Opinion split on Israeli roadmap vote

The Israeli cabinet's approval of the so-called roadmap to peace attracts comment across the political spectrum in the country's press. Reaction ranges from hopes that the plan will acquire its own momentum, through fears that it will go the way of all past initiatives, to indignation at its very existence.

Reaction is slower to emerge in the Arabic press. Gulf papers reflect differing views on the Israeli decision, while comment elsewhere is similarly divided on the general roadmap issue.

The big difference between the roadmap and its precursors is that President George W Bush has not made do with declarations of loyalty from the prime minister. This time, the US is insisting that Israel sign its initials next to the provisions about Palestinian statehood and a freeze on settlements... For the first time, President Bush has decided to get his feet wet.

Ha'aretz commentator Akiva Eldar - Israel

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Precisely because of his experience and craftiness, Sharon knows that once a move has started, it acquires its own momentum. What Sharon's right-wing government started yesterday could develop by its own force, and Sharon's experience and sophistication will not help him. And what seemed to him like a tactical move will become a fait accompli.

Yediot Aharonot commentator Sima Qadmon - Israel

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Unfortunately, the prime minister did not see fit to introduce the roadmap as the start of a new era in the relationship between Israel and the Palestinian Government led by Mahmoud Abbas... Instead, Sharon chose to describe the plan as a necessary evil, required because of the link between the security crisis and the severe recession.

Ha'aretz - Israel

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The two sides are playing a game of poker by the best Texan rules. At any moment one of the players could accuse the other side of deception and draw his gun. But to judge by past experience, this game too will not last long, despite the high stakes. The roadmap, regrettably, will also lead to a dead end.

Ma'ariv commentator Amit Cohen - Israel

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Amid all the talk about dividing land, dismantling settlements and ending control over another people, we have forgotten the main thing: the chances of Abu-Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas] and [Palestinian Minister of State for Security] Mohammed Dahlan supplying the security merchandise demanded by Israel are similar to Ariel Sharon's chances of evacuating Beit El and Shilo [settlements] in the coming year.

Ma'ariv commentator Ben Kaspit - Israel

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Despite the reasonable assumption that the plan will end up not being implemented, mainly because terrorism will not stop, the decision itself is very grave: the fact that a Jewish government... is for the first time granting a foreign population political sovereignty over the country... There has never been any independent political sovereignty in the land other than that of the Jewish people.

Hatzofe commentator Hagay Huberman - Israel

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Yesterday was an historic day... in the history of Israel, for it officially agreed to a Palestinian state for the first time.

Al-Watan - Qatar

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It would have been better for Israel to announce its clear rejection of the roadmap instead of using a deceitful method to look to the world as if it had approved it... Before the Americans cheer Israel's conditional approval of the roadmap, it is up to Washington to end Israel's dawdling and guarantee that the roadmap will be implemented in line with its articles - not with Israel's ideas of occupation.

Al-Bayan - UAE

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If Israel does not come up with anything new in its current position, it will prove that it has mastered the art of destroying all efforts and international initiatives aimed at achieving peace.

Al-Ba'th - Syria

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It has became clear that the US administration, and particularly its president, contrary to their previous stands, have shown great concern to resolve the Palestinian crisis since the occupation of Iraq, because of its negative effect on US-Arab relations.

Al-Sharq al-Awsat - London

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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.