So, just who can compromise at Annapolis?

As Israeli editors see it

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Olmert too weak to compromise

Yediot Aharonot says that “Of all those going to Annapolis, only Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has something to sell, real merchandise—territories.”
   
The editors believe that  U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice…“will surprise us with demands that would allow her and her country…to return home in peace,” and suggest that the other parties will do likewise.
   

The paper avers that Olmert is too weak politically to give in to the demands that will be made of him at Annapolis and says that analogies to the situations of previous prime ministers are not relevant.
   
“Then,” the editors write, “Israel will be portrayed as refusing peace in contrast to the Syrians’, Palestinians’ and all other Arab countries’ willingness for peace.
   
“Any other scenario will be a surprise, apparently for the good. If this is indeed the case, get ready. After Annapolis—the deluge!”

Abbas too weak to compromise

Ma’ariv editors write, “As the Annapolis summit draws closer, the main participants—the United States, Israel and the Palestinians—are all showing signs of sobering up from the exaggerated expectations to the effect that the international meeting would advance the establishment of the Palestinian state, lead to the moderate Arab countries recognizing Israel and contribute to regional calm and to the stabilizing of the U.S. position in the region.”
   
The editors believe that while Israel has shown willingness to compromise, the Palestinians have not backed down from their maximalist positions.
   
The paper asserts that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and the Palestinian Authority are too weak to compromise and notes that the Americans have been utterly unable to bridge the gaps between the sides.