Thousands of words have been written in recent months about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s efforts to soften the report compiled by the Middle East Quartet on the situation in the Israeli-occupied territories. On June 26, a few days before the report’s publication, Netanyahu flew to Rome to try to convince US Secretary of State John Kerry to limit its fallout.

Associates of the prime minister whispered to reporters that were it not for the intense Israeli diplomatic efforts, Israel would have emerged from the report badly scarred. Perhaps. Nonetheless, the report bearing the signatures of top American, Russian, European Union and UN diplomats is not judged by its content or its style. The Quartet document will be evaluated according to the length and sharpness of the fangs the members sink into the two sides, especially the stronger of the two. The pain may force the two nations to treat the dangerous paralysis they have entered and its mounting death toll.

In Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy, there are no points for participation that does not yield results. Absent the ability of both sides to reach the finish line under their own steam, or even to present themselves at the start line, peace lovers are pinning their hopes on rescue by external forces. Every new “peace initiative,” well-attended international conference and fresh report sets them off, and the higher they hope, the harder they fall. Deadly terror attacks in Kiryat Arba while the report was being published or a missile fired from Gaza at Israel the day after provide ample material for Netanyahu to spin to his advantage.

Responding to the Quartet’s report July 1, the prime minister’s office said, “In the 24 hours before publication of the Quartet report, Palestinian terrorists stabbed and shot innocent Israelis three times. … Palestinian praise for murderers today inspires those who will strike tomorrow.” Netanyahu did not miss the opportunity to accuse the Palestinian leadership’s praise for the terrorists of “moral bankruptcy" that "leaves little doubt about its true intentions.”