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| Press sceptical on Annapolis | Press sceptical on Annapolis |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Israeli PM Ehud Olmert arriving in the US with his wife | Israeli PM Ehud Olmert arriving in the US with his wife |
| On the eve of the US-sponsored Middle East peace conference, the Arabic press remains deeply sceptical of what Annapolis is likely to achieve. Many commentators predict failure; others concede that there may be an opportunity for peace, but say the onus for any significant progress rests with Israel and the US. | |
| Syrian papers say that despite its decision to send a delegation, Damascus "does not have any illusions" about the meeting. The Israeli press is lukewarm in its assessment. One paper faults Washington's timing, saying the current Israeli and the Palestinian leaders are both weak and lack the ability to implement agreements. | Syrian papers say that despite its decision to send a delegation, Damascus "does not have any illusions" about the meeting. The Israeli press is lukewarm in its assessment. One paper faults Washington's timing, saying the current Israeli and the Palestinian leaders are both weak and lack the ability to implement agreements. |
| AHMAD DAHBUR IN PALESTINIAN AL-HAYAT AL-JADIDAH | AHMAD DAHBUR IN PALESTINIAN AL-HAYAT AL-JADIDAH |
| We are still not exposed to danger, and our feet are standing on solid ground. President Abbas still has his back to the wall and has not moved a single inch from his promise to the people. The best proof of this is that we are only a few days away from the [Annapolis] conference and the president refuses to sign the document the enemy is proposing. | We are still not exposed to danger, and our feet are standing on solid ground. President Abbas still has his back to the wall and has not moved a single inch from his promise to the people. The best proof of this is that we are only a few days away from the [Annapolis] conference and the president refuses to sign the document the enemy is proposing. |
| ALI JARADAT IN PALESTINIAN AL-AYYAM | ALI JARADAT IN PALESTINIAN AL-AYYAM |
| The Arabs have failed to use the political difficulties and setbacks that the US has been suffering from in the region. They also failed to use the Israeli military failure in Lebanon. Consequently, the US and Israel have been able to find a way out of most of their predicaments by preparing to hold the Annapolis meeting in the way it will be held. I think that the region is about to be hit by a storm and that the calm of Annapolis is deceptive. | The Arabs have failed to use the political difficulties and setbacks that the US has been suffering from in the region. They also failed to use the Israeli military failure in Lebanon. Consequently, the US and Israel have been able to find a way out of most of their predicaments by preparing to hold the Annapolis meeting in the way it will be held. I think that the region is about to be hit by a storm and that the calm of Annapolis is deceptive. |
| NAHID MUNIR AL-RAYYIS IN PALESTINIAN AL-AYYAM | NAHID MUNIR AL-RAYYIS IN PALESTINIAN AL-AYYAM |
| The Israeli internal situation is one of the reasons why we should not go to Annapolis... It seems now that it is so fashionable in Israel to be hard-line that [former Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon and [current Prime Minister Ehud] Olmert are considered peace doves, especially when compared to the other Russian-born fanatics and settlers. | The Israeli internal situation is one of the reasons why we should not go to Annapolis... It seems now that it is so fashionable in Israel to be hard-line that [former Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon and [current Prime Minister Ehud] Olmert are considered peace doves, especially when compared to the other Russian-born fanatics and settlers. |
| AMOS GILBOA IN ISRAEL'S MA'ARIV | AMOS GILBOA IN ISRAEL'S MA'ARIV |
| This is, therefore, the conference least based on a new strategic situation; on a genuine 'historic opportunity'. This is a conference in which the situation between us and the Palestinians is the least ripe for a permanent settlement. This is the conference in which the two leaders, the Israeli and the Palestinian, are weak and lack ability to implement agreements. | This is, therefore, the conference least based on a new strategic situation; on a genuine 'historic opportunity'. This is a conference in which the situation between us and the Palestinians is the least ripe for a permanent settlement. This is the conference in which the two leaders, the Israeli and the Palestinian, are weak and lack ability to implement agreements. |
| ORLY AZULAY IN ISRAEL'S YEDIOT AHARONOT | ORLY AZULAY IN ISRAEL'S YEDIOT AHARONOT |
