The escalation in Jerusalem and in the Temple Mount in particular could harm Israel's foreign relations with Jordan and with its other allies, most notably the United States
The Tension in Jerusalem: Preventing the Eruption of "the Volcano"
In the immediate short term, the Israeli government must take decisive action to reduce friction and settle the volatile issues by means of the following steps: 1) an unequivocal public statement by the Prime Minister assuring that Israel will maintain the status quo that has been in place at the Temple Mount since 1967; 2) prevention of provocation by extremist Israeli elements on the Temple Mount, and a simultaneous easing of the limitations on the entrance of Muslim worshipers into the Temple Mount, provided a pledge by the Waqf that this step will not be used to conduct violent demonstrations; 3) an invitation to Jordanian representatives to examine the events at the Temple Mount first hand; 4) firm and resolute treatment of elements fomenting unrest and inciting acts of violence; 5) restraint, in the short term, on residence in the houses purchased in Arab neighborhoods by right wing Jewish groups.
