The Syrian press described the accord as scandalous, saying the Palestinian Authority had given everything and received nothing worth mentioning in return.

Gulf newspapers said the big losers were the Palestinian people, who were faced with more injustice, humiliation and frustration.

Egypt and Jordan took a different line.

The Egyptian foreign minister, Amr Moussa, said the accord was a step in the right direction, while the Jordanian prime minister,Feyez Tarawneh, said it put the peace process back on course.