Jerusalem was decked out in white to greet US Secretary of State John Kerry. Not even a year on the job, Kerry arrived in Jerusalem Dec. 12 for the ninth time as secretary of state to see the heaviest snowstorm the Israeli capital has had in decades. More than 10 cm (9 inches) of snow buried the most divided city in the world. Hundreds of drivers and citizens were stranded. The city itself was cut off from the rest of the country and the roads leading to Jerusalem were closed. Police warned against travel to the city, which was under total lockdown. 

This is not the first siege Jerusalem has experienced. This sensitive city has known more sieges than most cities in the world. It doesn’t scare easily, although most sieges over the centuries ended very badly. The invader, be he Babylonian or Roman, destroys the city, burns it to the ground and kills the stubborn subjects.

This time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the one under siege in Jerusalem — by Kerry, in the name of the United States, which represents the world. But unlike past eras, the invaders this time are weaker than the besieged. They have fewer means. They cannot set the city on fire, although they can try to impose economic sanctions on its residents. It’s hard to know who will emerge victorious.

The Americans are serious. As I wrote here last time, Kerry is determined to bring Israelis and Palestinians to face the dramatic decisions which will force them to grow up, to compose themselves and to adopt a historic decision. The Americans are talking about a marathon diplomatic negotiating summit, at which all sides will convene and talk until white smoke appears. But the problem with the Americans is that they are unaware that instead of white smoke they might get black smoke, along with fire and blood. That’s what happens when Israelis and Palestinians are shut together in one place (see Camp David in 2000). But Kerry keeps trying.