Mixed press views on Jericho talks

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They are talking - but any progress?

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas's summit in Jericho on Monday aimed at moving towards a final peace settlement has met with a mixed reception from newspapers in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Some Israeli commentators have suggested that Olmert's problems with domestic politics are behind the meeting, and a Palestinian daily says his political weakness may undermine the talks.

But another Palestinian paper says at least final settlement talks have begun and a Jordanian daily hails the fall of some barriers to peace.

Herb Keinon in Israel's Jerusalem Post

When Olmert and Abbas sat down in Jericho's Intercontinental Hotel over a traditional Arab dish of chicken and rice, they were talking about issues that affect us deeply - what are increasingly being referred to very vaguely as the "fundamental issues". But these issues... must be seen within the greater context of the overall tumult in the Middle East and the US effort to do something - anything - to contain it.

Gilad Katz in Israel's Makor Rishon

While many believe that the days of Olmert's rule are numbered, he has become convinced that if there is something that can rescue him it is the political process... In a brilliant about-face he has changed his position and agreed to discuss the "core issues" of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict... Olmert came and, in a judgment that reminds of his judgment in the Second Lebanon War, decided that this is "worth a try".

Akiva Eldar in Israel's Haaretz

Not knowing where his next problem will come from, the few friends still in Olmert's corner... are trying to convince him to play the final card he still holds - the diplomatic option. What now appears to be the new formula on offer by 'Peres peace industries' is a mixture of the Bush letter, in which realities on the ground are recognised... the Peres-Abu Ala [former Palestinian PM Ahmed Qurei] agreements on an independent Palestinian state... and the Arab Peace initiative.

Hani al-Masri in Palestinian Al-Ayyam

The gap between the Palestinian and Israeli positions is still extremely wide. Although Olmert's government is strong in parliament, it is the weakest Israeli government on the street. If it were to get close to the sensitive issues in a way that opposes Israeli popular opinion it will fall. Let us not delude ourselves. This government has not been able to remove a single checkpoint or evacuate any of the random settlement outposts.

Rajab Abu-Surayyah in Palestinian Al-Ayyam

There are signs that the Palestinian-Israeli meetings are intended to create a framework for the final status probably by announcing a new agreement of principles. This agreement will include a timetable this time so that it will not be said that it is a continuation of the Oslo agreement. It has to be ready before the upcoming autumn when the international conference chaired by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be held.

Editorial in Palestinian Al-Quds

It seems that the Americans and Arabs have convinced the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert with their initiatives to accept what he rejected in the past. The only clear issue after his meeting with President Abu-Mazin [Mahmoud Abbas] in Jericho yesterday is that the talks on the final status and the establishment of a Palestinian state have started.

<A href="http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk">BBC Monitoring</A> selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.