Be calm or be decisive

The recent wave of stone throwing and stabbing terror, which relies on the incitement of extremists in Gaza and east Jerusalem, necessitates an urgent dialogue with Jordan and with the Palestinian Authority.

A direct conversation between Israel and the Palestinians could run aground because of the rigid expectations forced on both parties at home. The opposition will always demand that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas return to more fruitful negotiations. Israel can compromise for a deal that would restore the status quo and benefit the Royal Palace in Amman and the Muqataa in Ramallah.

All parties, except for the extremists, have an interest in calm. The responsible leadership on both sides understands that flying stones and stabbing knives could result in another Operation Defensive Shield, which would leave bleeding wounds in its wake.

Restless winds are blowing in Palestine and in the Arab world, the voices of the extremists are rising and a comprehensive disaster has befallen Islam as its two active leaders are the Ayatollah in Iran and the terrorist leader of the Islamic State group. In Israel too, there has been a violent wind, one that is growing stronger and threatening to become a tsunami with every stabbing and every terror attack in Tel Aviv and Gush Etzion, and even with each riot that has come to characterize the Arab neighborhoods in Israel.

President Reuven Rivlin, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon have already enlisted to spread the message of calm to those demanding to exercise their unquestionable right as Jews to visit the Temple Mount. But Israel is awash in the mood of early elections -- and under these conditions, the almost desperate call for restraint and forbearance seems to fall on deaf ears among the far Right.

If the elders in the roles of president, prime minister and defense minister do not succeed in their mission, then the two sides will fight, which is bad for everyone. Even Israel cannot stick to a policy of restraint for long, as the violence and terror continues to take hold of the Arab population throughout Israel, and not only in the territories.

Now is the time for dialogue. Perhaps in this moment before the die is cast. If the violence spreads like an epidemic, Israel will have no choice but to dismantle the terrorist cells the way it did 12 years ago during the 40 days of Operation Defensive Shield. Force will always be the effective way to fight terror, and if it is not enough -- more force will be used. Israel has no alternative. No real choice. Force will do the talking, and that is a shame.

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