Exercise responsibility, not populism
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement at Sunday's cabinet meeting, urging restraint for all MKs and ministers regarding the Temple Mount, was not born out of thin air.
The violence on the Temple Mount and its potential diplomatic repercussions are disconcerting, and Netanyahu sought to give an emergency response to a political situation that has been taking shape in Israel over the general feeling that early elections are in the air, and over the further radicalization in Europe and in the Arab world, as well as America's frustration.
Netanyahu has promised that the status quo on the Temple Mount would not change, while other politicians were quick to pledge the opposite. Anyone in their right mind knows these are false promises, made solely to appeal to voters; and that these politicians do not care about the national price their statements might exact. After all -- that will remain Netanyahu's problem.
Do they really think Israel should push Jordan to the point where it revokes the 1994 peace treaty not because it wants to, but because it has no choice?
Given the rise in Palestinian violence on the Temple Mount, as well as in overall diplomatic hostility toward Israel, one can understand the desire to rectify previous diplomatic errors.
Sweden was irresponsible in its decision to recognize a Palestinian state before one has been formed, but I cannot imagine that Netanyahu would back Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's decision to recall Israel's ambassador to Stockholm.
Such a move illustrates cheap populism at the expense of Israel's interests. After all, the rest of Europe may follow in Sweden's footsteps and then what? Will Israel recall every ambassador and remain without representation in Europe? Some European countries may seek to promote such a move to curry favor with the Palestinians, but why should Israel play into their hands?
Sweden's move may have been unfair, but the ambassador's place is on the ground -- not running back to Jerusalem. One can only hope Netanyahu orders the ambassador's return without delay.
All this plays into the hands of those seeking to impede Israel. U.S. President Barack Obama is vexed by the fact that Israel will not cooperate with the charade that is the impending nuclear deal with Iran, and may decide not to veto future U.N. Security Council resolutions, which is why Israel must tread lightly.
The reality taking shape before our eyes is clear: Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has no interest in renewing the peace talks, even according to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's current outline, which is very unfavorable to Israel; and the U.S. and Europe want to reach out to the Palestinians, but they also want to maintain the appearance of fairness.
Some within the coalition do not understand that, while other do -- but are wary of alienating their voters, so they prefer keeping quiet.
These are sensitive times that require discipline within the coalition. The factions at the helm of the government must reacquaint themselves with the concept of responsibility.
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