Depending on Israeli officials’ prudence ‘a losing bet’

The Paris Summit on Palestine and the terrorist attack in Jordan were the topics that dominated headlines in the region’s papers.

The Paris Summit was similar to a diplomacy training session for 30 countries who wanted to test the possibility of solving the Middle East’s main crisis: the Palestinian issue, said UAE’s Al Khaleej.

“The summit resulted in a very modest communique that does not even provide a launch pad for initiating the political process once again. The results are quite simply, the minimum, particularly in view of the participating countries’ opposing and somewhat contradicting stances towards Israel, and the references and mechanisms for implementing a solution. Therefore, the summit was satisfied with only issuing a communique that reiterates support for the two-state solution and stresses that Israeli colony building activity only undermines a peaceful solution between the two countries. Perhaps this communique is supposed to embarrass Israel and its allies so that they may shoulder their responsibilities. However, gambling on the prudence of Israeli officials is a losing bet, just like direct Palestinian-Israeli talks initiated by the US.”

Friday’s talks began without an Israeli or Palestinian presence. Yet, with Israel’s track record of scuppering any path to peace this is perhaps not as foolish as it may seem, said Lebanon’s Daily Star.

“Quite simply, despite France’s best efforts and the Palestinians’ optimism, the arguments sound the same and the facts get only worse. Even United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon’s remarks on Friday were just a rehashing of the same speech he has made ever since he took office. With over 500,000 West Bank settlers bedded in and Israeli belligerence at an all-time high, peace looks far off, whatever may be said.

The mere fact that an international summit was held to discuss the Palestinian issue is definitely a positive development, said Palestine’s Al Quds.

“The summit’s final communique emphasised that not finding a solution to the Palestinian issue will lead to instability and terrorism in the world, and therefore a solution is now an imperative. And this solution to must be based on the Arab initiative and international resolutions. Such a stand will clearly be opposed by Israel, which is currently talking about beginning negotiations, without, as it claims, any ‘preconditions’, when it is Israel that is clearly setting the preconditions and obstacles due to its colonial activity and the judaisation of Jerusalem. Israel must feel like it will pay a very high price for not abiding by set resolutions, or it will simply keep turning its back on similar manoeuvres, initiatives and actions, just like it has done many times before.”

The terrorist attack in Jordan took place on the first day of Ramadan, the month when people should enjoy peace and display even more love, forgiveness and compassion, said the Jordan Times.

“This attack reminds us that our country is fighting a war against terrorism along with an international coalition that includes brotherly Arab and Islamic forces, as well as friendly nations from around the world. This is a war that we did not choose. It is a war for Jordan, for Arab brethren being massacred by the forces of evil, for civilians from around the world facing the threat of terrorist forces claiming to represent Islam while doing everything that contravenes its teachings.”

The terrorist attacks in Niger and Jordan represent the magnitude of danger that international terrorism poses, said Qatar’s Al Sharq.

“The terrorists perpetrated the attack in Jordan during the first day of Ramadan, a month is that is sacred to all Muslims and in all Islamic nations. This alone is proof that Islam is hands are clean from the murder and terrorism, and also makes it clear that Muslims are first and foremost the ones who are suffering at the hands of terrorism and violence.”