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Mideast media sees Abbas summit comfort Mideast media sees Abbas summit comfort
(about 8 hours later)
The overall view in the Middle Eastern media is that the Sharm el-Sheikh summit gave support to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in his stand-off with Hamas.

The overall view in the Middle Eastern media is that the Sharm el-Sheikh summit gave support to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in his stand-off with Hamas.

One paper notes that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's call on the Palestinian factions to set aside their differences might have undermined Mr Abbas and displeased Israel's prime minister, Ehud Olmert.

One paper notes that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's call on the Palestinian factions to set aside their differences might have undermined Mr Abbas and displeased Israel's prime minister, Ehud Olmert.

Several dismiss the whole summit as an irrelevance unless Israel is obliged to make more concessions.

Several dismiss the whole summit as an irrelevance unless Israel is obliged to make more concessions.

Palestinian Al-Quds

Palestinian Al-Quds

There is no way other than dialogue and understanding... The Palestinian conflict between Hamas and Fatah makes both movements face their historic and national responsibilities. They need to resume dialogue and their understandings especially after the Sharm el-Sheikh summit has shot down all other options and held both factions responsible for settling the chronic discord.

There is no way other than dialogue and understanding... The Palestinian conflict between Hamas and Fatah makes both movements face their historic and national responsibilities. They need to resume dialogue and their understandings especially after the Sharm el-Sheikh summit has shot down all other options and held both factions responsible for settling the chronic discord.

Hani al-Masri in Palestinian Al-Ayyam

Hani al-Masri in Palestinian Al-Ayyam

The Palestinian and Arab meetings with the Israeli leaderships give Israel cover to continue its policy aimed at establishing new facts on the grounds that would make the Israeli solution the only possible settlement for a final status solution. These meetings should be based on a clear reference to enable an end to the occupation. Removing a checkpoint and transferring funds should not be the ceiling of Palestinian-Israeli meetings.

The Palestinian and Arab meetings with the Israeli leaderships give Israel cover to continue its policy aimed at establishing new facts on the grounds that would make the Israeli solution the only possible settlement for a final status solution. These meetings should be based on a clear reference to enable an end to the occupation. Removing a checkpoint and transferring funds should not be the ceiling of Palestinian-Israeli meetings.

Nahum Barnea in Israel's Yediot Aharonot

Nahum Barnea in Israel's Yediot Aharonot

Olmert came to Sharm el-Sheikh in the hope that the rift between Hamas and Fatah would receive the blessing of the Arab world. Here he suffered disappointment. Instead of blessing Abbas on his split with Hamas, Mubarak called on him publicly to reunite the Palestinian people. Uniting means returning to the previous situation, to joint Fatah-Hamas rule. As far as Israel is concerned, this is a disaster.

Olmert came to Sharm el-Sheikh in the hope that the rift between Hamas and Fatah would receive the blessing of the Arab world. Here he suffered disappointment. Instead of blessing Abbas on his split with Hamas, Mubarak called on him publicly to reunite the Palestinian people. Uniting means returning to the previous situation, to joint Fatah-Hamas rule. As far as Israel is concerned, this is a disaster.

Jacky Hugi in Israel's Ma'ariv

Jacky Hugi in Israel's Ma'ariv

Four worried leaders gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh yesterday. None of them knows what kind of Middle East will be here in a year or two. Each of them has a pack of troubles and a ticking clock next to it. They gathered because they need a public relations act for a break-through move they find difficult to make. Any declaration made could also have been made without cameras. For this reason, it was a superfluous summit.

Four worried leaders gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh yesterday. None of them knows what kind of Middle East will be here in a year or two. Each of them has a pack of troubles and a ticking clock next to it. They gathered because they need a public relations act for a break-through move they find difficult to make. Any declaration made could also have been made without cameras. For this reason, it was a superfluous summit.

Egypt's Al-Ahram

- 		Egypt's Al-Ahram

It is noteworthy that the Arab parties at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit yesterday had clear purposes. They have a clear desire to establish peace in the region. This desire stems from their belief that the Palestinian issue is the core of the conflict and that solving it is the only means to end the conflict and contain violence. Consequently, Israel has to announce its stand without resorting to manoeuvres or attempting to exploit what took place in Gaza to achieve the plans rejected by Palestinians and Arabs to isolate Gaza from the West Bank.
Jordan's Al-Dustour

Jordan's Al-Dustour

Unlike what the doubters and pessimists expected, the Sharm el-Sheikh summit showed an historic opportunity to launch a real peace process soon. In addition, the summit reformulated the peace project on new bases... It succeeded in establishing the principle of dialogue to solving differences; that is, to put an end to the use of force under any circumstances. It also succeeded in supporting Palestinian legitimacy as represented by President Mahmoud Abbas.

Unlike what the doubters and pessimists expected, the Sharm el-Sheikh summit showed an historic opportunity to launch a real peace process soon. In addition, the summit reformulated the peace project on new bases... It succeeded in establishing the principle of dialogue to solving differences; that is, to put an end to the use of force under any circumstances. It also succeeded in supporting Palestinian legitimacy as represented by President Mahmoud Abbas.

Sami al-Zubaydi in Jordan's Al-Ra'y

Sami al-Zubaydi in Jordan's Al-Ra'y

The Sharm el-Sheikh summit will definitely result in a firm Arab decision that Israel should meet the requirements of the peace track. On the other hand, Israel will definitely be slow in responding to the Arab call. The Israelis came with a sole aim, to support Palestinian division.

The Sharm el-Sheikh summit will definitely result in a firm Arab decision that Israel should meet the requirements of the peace track. On the other hand, Israel will definitely be slow in responding to the Arab call. The Israelis came with a sole aim, to support Palestinian division.

Saudi Al-Watan

Saudi Al-Watan

Today, after the authority and government have been subdivided and after Palestine has been divided into a West Bank and Gaza, the pressing question is: Where is Palestinian legitimacy? And who is taking the Palestinian decisions? And what if Hamas and other resisting factions that reject the Oslo Accords resume their old method of dispatching suicide bombers to Israel? It is not the Palestinians alone who have the answer, but also the international Quartet, which is subject to pressures from Washington and bias towards Israel.

Today, after the authority and government have been subdivided and after Palestine has been divided into a West Bank and Gaza, the pressing question is: Where is Palestinian legitimacy? And who is taking the Palestinian decisions? And what if Hamas and other resisting factions that reject the Oslo Accords resume their old method of dispatching suicide bombers to Israel? It is not the Palestinians alone who have the answer, but also the international Quartet, which is subject to pressures from Washington and bias towards Israel.

BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.

BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.