US diplomatic efforts criticised

US inability to stop settlements upsets Mideast media

Intensive diplomatic efforts by top US officials in the Middle East this week failed to convince Arab commentators that Washington really wants to put pressure on Israel to stop the expansion of Jewish settlements.

Most writers pointed out that the talks the US peace envoy George Mitchell, Secretary of Defence Robert Gates and National Security Adviser Jim Jones had in the region, including in Israel, Syria and Egypt, did not achieve the declared "good progress" towards peace.

Several papers urged President Barack Obama to adopt a tougher stance on Israel, warning that he only has a few months to change the political climate in the Middle East.

Mazin Hammad in Jordan's Al-Dustur

The administration of US President Barack Obama has failed to reach an agreement to halt settlements on the West Bank, despite sending many of its officials to Israel. US envoy George Mitchell tried to prove that progress was achieved, but the bitter facts prove that this is a lie... Has Obama's administration chosen the path of retraction and submission to what the Israeli government wants?

Rajih al-Khuri in Lebanon's Al-Nahar

Where is this "good progress" which the talks of George Mitchell have achieved, as was announced after his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu? Perhaps Obama has to borrow an Arab mind, or perhaps Mitchell has to revive his Lebanese origin in order to realise that asking Arabs for normalisation of relations with Israel before Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories means to ask for the ultimate treason - giving up all our trump cards and granting the Israeli occupation regional legitimacy.

Al-Azab al-Tayyib al-Tahir in Qatar's Al-Rayah

The real goal of George Mitchell's visit is to focus on pushing Arab countries towards normalisation with the Zionist entity... All the differences and disagreements that we are closely watching on the settlements issue are only a part of a previously agreed tactic to convince the Arab side of the seriousness of the US vision.

Ahmad Burghul in Syria's Al-Ba'th

The Israeli government is proceeding with its plans to build settlements in the occupied West Bank because it feels that the US opposition to the settlements is not serious and that it will not go beyond words.

Editorial in Egypt's Al-Akhbar

No doubt US officials realise that there are many ways to put pressure on Israel. It is enough to mention only one - the political cover that Washington gives the Jewish state internationally... If the US is really honest in its desire to force Israel to stop the settlements, it is enough to hint at the possibility of depriving Israel of this protection.

Ahmad al-Hillah in Palestinian paper Filastin

The difference between US President Barack Obama and former President George Bush, and the difference between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party in the US, is similar to the difference between the Labour and Likud parties in Israel. They all rally around Zionist positions although they might tactically differ on how to implement them.

Larry Derfner in Israel's Jerusalem Post

Everybody complains that Obama is putting all the pressure on Israel and none on the Arabs... I think that at this point, the pressure belongs on Israel and not on the Arabs… The reason is that we in Israel are happy with the status quo, while the Arabs, most relevantly the Palestinians and Syrians, are not… The deck is stacked so heavily in our favour; Obama's just trying to make it more even.

Musib Nu'aymi in Iran's Al-Vefagh

George Mitchell's second visit to the region in a month and a half has failed due to the Zionists' intransigence and refusal to halt the settlement activity... It is known that the Americans have not taken any new steps to stop the settlements or freeze their aid to this entity which establishes its expansionist projects with US funds. This means that there is harmony between the Israeli settlement projects and the United States' two-faced policy.

Ghassan Sharbil in pan-Arab Al-Hayat

Barack Obama has to check the time because charisma does not last for long in the Middle East... Obama's methods in dealing with the decision to leave Iraq and the events in Iran confirmed the adoption of a different approach. What now remains is the biggest test - the Arab-Israeli peace issue... Obama has only a few months left to change the climate in the region.

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