The initiative could still prove useful, if it is carefully crafted. Encouragingly, Mr. Kerry is beginning with an economic initiative, what he described as “specific steps that we could take to . . . expedite the goal of economic growth in the West Bank.” He is talking to Mr. Netanyahu about Mr. Abbas’s objective of prisoner releases and to Mr. Abbas about refraining from further action at the United Nations targeting Israel. He appears to have persuaded Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to postpone a potentially provocative visit to the Gaza Strip.

These measures could serve to ease tensions, make life better for Palestinians and lay the groundwork for a day when serious negotiations about Palestinian statehood will be possible. If that is the aim, Mr. Kerry’s diplomacy could prove worthwhile.