Israel press gives cautious welcome

Israeli papers welcome President Vladimir Putin's arrival in their country - the first visit to Israel by a Russian leader - but also give voice to widespread doubts about Moscow's real intentions in the region.

Arab and Russian papers meanwhile weigh up the outcome of Mr Putin's visit to Cairo on Wednesday.

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The State of Israel welcomes you and opens its heart before you. We know how to appreciate the step you have taken by coming to us and sadly contemplate the opportunity missed by your predecessors, who never came here. It is better late than never.

Editorial in Israel's Yediot Aharonot

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In the security establishment they are not impressed: "Putin is playing a double game: he transmits sympathy on the one hand and helps Israel's enemies on the other."

Headline in Israel's Maariv

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Putin has arrived in the Middle East because he believes that there is a window of opportunity here and the possibility of becoming part of a wide international move. This is why he is proposing an international peace conference in Moscow. Such a move transmits that Russia is a central player in the international arena.

Commentary in Yediot Aharonot

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[Putin's] hosts will listen politely. They know closely, including from aerial photographs, the nuclear infrastructure Russia is laying in Bushehr [nuclear power plant] in Iran. They know very well the shipments of Russian arms to Syria, which are arming Hezbollah. They know by heart the map of Russian interests. Today Putin will get respect in overflowing doses from Ariel Sharon. Only time will tell whether he deserves this respect.

Commentary in Israel's Maariv

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Putin wants to signal to the world, especially to the Arab world, that both he personally, and Russia, want to reassume the historical role played by Moscow in the Middle East... The visit will also enable Putin to present himself as a leader in the fight against anti-Semitism, after a series of recent anti-Semitic incidents in Russia that raised questions about Moscow's determination and vigilance on this matter.

Commentary in Israel's Haaretz

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The Russian position on a real engagement in the Middle East process was reluctant for long years for fear of political confrontation with the US and Israel. Putin's visit to the Palestinian territories is a brave step which we welcome.

Commentary in Palestinian Al-Hayat al-Jadidah

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Israel knows that the Russian [anti-aircraft] missiles [sold to Syria] are defensive. But it needs to enlist everyone, including Russia, in isolating Syria.

Commentary in Palestinian Al-Ayyam

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The Mubarak-Putin summit has succeeded in reaffirming the solidity of the historic Egyptian-Russian relations on the bases of common understanding and mutual respect. Egypt does not forget those friends who stood by it in time of need and contributed to its progress.

Editorial in Egypt's Al-Jumhuriya

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For President Putin's initiative of holding an international peace conference on the Middle East in Moscow to succeed, the initiative should first and foremost get the strong and collective support of Arabs.

Editorial in Qatar's Al-Watan

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Putin has exploited the "special" nature of relations with Egypt to the maximum. It was not for nothing that Egypt was chosen as the first stop in the Russian president's Middle Eastern tour, undertaken to demonstrate Moscow's peace-making role in the Arab-Israeli settlement... It is unlikely that such a peace-making initiative would have been received with enthusiasm in Israel, but the Egyptian president began nodding with approval after Putin's words had been translated to him.

Commentary in Russia's Gazeta

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The results of Vladimir Putin's Cairo visit provoked jealousy in Israel, although, officially, the positive nature of the talks in the Egyptian capital is being repeatedly stressed, especially with Egypt being one of Israel's few political and economic partners in the Arab world.

Commentary in Russia's Novyye Izvestiya

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Russia has in effect officially recognised Egypt's leading role in the Middle East. Egypt was keen for Moscow to support its bid for a seat on the [UN] Security Council, which it did.

Commentary in Russia's Nezavisimaya Gazeta

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