Jordanian newspapers, meanwhile, demanded that the United States and the European Union, two key players in the Middle East peace process, make maximum efforts to help Israel and the PLO resume the stalled peace talks. Both independent and pro-Government dailies hoped that political talks underway between Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and the Speaker of the Palestinian parliament, Ahmed Qurei, will produce results.
The Al-Rai newspaper said in an editorial. "More windows should be opened to stem the crisis which seems to be caught up in internal Israeli politicking. It is not logical to allow the region, its people and stability to become an issue for the hawks of the Likud Party, Right-wing extremists and religious parties." Likud is the party of hard-line Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
The Ad Destour daily likewise appealed to Washington and the EU, harshly slamming Washington's "immoral support" for Israel against the Palestinians. The newspaper wrote: "Sharon succeeded in barring Arafat from going to Bethlehem (for midnight mass) and his spokesman said he will also bar him from leaving Ramallah" the West Bank town where the Palestinian leader has been under virtual house arrest. "This act has shown Israel's capability to defy laws, agreements and public opinion thanks to the immoral support the United States is giving to the last occupation country in the world."