| Now that all the invited have confirmed their arrival the Bush administration can take pride in the power display it has organised. In Washington they see in the conference a real achievement: Annapolis returned America to centre stage as a superpower with power that cannot be ignored. United States will declare here tomorrow the end of the conflict: the conflict between it and the Arab world that has lasted almost all the years of the Bush term. The other conflicts, as far as they are concerned, can wait. | Now that all the invited have confirmed their arrival the Bush administration can take pride in the power display it has organised. In Washington they see in the conference a real achievement: Annapolis returned America to centre stage as a superpower with power that cannot be ignored. United States will declare here tomorrow the end of the conflict: the conflict between it and the Arab world that has lasted almost all the years of the Bush term. The other conflicts, as far as they are concerned, can wait. |
| EDITORIAL IN ISRAEL'S JERUSALEM POST | EDITORIAL IN ISRAEL'S JERUSALEM POST |
| The Arab states must decide whether they want the two-state vision to become reality in the near future or not. If not, they can carry on as they are now, and are sure to get their wish... No 'political horizon' that Israel can provide can substitute for what the Arab states can and must do to create a climate conducive to peace. | The Arab states must decide whether they want the two-state vision to become reality in the near future or not. If not, they can carry on as they are now, and are sure to get their wish... No 'political horizon' that Israel can provide can substitute for what the Arab states can and must do to create a climate conducive to peace. |
| IZ-AL-DIN AL-DARWISH IN SYRIA'S TISHRIN | IZ-AL-DIN AL-DARWISH IN SYRIA'S TISHRIN |
| Syria does not have any illusions about what could happen because Syria is convinced that Israel does not want peace, and that the latter has been the main cause behind blocking the peace process for more than seven years. The reasons behind the Syrian participation are... to test the US' seriousness in working for peace this time. | Syria does not have any illusions about what could happen because Syria is convinced that Israel does not want peace, and that the latter has been the main cause behind blocking the peace process for more than seven years. The reasons behind the Syrian participation are... to test the US' seriousness in working for peace this time. |
| EDITORIAL IN SAUDI ARABIA'S SAUDI GAZETTE | EDITORIAL IN SAUDI ARABIA'S SAUDI GAZETTE |
| Another photo-op and the theatrics like handshakes at Annapolis will not do the region any good: they will only feed the region's cynicism and instability. What the meeting needs to produce is a disciplined process of negotiations, addressing all the core issues that the Israelis, Palestinians and the so-called peace mediators have so far refused to grapple with. | Another photo-op and the theatrics like handshakes at Annapolis will not do the region any good: they will only feed the region's cynicism and instability. What the meeting needs to produce is a disciplined process of negotiations, addressing all the core issues that the Israelis, Palestinians and the so-called peace mediators have so far refused to grapple with. |
| EDITORIAL IN SAUDI ARABIA'S UKAZ | EDITORIAL IN SAUDI ARABIA'S UKAZ |
| If US intentions are good and the Israeli Administration genuinely wants peace, then they will not find a bigger opportunity or a better margin than this conference to reach a comprehensive and basic agreement to dot the i's and resolve all the sticking issues, particularly since the terms of reference of peace represented in the Arab initiative contains all the details and proposed the problems and their solutions in complete transparency. | If US intentions are good and the Israeli Administration genuinely wants peace, then they will not find a bigger opportunity or a better margin than this conference to reach a comprehensive and basic agreement to dot the i's and resolve all the sticking issues, particularly since the terms of reference of peace represented in the Arab initiative contains all the details and proposed the problems and their solutions in complete transparency. |
| EDITORIAL IN EGYPT'S AL-AKHBAR | EDITORIAL IN EGYPT'S AL-AKHBAR |
| We are warning of the consequences of the failure of this [Annapolis] conference because this will simply mean the failure of any future peace negotiations, which frankly means the failure of the US Administration. | We are warning of the consequences of the failure of this [Annapolis] conference because this will simply mean the failure of any future peace negotiations, which frankly means the failure of the US Administration. |
| EDITORIAL IN EGYPT'S AL-JUMHURIYAH | EDITORIAL IN EGYPT'S AL-JUMHURIYAH |
