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Press sceptical over Bush visit Press sceptical over Bush visit
(1 day later)
Newspapers in the Middle East are generally doubtful that US President George Bush's forthcoming visit will achieve a breakthrough in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Newspapers in the Middle East are generally doubtful that US President George Bush's forthcoming visit will achieve a breakthrough in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Commentators in the Israeli press fear the tour will fail because of Arab intransigence or the weakness of Israeli and Palestinian leaders. A writer in a Palestinian paper, however, argues that success will only come if the US puts pressure on Israel.

Commentators in the Israeli press fear the tour will fail because of Arab intransigence or the weakness of Israeli and Palestinian leaders. A writer in a Palestinian paper, however, argues that success will only come if the US puts pressure on Israel.
This view is echoed in the wider Arab press, where several commentators dismiss Mr Bush's visit as a face-saving exercise, although a writer in a Saudi-owned paper argues that it could yet prove to be the most important in 50 years.

 This view is echoed in the wider Arab press, where several commentators dismiss Mr Bush's visit as a face-saving exercise, although a writer in a Saudi-owned paper argues that it could yet prove to be the most important in 50 years.
ISRAEL'S JERUSALEM POST

ISRAEL'S JERUSALEM POST
Once again Israelis who oppose territorial concessions can rest quiet in the knowledge that Arab leaders look set to doom the peace process to failure by waiting for someone else to move it forward... As the Israeli people have spent the 1990s coming to terms with the justice of Palestinian self-determination, so must the Arabs and the Palestinians undertake the same cultural and intellectual challenge.

 Once again Israelis who oppose territorial concessions can rest quiet in the knowledge that Arab leaders look set to doom the peace process to failure by waiting for someone else to move it forward... As the Israeli people have spent the 1990s coming to terms with the justice of Palestinian self-determination, so must the Arabs and the Palestinians undertake the same cultural and intellectual challenge.
YOEL MARCUS IN ISRAEL'S HA'ARETZ

YOEL MARCUS IN ISRAEL'S HA'ARETZ
Let's not raise our expectations too high. We are talking about weak leaders on both sides, leaders who can barely stand on their own two feet... it seems fair to say that no great miracle will happen here.

 Let's not raise our expectations too high. We are talking about weak leaders on both sides, leaders who can barely stand on their own two feet... it seems fair to say that no great miracle will happen here.
ISRAEL'S HA'ARETZ

ISRAEL'S HA'ARETZ
It seems that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government is strong only when it comes to talking about peace, holding meetings, making trips and visits and shaking hands. When it comes to the settlers, it is noteworthy for cowardice... Military action against Hamas has no chance of succeeding if the Palestinians do not see light at the end of the diplomatic tunnel. It seems that the prime minister is moving hesitantly between the carrot and the stick, and is unable to be effective with either one.

It seems that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government is strong only when it comes to talking about peace, holding meetings, making trips and visits and shaking hands. When it comes to the settlers, it is noteworthy for cowardice... Military action against Hamas has no chance of succeeding if the Palestinians do not see light at the end of the diplomatic tunnel. It seems that the prime minister is moving hesitantly between the carrot and the stick, and is unable to be effective with either one.
RAJAB ABU-SURAYYAH IN PALESTINIAN AL-AYYAM

RAJAB ABU-SURAYYAH IN PALESTINIAN AL-AYYAM
The fact that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Olmert are reported to be politically weak should not be a reason hindering a settlement between the two sides. On the contrary, this might be one of the major causes leading to a settlement which will strengthen both of them because the other possibilities are worse.

 The fact that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Olmert are reported to be politically weak should not be a reason hindering a settlement between the two sides. On the contrary, this might be one of the major causes leading to a settlement which will strengthen both of them because the other possibilities are worse.
AHMAD DAHBUR IN PALESTINAIAN AL-HAYAT AL-JADIDAH

AHMAD DAHBUR IN PALESTINAIAN AL-HAYAT AL-JADIDAH
Bush's visit will not yield any serious or new results. Nevertheless, he invites himself to our country and declares - even before landing - that there is no place in his schedule for a tripartite summit with the Palestinian president and the prime minister of the Hebrew state.

