A rampage by Palestinian gunmen earlier this week underscores the challenges faced by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Mr. Abbas will be judged by Israel and the world on his ability to bring peace to the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Only if he succeeds will peace negotiations and the steps toward the realization of a Palestinian state continue.

But forging a peace requires him to gain control of the fractious Palestinian security bureaucracy and to muzzle extremists that have traditionally had a free hand to do as they please. It is still unclear whether any Palestinian leader has the strength and the courage to face down the militants.

For Israel, there is a simple litmus test that it applies to its negotiating partner: The Palestinian leadership must halt terror attacks by Palestinians against Israeli targets. Only then will Israelis know that Palestinians are serious about living in peace with them. Only then will the Israeli government be ready to move forward with peace negotiations and the creation of a Palestinian state.