated" in the Middle East, failing miserably, there have been several Israeli leaders from all political persuasions, and several U.S. presidents, also from both parties and a wide range of philosophies. Only one variable has not been changed, and I think it's about time that it is.
If--a big if--real progress is finally made after Arafat is gone, we will have learned something very useful about who has been the problem in the Middle East the whole time.