Mr. Friedman's opinion that the core understanding "made possible Israeli-Palestinian cooperation in a broad range of areas, including security" is simply not true.

The high-tech customs post there, an American-bankrolled gateway to a new border-zone industrial park, was envisioned as a showcase of Israeli-Palestinian economic cooperation.

The accord represents the first concrete Israeli-Palestinian cooperation in Gaza after months of disputes.

Washington, therefore, has to provide these men with a ladder to climb down from their hard-line positions, since only Israeli-Palestinian cooperation can effectively subdue terror.

Israeli-Palestinian cooperation has not been trouble-free.

When the current Palestinian uprising began nearly five years ago, Israeli-Palestinian cooperation collapsed on many fronts, yet the industrial zone continued to function at nearly normal levels.

The agreement represented the first concrete Israeli-Palestinian cooperation in Gaza after many months of disputes.

That core understanding also made possible Israeli-Palestinian cooperation in a broad range of areas, including security affairs, that were never part of their relationship before.

Yet the patrols have resumed, a tentative sign that the delicate fabric of Israeli-Palestinian cooperation torn apart by the violence was starting to mend.

This prospect of close Israeli-Palestinian cooperation has cast a pall over Jordan, which fears that it will become the odd man out.