MEET THE PANEL Name: Nadim Homsi Age: 68 Lives: Amman, Jordan Works: Retired banker

After all, if peace is to be reached, face to face meetings are essential.

However - and there is always a "however" when discussing Middle Eastern politics - if the meeting is only intended to provide the moribund Bush presidency with a stellar photo opportunity to burnish its image, then the consequences could be disastrous.

Q: Do you believe all three leaders, George Bush, Ehud Olmert and Mahmoud Abbas are acting in good faith?

A: I think Condi Rice is acting in good faith and has managed to bring Bush to her way of thinking despite Cheney, Abrams and others. I think Abbas is acting in good faith for he has a lot to gain, although I am sure he has many doubts about the intentions of Olmert.

However, judging by Israel's past record, they have no interest in signing a peace treaty until they have reached the borders they want to have and "acquired" all the water resources they can lay their hands on.

So do I think Olmert is acting in good faith? Good heavens, absolutely not! He is just playing for time, stringing out the "negotiations" until Bush's term comes to an end and a new president is installed, one who has a lot to lose if he were to confront Israel and try to impose withdrawal from even part of the West Bank.

MIDEAST CONFERENCE VIEWS Jonathan, Israel Faysal, Syria Nadim, Jordan Gilad, Israel Abdullah, Gaza

Q: Do you believe that Olmert and Abbas are able to make the sort of compromises Bush has referred to?

A: What sort of compromises has Bush referred to? What more compromises can the Palestinians make? After all, they have already agreed to the loss of 78% of Palestine. Even if they agree to compromises, can they sell them to their own people?

Do not their respective domestic weaknesses put a limit to the compromises that are necessary if peace is to be achieved?

How will Olmert get the hardline religious parties to support him? How will Abbas sell the agreement to Hamas who control half of the Palestinian people?

Q: Did you hear anything new from the leaders that gives you cause for optimism?

A: Words mean nothing, what counts is action. In any event, I take all statements made by politicians with a huge grain of salt, especially those emanating from the American administration. The latter have to prove that they are committed to finding a solution that is fair to all parties. So far they have taken Israel's side in all matters.

Q: How likely is it do you think that the Palestinians and the Israelis can agree on a final deal by the end of 2008?

A: Frankly I am very sceptical that they will. I think Israel is playing for time, and still believes it can impose a bantustan-type solution on the Palestinians in due course. Everything they continue doing on the ground supports this point of view: continued expansion of settlements, continued construction of the barrier, continued annexation of private lands, continued raids and assassinations.

Furthermore, the exclusion of Hamas from the Annapolis conference/meeting guarantees that a major potential obstacle to peace has been ignored, swept under the carpet for appearance's sake.

Q: What are the consequences for Israel and the Palestinians if this becomes another failed attempt at a final settlement?

A: Unless Abbas, on his return to Palestine, can show tangible results to his people, Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and radical Islamic parties throughout the Middle East will be greatly strengthened.

The voice of moderates will be ignored and moderation itself will be shunned for having failed to deliver a better future for the Palestinians. Armed resistance will increase. Israel will therefore be tempted to go for ethnic cleansing as advocated by [Israeli cabinet minister, Avigdor] Lieberman.

Moderate pro-Western Arab regimes will be in danger of being eventually overthrown.