Shlomo Avineri has a proposal for a Saudi protectorate over Palestine that is symptomatic of the cognitive dissonance among israeli "opinion leaders".
It reminds me of the "analysis" about how the Iraq war was based on a PNAC/Likud plan to replace Sadaam's regime with a Hashemite monarchy. The idea of a Hashemite restoration in Iraq was actually taken quite seriously and helped cover the actual plan (to completely overturn traditional Sunni domination by suppressing the Baath party and armed forces completely) which had to be kept secret (even from US military leadership, let alone "opinion leaders") until actually implemented.
Here's an example from Brian Whitaker in September 2002.
The fascinating thing is that not only did the sheer implausability of that story not prevent a few "leaks" being sufficient to keep people confused at the time, but even 5 years later people actually believe their understanding of "the neocon conspiracy" has been proved correct by subsequent events and continue to cite the PNAC "revelation" as though that was what was actually attempted.
There must actually be a market for articles proposing a Saudi protectorate or there wouldn't be any point writing them. Presumably its an israeli market which provides some insight into the delusional character of israeli public opinion.
But of course that isn't unique. In the US there's been masses of "analysis" about the US going to war with Iran (most of which points out the sheer absurdity of the idea, but is not in the least deterred from taking it seriously despite that).
The latest "discussion" in Australia is about whether the Prime Minister endangered the US alliance by pointing out that Al Queda would be hoping the Democrats might succeed in forcing a withdrawal.
Looks like the next Australian election will be mainly a huge national debate about the weather.