Sunday's Israeli press veers from the circumspect to the cynical over the current visit of US Secretary of State Colin Powell and the future of the road map for Middle East peace. The issue of alleged anti-Semitism in Britain also attracts comment.
The Arabic press is similarly cautious about the Powell visit, with comment from both sides of the divide pointing to the Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories as a possible sticking point.
The road map is already spread out on a wobbly table, a Palestinian prime minister was born after a long, painful cesarean section, and a US secretary of state is coming to Israel. Maybe a bottle will be cracked open, there will be a speech, or at least a press conference. And then - surprise - everything will be the same... Colin Powell, welcome!
Ha'aretz - Israel
If the US president authorized (Powell) to appoint a senior envoy to the region who heads a strong team, it will become clear that this time the US means business.
Yedi'ot Aharonot - Israel
Sharon is a champion in giving little. Sharon will promise Powell to grant relief in the humanitarian field, will increase the number of work permits, agree to renewing work of the security committees and so forth. But Sharon will shut his ears to everything related to removing isolated illegal [settlement] outposts.
Yedi'ot Aharonot
Despite the words of reproach heaped on him yesterday by Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, the only fear Powell can have is that his current visit begins exactly like his last visit to Israel, a year ago, which ended when he left here with his tail between his legs, and with diplomatic egg on his face.
Ma'ariv - Israel
The Arabs have to drop the ruse of recognizing Israel with one hand, and attempting to demographically transform it into yet another Arab state by flooding it with 'refugees' with the other. The simple way for Bush to press this point would be to back Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's demand that the Palestinians be required to renounce the 'right of return' to Israel at the beginning of the [peace] process.
Jerusalem Post - Israel
Few Jews in Britain believe that the anti-Israel, anti-Zionist tide is anything but a cover for anti-Semitism; and this week the cover was blown by prominent Labour legislator Tam Dalyell... who accused Tony Blair of being unduly influenced by 'a cabal of Jewish leaders'. In doing so, he has given such private thoughts public respectability... removing the last taboo from a hatred that dared not speak its name.
Jerusalem Post
The success of Powell's trip to Israel is basically linked to convincing Israel of the road map without any amendments and reservations. The dismantling of Israeli settlements built in the last three years and a withdrawal from Palestinian Authority territories is the first step that would prove Israel's sincerity about the road map. The onus is primarily on Israel, since it is the one which has repeatedly overturned the negotiating table.
Al-Ahram - Egypt
The return of US Secretary of State Colin Powell, for the second time in less than a week, after his visit to Damascus and Beirut, to the Middle East to hold talks with Palestinian and Israeli officials shows that the USA is determined to find a solution to the Palestinian issue and resolve the Arab-Israeli dispute once and for all - something it has never done before. The road map project might carry with it a solution which the world has been waiting for, for more than half a century. The Palestinians have also shown their readiness to accept the road map peace project but the Israeli side has not shown any sign of readiness for the peace plan up to now.
Al-Sharq al-Awsat - London-based Arabic-language
Success will not be achieved during Powell and America's mission in the region, unless this mission is based on the legacy of the attempts to bring about a settlement and the tens of international resolutions which call on Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories, recognize the rights of the refugees to return and a recognition of the illegality of its occupation of Jerusalem.
Al-Jazirah - Saudi Arabia
Like his first visit to the Middle East two weeks ago, the second visit of Secretary of State Colin Powell to Tel Aviv will not achieve any results if it is not linked to an active US position and pressure on Israel to change its stance and abide by international law.
Al-Ba'th - Syria
The US president, George Bush, has forgotten that Arab countries had presented an unprecedented peace initiative for the sake of stability in the region. He also forgot that Israel replied to the initiative with killings, bombings and destruction.
Al-Watan - Saudi Arabia
The Americans can occupy the region and the Israelis can terrorize the region, but our people will remain the problematic point which cannot be ignored. History did not end on 9/3, the date when Baghdad fell or 9/11, the date of the New York attacks. History ended when the rights of our people were lost and its health will never be restored unless we reclaim it.
Al-Hayat al-Jadidah - Palestinian
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