Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an unexpected trip to Jordan this week, to meet with King Abdullah II for the first time in over four years. The discussion focused on the disputed status of a holy site located in the Old City of Jerusalem that is sacred to both Jews and Muslims. The site has been a source of conflict for many years. Muslims call it the Noble Sanctuary, and Jews call it the Temple Mount.

King Abdullah II urged Israel to respect the status quo at the site, which has been in place since 1967. Jordan also said it was in favor of a two-state solution and told Israel to stop doing violent things that make a peaceful solution less likely. The King’s words of support come at a time when tensions in the area are getting worse.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s new hard-line Minister of National Security, made a provocative trip to the site just days before Netanyahu’s trip, which made the visit even more difficult. His visit drew strong condemnations from Jordan and across the Arab world, with many calling on Netanyahu to distance himself from Ben-Gvir’s actions.

Netanyahu’s trip to Jordan was seen as a positive sign of progress, as it represented the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders in years. But the fragile peace between Israel and Jordan is still dependent on how the holy site in Jerusalem is treated. Until both sides can come to an agreement, tensions are likely to remain high in the region.