Mid-East press assesses truce

Israeli press commentators are divided in their interpretation of the Palestinian ceasefire. There are also expressions of cautious optimism, while Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is seen as a winner regardless of the outcome.

Arab papers see the truce as a genuine move towards a settlement by the Palestinians, and one which forces Israel to play its part in achieving peace.

From now on, it is not Arafat or [Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, also known as] Abu-Mazen who will decide the direction of the process, but Hamas: it is the judge deciding on a daily basis whether Israel is fulfilling the hudna conditions and when and how the cease-fire will end. Israel and the Palestinian Authority have become hostages to Hamas. Stopping the terrorist attacks has itself become some kind of terrorist attack.

Yediot Aharonot commentator Gay Bechour - Israel

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Lately, Hamas leaders have stopped talking about a hudna. And the Palestinians have moved to talking about a "temporary and conditional halt to attacks". The cause of this is the symbolic significance of the move: Muslims declare a hudna only when they are in an inferior position. In other words, Hamas is confirming for the first time and indirectly that its situation is not as good as it pretends.

Ma'ariv commentator Amit Cohen - Israel

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It is difficult to know whether the authority led by Abu-Mazen will be capable of honouring its commitments. [Palestinian Security Minister Mohammed] Dahlan indeed promises to honour his commitments. The question is whether his friends in Hamas and Islamic Jihad will enable him to do this.

Hatzofe commentator Moshe Ishon - Israel

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Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has nothing to lose from the cease-fire. If all is plain sailing it will prove that his demand to replace the Palestinian leadership was correct. If it runs aground, it will prove that Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat is still at the helm.

Ha'aretz commentator Akiva Eldar - Israel

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When two societies decide to hurt one another, it almost makes no difference which has planes and which has home-made explosives. In this confrontation there are only losers. The quicker we and they get rid of a series of illusions, the nearer will come the day when the two boxers can finally retire to their respective corners to lick their wounds.

Yediot Aharonot - Israel

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The declaration of a Palestinian truce invalidates Israeli's recent policy of using what it has called terrorism as an excuse to evade its roadmap commitments. No doubt the coming period will witness Israel implementing its responsibilities, most importantly the withdrawal of its forces from Palestinian Authority territories, the release of detainees and an end to occupations and assassinations.

Al-Jumhuriyah - Egypt

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The truce reached by the militant Palestinian organizations could lead to the implementation of lasting peace. Israel will have to bear the responsibility for this as it is the stronger party. Therefore, if it promises to make a brave decision that would end the war it will then gradually end its regional isolation. It would not be strange if some Palestinians started campaigning for a normalisation of relations with Israel.

Al-Watan - Kuwait

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It is clear that most Arabs are convinced of the USA's sincerity and seriousness not only concerning the implementation of the "roadmap" to the end but also in relation to US plans for the region. These include developing the region economically and making some reforms in all fields, starting with politics, education and women's rights.

Al-Mustaqbal - Lebanon

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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.