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(July 7) - Binyamin Netanyahu, who dramatically captured the starring role in this country three years ago, left the political stage quietly yesterday. Some would say his exit was premature, others would argue overdue. Some have panned his performance in office, others say he was misunderstood, a few were even found applauding at the very end. His last moment in the spotlight, all would agree, was refined. Standing at the Knesset podium, Netanyahu read out his brief lines of farewell and walked lightly out stage right, accepting the outstretched hands on the way and saying nothing but "thank you." "It was a good speech," said Shimon Peres, the very star that had been replaced by Netanyahu. "I was a bit moved," admitted Yossi Sarid, not usually a major Netanyahu fan. And there it ended. At least for now. Even before Netanyahu left the carpeted hall, Ariel Sharon, the new head of the opposition, was already up at the mike, berating the new prime minister, Ehud Barak. Practically all the MKs were out in the hall falling over each other to give media interviews, the lesser MKs' advisors were tumbling about looking for reporters, and the reporters were pushing each other so as to get closer to the right MKs. Barak headed for the canteen. It was back to Knesset-as-usual. Netanyahu, meanwhile, surrounded by a reduced posse of three earpiece-wearing security men, sauntered out of the scene and headed home. Taking a left turn toward town, Netanyahu's car did not even pass by the gray office building where he had spent so much of his time these past years. His large corner office is bare. The books have been taken off the shelves, the photograph of Sara and the boys is carefully folded away in a cardboard box, and the official papers are all filed away in the basement archives. Over the weekend, the room will be redecorated. New paintings will go up on the walls. A new plant will be brought in. The heavy desk, perhaps, will be moved toward the window, or maybe angled towards the couch. For a while, Netanyahu and his small staff of secretaries, assistants, drivers, and security men will work out of rented rooms in Talpiot. Soon, their permanent quarters on Derech Hebron will be ready and they will move there. George Birnbaum, who came to Israel during the elections as political consultant Arthur Finkelstein's assistant, has jumped ship and will now serve as Netanyahu's office manager. The former prime minister plans to travel, to lecture, probably to write a book, and even more probably to rest. It is expected that Netanyahu's first trip overseas, later this month or next, will be to the United States. There he plans both to lecture and vacation. A European tour is also planned, where he is scheduled, among other things, to do some fundraising for the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. Home, for the former first family, despite all the rumors about 10-room penthouses, is to be its old Rehov Gaza flat. Rented out these past few years, it is said to be somewhat leaky. That problem is being addressed, and by the end of the month the Netanyahus will officially move out of the prime minister's residence and around the corner to their old-new abode. The street boasts some nice trees, there is a good makolet nearby, the boys' schools are within easy driving distance, the Cinemateque is a hop and a skip away, and the dry cleaner down the road is not too expensive. It is here, for better and for worse, that former prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu will begin life anew as citizen Bibi.
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