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Last Updated: Tuesday, 3 June, 2003, 12:46 GMT 13:46 UK
Mid-East press cautious on peace talks

Arabic newspapers believe that US President George W Bush must be prepared to exert pressure on Israel if upcoming talks with Arab and Israeli leaders are to have any hope of success.

In the Israeli press, some commentators examine divisions within the right-wing camp following Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's acceptance of the roadmap.


Israel is always sceptical about peace and still lives on blood and guns. It knows only the language of aggression. It relies on the US's support, which we hope this time will be used to push Israel towards peace rather than war.

Al-Watan - Saudi Arabia


The US has responsibilities which go beyond merely launching initiatives that do not help confront the Sharon government's aggression. The US's responsibility lies in its credibility towards the peace process, during which the policy of double standards must be eliminated.

Tishrin - Syria


Sharon's government does not have a political programme. It is seeking only to abort the Palestinian intifada with hostile force.

Al-Thawrah - Syria


If Jordanian King Abdallah believes the Aqaba summit will be a serious step towards implementing the roadmap. The US, the guardian of the peace process, must accept its responsibility for tackling the problems in the region.

Al-Ra'y - Jordan


If the Aqaba summit is set to open a new page in the history of the region, holding it in Jordan reflects regional and international recognition of Jordan's continuous efforts to boost the peace process and bring the roadmap to fruition.

Al-Dustur - Jordan


The stage for reconciliation that Bush has set requires tangible results for him to convince all parties that the Bush administration, particularly its hawks, is really keen on dialogue with its regional partners and is not just seeking a truce because of US elections.

Al-Ittihad - UAE


The decision to accept the roadmap places Sharon in the same hot spot as [former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak] Rabin after his handshake with [Palestinian leader Yasser] Arafat. Now he is the bitter foe of the far right and a potential assassination target.

Ha'aretz commentator Amnon Barzilai - Israel


If Sharon wants to persist with the roadmap, the right-wing ministers will be forced to resign.

Ma'ariv commentator Dan Margalit - Israel


The ideological collapse of the right is fertile ground for the growth of the camp of the faithful. For without being tied to the right, the faithful are free to dedicate themselves to a stubborn struggle against the sword of peace that is threatening to ruin Israel.

Hatzofe commentator Yehuda Tzoref - Israel


BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.





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