Unless Israel takes provocative measures in the coming days or weeks, especially in Jerusalem or at the Temple Mount, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is convinced that the wave of terror that has washed over Israel since October could likely end. Close and intense security cooperation has been fostered between the Palestinian security forces and the Shin Bet and Israel Defense Forces (IDF). As one senior Palestinian security official describes it, never before has security cooperation been as intense, elaborate and effective as it is today with the purpose of preventing and scuttling terrorist attacks from the West Bank.

It is feared that if West Bank Hamas militants or members of the Islamic Jihad military wing were to join the "Jerusalem intifada," unrest would spiral out of control. One terror attack would follow the next, and getting the genie back in the bottle would be a tall order.

Over the past two weeks, the West Bank security apparatus has arrested dozens of Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants, hoping to deter and isolate them and gather intelligence. The detainees are expected to remain in the PA detention facility until the security chiefs produce an evaluation and the atmosphere encouraging terror attacks against Israel has calmed.

Over the past few weeks, large demonstrations and rallies have been barred by the Palestinian police in PA areas. Its directive permitted only small marches to let off steam and show solidarity. Mass rallies that could result in confrontations were banned. When, for example, young Palestinians staged demonstrations close to an IDF roadblock near Ramallah, Palestinian policemen stood as a buffer between them and the IDF troops, thus averting violent clashes.