Mixed media: Peace in the middle east?

GROUNDS FOR OPTIMISM BRITISH RADIO: The Palestinians and the international community say they have agreed on "practical steps" to create a viable Palestinian state. An agreement reached at a London summit covers governance, security and economic and social development. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, attending the summit, said prospects for peace between Israel and Palestinians were the best in years. Rice said the elections in Iraq and the Palestinian territories, and moves to broaden political participation in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, spelled momentous times for the region.

- BBC News

American eyes

Abbas praised what he called "international, widespread and active support in our favour", creating "a sovereign, democratic and territorially contiguous Palestinian state, existing side by side with Israel".

The gathering in London seemed to also be part of a wider warming of transatlantic relations after a chill cast by the war in Iraq. European and American diplomats on the sidelines this week noted a marked difference in tone during the meeting.

- International Herald Tribune

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT'S VIEW: The importance of this meeting - and the word "meeting" is being used in preference to "conference" as a way of keeping expectations low - should not be overstated. Peace in the Middle East will not depend on meetings in far-off capitals. The suicide bombing in Tel Aviv last Friday has already cast a cloud over it.

Both Israel and the Palestinian Authority are pointing the finger at Syria, which has allowed Islamic Jihad to operate in its territory. The mutual accusations against a third party could enable Israel and the Palestinians to steer their way through the aftermath of the bomb. The way might then become clearer. The London meeting could be a help.

- Paul Reynolds, BBC website

NOT ENOUGH BERMUDAN BLOGGER: Maybe I'm becoming cynical in my old age, but aren't "practical steps" and "frank discussions" (Bush and Europe) just politico-speak for "achieved nothing except for consuming some good meals" and "we still disagree on everything, calling each other a few choice names in the meantime"?

- Gareth, Bermuda

MIDDLE EASTERN REACTION: Israel has criticised a London conference of world leaders for failing to demand that Palestinians dismantle militant groups in the aftermath of a suicide bombing that killed five Israelis.

"They did not go far enough. We were disappointed there was no mention of the need to dismantle terror organisations," a senior aide to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said.

"Without that, it will be hard to move forward on the diplomatic front."

Palestinians also came out of the meeting unhappy that the US and UN, among others, were not more critical of Israel.

Meeting on the sidelines in London, the US-led Quartet of international mediators that sponsored the 2003 roadmap to peace called for a more forceful Palestinian effort to "prevent acts of terrorism" but stopped short of calling for the sweeping crackdown Israel has demanded of Abbas, who is using talks to coax militants into stopping attacks.

- Reuters website

MIDDLE EASTERN BLOGGER: Diplomacy is for the weak and military action for the strong. Israel is a very powerful country and, under pressure from the failed US policy in Iraq, has agreed to talk to Abbas.

All peace talks are to do with window dressing for the Western policy towards the Arabs. They do not pass as logical or convincing to anyone with some knowledge of international law and resolutions to solve the Palestinian problem.

- Ahmad Hmoud, Jordan

ISRAELI NEWSPAPER: The Palestinians can, of course, delay forever the building of their own state. But the international message is sharpening: they cannot continue to blame Israel for their inability to take actions that are in their own hands, such as dismantling terrorist organisations, ending official incitement and bringing full political and civil rights to its society.

- Jerusalem Post