| Israel, which is armed with all kinds of American support, will not voluntarily accept the Arab and Palestinian rights as long as it does not receive a practical notification from the USA saying that the latter's support of the Israeli occupation has its limit and that the US responsibility toward peace must be fulfilled. However, this is exactly what [US Secretary of State Condoleezza] Rice said will not happen, just two days before start of the peace conference. | Israel, which is armed with all kinds of American support, will not voluntarily accept the Arab and Palestinian rights as long as it does not receive a practical notification from the USA saying that the latter's support of the Israeli occupation has its limit and that the US responsibility toward peace must be fulfilled. However, this is exactly what [US Secretary of State Condoleezza] Rice said will not happen, just two days before start of the peace conference. |
| MUSTAFA MUHAMMAD AL-FAR IN JORDAN'S AL-DUSTUR | MUSTAFA MUHAMMAD AL-FAR IN JORDAN'S AL-DUSTUR |
| There are so many questions that need honest answers to figure out if the Annapolis meeting will be just an occasion to take some photos, or will it reflect a real and serious will from the Bush Administration to settle a crisis that is getting more complicated with time | There are so many questions that need honest answers to figure out if the Annapolis meeting will be just an occasion to take some photos, or will it reflect a real and serious will from the Bush Administration to settle a crisis that is getting more complicated with time |
| EDITORIAL IN PAN-ARAB AL-QUDS AL-ARABI | EDITORIAL IN PAN-ARAB AL-QUDS AL-ARABI |
| The [Annapolis] conference will definitely fail because of the weakness of its participants from the Israeli and Palestinian sides represented by [Prime Minister] Olmert and President Abbas, as well as the host President Bush whose popularity has fallen... | The [Annapolis] conference will definitely fail because of the weakness of its participants from the Israeli and Palestinian sides represented by [Prime Minister] Olmert and President Abbas, as well as the host President Bush whose popularity has fallen... |
| MUHAMMAD NAJI UMAYRAH IN OMAN'S AL-WATAN | MUHAMMAD NAJI UMAYRAH IN OMAN'S AL-WATAN |
| There is no doubt that the attendance is better than the absence ... The two-states solution, which is accepted by the Palestinians, along with all the official Arabs, will remain mere ink on paper as long as Israel keeps talking about a Jewish state versus a Palestinian state. | There is no doubt that the attendance is better than the absence ... The two-states solution, which is accepted by the Palestinians, along with all the official Arabs, will remain mere ink on paper as long as Israel keeps talking about a Jewish state versus a Palestinian state. |
| A'ISHA AL-MARI IN UAE'S AL-ITTIHAD | A'ISHA AL-MARI IN UAE'S AL-ITTIHAD |
| It seems that optimism about, as well as the Arab countries participation in, the Annapolis conference is nothing more than a political stand ... The Annapolis conference will be a conference of negotiations about negotiations. | It seems that optimism about, as well as the Arab countries participation in, the Annapolis conference is nothing more than a political stand ... The Annapolis conference will be a conference of negotiations about negotiations. |
| EDITORIAL IN IRAN'S JOMHURI-YE ESLAMI | EDITORIAL IN IRAN'S JOMHURI-YE ESLAMI |
| It seems that the conference will not lead to any fruitful result or any important agreement. This is why America is trying to invite as many countries as possible to the conference just to fill the empty seats. The list of invited countries proves that many of them are unrelated to the Palestine problem. | It seems that the conference will not lead to any fruitful result or any important agreement. This is why America is trying to invite as many countries as possible to the conference just to fill the empty seats. The list of invited countries proves that many of them are unrelated to the Palestine problem. |
| EDITORIAL IN IRAN'S RESALAT | EDITORIAL IN IRAN'S RESALAT |
| The Annapolis conference is like a fake picture, in which any kind of investment will definitely lead to a total defeat. Washington and Tel Aviv are trying to make Arab countries think that the conference is a turning point in the Palestine equations and it will be the source of many changes in the Middle East. However, the real hidden picture will appear soon. | The Annapolis conference is like a fake picture, in which any kind of investment will definitely lead to a total defeat. Washington and Tel Aviv are trying to make Arab countries think that the conference is a turning point in the Palestine equations and it will be the source of many changes in the Middle East. However, the real hidden picture will appear soon. |
| BBC Monitoring 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. | BBC Monitoring 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. |