Mid-east press considers impact of attacks

Tuesday's suicide attacks on Israeli targets and their impact on the future of the peace process dominate the press in the Middle East.

Israeli papers display uncertainty about the future of the shaky Palestinian cease-fire, with some contrasting views from politicians about the way ahead.

Arab newspapers, on the other hand, focus on blaming Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for what they see as a self-inflicted injury.

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As it seems now, the hudna (ceasefire) will continue to chug along until it dies, and after it the deluge - terrorist attacks and painful Israel Defence Force responses to them. It seems yesterday's terrorist attacks were an advance on what is expected. At this stage, only the USA can stop this crazy, bloody circle, and only with force.

Yediot Aharonot - Israel

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Yesterday's pair of deadly terrorist attacks in Rosh Haayin and Ariel was a flashback and trailer at the same time. The familiar, harsh pictures gave a painful reminder of the past that we have been so quick to forget, but also a quick glimpse of the future, which will soon be on our screens if there are no last-minute changes.

Maariv commentator Hemi Shalev - Israel

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Despite the difficult scenes that returned to our TV screens yesterday, it seems the hudna will survive. Each side has much to lose if the ceasefire collapses. If the Palestinian leadership... merely continues a dialogue with all the factions in the territories, it is liable to come out the biggest loser. The US administration will make no concessions to Abu Mazin regarding terror.

Yediot Aharonot commentator Shimon Schiffer - Israel

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There was no surprise here, only great sorrow. Even those who believed this hudna was a corridor to peace knew a terrorist was coming... The Israeli government is liable to be tempted to let Hamas set the rules to win a few more days of calm. I hope we will not fall into this trap, which will end in war, not peace.

National Religious Party leader Effi Eitam, writing in Maariv - Israel

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We did not pray for this hudna, but I do not recommend giving it up, for the alternative will be seven times harder. I suggest we invest more in it... If after a real, determined investment in the road map, the hudna sinks, there will be no alternative to returning to the idea we have been recommending for two years: an international mandate in the territories.

Meretz ex-leader Yosi Sarid, writing in Maariv - Israel

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Sharon has not understood the value of the truce reached by Mahmoud Abbas with the Palestinian factions to open up an opportunity for peace by implementing the road map, to which the Israeli side has not adhered... Everyone, including Israel's friends, said the ongoing operations to kill and detain faction elements who are committed to the truce would result in reactions like yesterday's.

Al-Dustur - Jordan

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The crimes of the bloody terrorist Ariel Sharon are pushing the Palestinian brothers to defend themselves. These continuous crimes are torpedoing the truce for which the Palestinian opposition groups strove in order to tell the world they wanted peace.

Al-Bayan - UAE

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The success of the truce announced only by the Palestinian side has been very limited, because the government of Ariel Sharon has always stressed that it is not party to it.

Al-Quds al-Arabi - London-based

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A little fire and a lot of smoke. This is the "war of the truce". All the mutual violations are the fire and all the political consultations are the smoke. There are strong doubts about the power of the Palestinian government of Mahmoud Abbas to control the fedayeen violations, just as there are doubts about Washington's power to control the retaliation by Sharon's government.

Al-Ayyam - Palestinian

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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.