There is nothing to gain from fanning the flames that are threatening to consume the Temple Mount. As far as the Israeli-Arab conflict goes, both parties stand to be severely burned, and if and when the fire is extinguished both will be faced with the fact that there is no such thing as a free diplomatic solution. Everyone stands to lose. Both Judaism and Islam hold the Temple Mount dear. Judaism's precedence over the premises is an important fact, but it does not override Islam's legitimate presence there. The only solution to this predicament is a painful compromise. President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday urged cooler heads to prevail, asking rightist MKs to exercise restraint in both actions and words. Two efforts to that effect have already been made. First, Netanyahu spoke with Jordan's King Abdullah, not only in an attempt to revoke Amman's decision to recall Ambassador Walid Obeidat, but also to prevent any further exacerbation in the Jordanian regime's position on the matter, as it may later find that it cannot escape its own harsh rhetoric against Israel. Second, Egypt has also urged restraint, warning that Jerusalem's relationship with Cairo may suffer if the escalation on the Temple Mount continues. The efforts to calm the situation cannot, however, overlook the Palestinian Authority. PA President Mahmoud Abbas is agitating the atmosphere in Jerusalem, and albeit he is keeping the situation in the West Bank under control, his rhetoric on Jerusalem is becoming gradually radicalized, and he no longer stresses the need to denounce violence. On the contrary, he has recently sent a letter of condolence to the family of the terrorist who tried to assassinate Temple Mount activist Yehuda Glick. The responsible adults in the Middle East are now required to split their attention between Ramallah and those advocating a new intifada in Jerusalem. It is a complex mission, as overcoming the innate contradictions is a difficult task. After all, every politician must cater to the demands of his own constituents. Still, it is easier to bridge the differences now than to lament a future intifada, if one does indeed erupt. Such a scenario would see Arab nations reluctantly side with the Palestinians, while Israel would find itself engaged in military operations it has no interest in. Jerusalem is not without its troublesome neighborhoods, but perhaps the dispute over the Temple Mount -- the crown jewel -- can be isolated from other conflicts, so to facilitate a stable, if temporary, solution.
