Cablegate: Media Reaction: Middle East: Annapolis Peace Conference;

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SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: MIDDLE EAST: ANNAPOLIS PEACE CONFERENCE;
SAO PAULO

"Israel and The Palestinians Resume Negotiations"

Business-oriented Valor Economico editorialized (11/29): "The
Annapolis Summit ended with the already exhaustively repeated
promise that both Israelis and Palestinians will seriously engage in
efforts to resolve their differences, bring peace to the Middle East
and establish coexistence between two sovereign states. It is not
much, but is the maximum George W. Bush, Mahmoud Abbas and Ehud
Olmert, three weak and unpopular leaders, are capable of obtaining
today. Moreover, it is better to have historical rivals looking for
a solution for their problems on the negotiation table than bombing
each other.... The strategy of looking for a landmark to conclude
his administration may be Bush's only opportunity left to provide
some breath to a Republican candidate in the presidential elections.
It is one of Bush's few trump cards, although his intransigent
support of Israel may destroy even some sincere intentions.... As
soon as the preparatory committee meets on December 12, all problems
will resume their brutal complexity.... The likelihood of a failure
is enormous, but any chance for peace is better than nothing."
White

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