Saudi newspapers highlighted in their editorials today a number of local, regional and international issues with Al-Youm and Al-Watan sharing the same interest as they highlighted the U.S. middle east process policy to bring Palestinians and Israelis to an agreement. Al-Youm said the shuttle trips by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in the region have sent a great deal of optimism that a final settlement between Israelis and Palestinians containing practical solutions might be in the offing. The paper said Obama administration's declaration that it was determined to proceed with the way reaching a viable peace that guarantees the rights of Palestinians of establishing an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip has enhanced this optimism. However, Israel's announcement to have okayed the building of sizable number of new Jewish settlements have discouraged observers, the paper said. It warned that Israel might be ready to surrender the west bank to Palestinians but keep Gaza as the decades-long cold-and-hot-war easy prey to continue establishing its settlement project. --More 14:45 LOCAL TIME 11:45 GMT تغريد