 Bush's visit will not yield any serious or new results. Nevertheless, he invites himself to our country and declares - even before landing - that there is no place in his schedule for a tripartite summit with the Palestinian president and the prime minister of the Hebrew state.
PALESTINIAN AL-QUDS

PALESTINIAN AL-QUDS
President Bush is coming tomorrow but has already issued statements regarding the freezing of the settlement expansion and establishment of an independent Palestinian state before the end of his term. However, these words need to be supported by action and real pressure on Israel, which is the only hindrance to reaching peace and establishing a Palestinian state.

 President Bush is coming tomorrow but has already issued statements regarding the freezing of the settlement expansion and establishment of an independent Palestinian state before the end of his term. However, these words need to be supported by action and real pressure on Israel, which is the only hindrance to reaching peace and establishing a Palestinian state.
IRAN'S AL-VEFAGH

IRAN'S AL-VEFAGH
US officials have played down the expected results of Bush's visit to the region and analysts see that the problems will not be solved in one tour only. Unfortunately, both either do not understand or ignore the fact that Bush's tour will achieve Israel's aims... All other issues can wait until after Bush.

 US officials have played down the expected results of Bush's visit to the region and analysts see that the problems will not be solved in one tour only. Unfortunately, both either do not understand or ignore the fact that Bush's tour will achieve Israel's aims... All other issues can wait until after Bush.
ABD-AL-BARI ATWAN IN LONDON-BASED AL-QUDS AL-ARABI

ABD-AL-BARI ATWAN IN LONDON-BASED AL-QUDS AL-ARABI
President Bush cannot be a peace maker because all he knows is war and destruction... How can we believe that he is now coming to the region to establish an independent Palestinian state when he is the one who supported and still supports the daily Israeli massacres of the people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip?

President Bush cannot be a peace maker because all he knows is war and destruction... How can we believe that he is now coming to the region to establish an independent Palestinian state when he is the one who supported and still supports the daily Israeli massacres of the people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip?
UMAR JAFTALI IN SYRIA'S TISHRIN

UMAR JAFTALI IN SYRIA'S TISHRIN
President Bush may be trying to clear himself of the guilt for taking the region to the verge of catastrophe, whether in Iraq or in the occupied Arab land.

President Bush may be trying to clear himself of the guilt for taking the region to the verge of catastrophe, whether in Iraq or in the occupied Arab land.
JA'FAR MUHAMMAD AHMAD IN UAE's AL-KHALIJ

JA'FAR MUHAMMAD AHMAD IN UAE's AL-KHALIJ
The aim of the US president is not peace for peace's sake, but he seeks to make an achievement that can be attributed to him as success after the end of his presidency.

 The aim of the US president is not peace for peace's sake, but he seeks to make an achievement that can be attributed to him as success after the end of his presidency.
WALID NUWAYHID IN BAHRAIN'S AL-WASAT

WALID NUWAYHID IN BAHRAIN'S AL-WASAT
Bush's tour will not have any effect and will not contribute to taking one step forward... Bush's cards are now known and it is possible that they are all useless.

 Bush's tour will not have any effect and will not contribute to taking one step forward... Bush's cards are now known and it is possible that they are all useless.
ABD AL-RAHMAN AL-RASHID IN SAUDI-OWNED IRAQ EDITION OF AL-SHARQ AL-AWSAT

ABD AL-RAHMAN AL-RASHID IN SAUDI-OWNED IRAQ EDITION OF AL-SHARQ AL-AWSAT
Bush's projected visit to the region could be more important than any visit by a top US official over the past 50 years. This is because it is clear in purpose and does indeed give peace a real chance at a time when everyone involved is willing to support it.

 Bush's projected visit to the region could be more important than any visit by a top US official over the past 50 years. This is because it is clear in purpose and does indeed give peace a real chance at a time when everyone involved is willing to support it.
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.