Press cautious on Gaza plan

The Israeli cabinet's approval in principle on Sunday of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip has drawn sceptical reactions among Israeli and Palestinian commentators.

Some see the move as an historic step - but any optimism is outweighed by anxiety about events on the ground and Mr Sharon's shaky coalition.

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History, an old cliché says, returns twice: once as a tragedy and once as a farce. Unless we are talking about the leadership of the state of Israel, in which case it appears a tragedy and a farce put together.

The events of recent days should have ignited the anger of every Israeli citizen. There is no anger, because the psychological disengagement of the Israeli citizen from his government is already a fact, and the farce of recent days has only completed it.

Editorial in Yediot Aharonot

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What in fact is the significance of the decision? [Deputy Prime Minister] Ehud Olmert says it constitutes an approval in principle of an all-out evacuation. [Finance Minister] Binyamin Netanyahu says no, it only confirms the start of preparations. The truth is, both are right: for the first time since the founding of the state a government has decided to evacuate settlements...

What does this mean? A young couple decide to get engaged: they inform the parents, buy a ring, look for a flat, and find a hall. As for the date and actual wedding, they will be announced separately.

Commentary in Yediot Aharonot

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Politicians can split hairs endlessly and celebrate imaginary victories. But no matter how you look at the government's decision on disengagement, with all the acrobatic drafting and the internal contradictions, it has only one meaning: the government has decided to evacuate settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. An historic decision. The countdown begins. Israel is at the start of a new road.

Commentary in Maariv

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Today the prime minister talks, declares his intentions and passes a first decision in the right direction. But the test will be that of implementation. So far, the government has not removed a single illegal outpost.

Second commentary in Maariv

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For the second time since its establishment, the government of Israel - headed by the "father" of the settlements - has approved a revolutionary proposal: to evacuate the Gaza Strip settlements within a year and a half. Will it result in evacuation, and not just of one settlement? Who knows?

The Sharon government's previous revolutionary decision was to adopt the American roadmap to peace. And where is that today? Who can predict what will happen in another few months?

Commentary in Haaretz

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In the final analysis - whether he disengages from Gaza or not - there is, nevertheless, a certain blessing in the actions of the prime minister. He has caused a split between the rational Israeli right and the fundamentalist Israeli right.

Second commentary in Haaretz

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What the Israeli government is doing... what it is discussing and voting on completely ignores the Palestinian people and its legitimate leadership... It is time for the international community and the US to move, now that it has been proved that what Sharon proposes is only a propaganda ploy, detached from reality on the ground.

Editorial in Palestinian Al-Quds

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Only one man will believe Ariel Sharon... He lives in the White House and continues to praise him, while Sharon continues to compare his cabinet ministers to a herd of sheep.

Commentary in Palestinian Al-Ayyam

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We think that the Israeli government's political crisis is still continuing, which might lead to the dismantling of the governing coalition and to its being reformed... Sharon's success this time will remain hostage to his ability to solve the crisis and maintain stability for his government, which is highly doubtful.

Second commentary in Palestinian Al-Ayyam

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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.