Israelis and Palestinians Share Hope and Fear Side By Side in Jerusalem

While the sun shone in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, several hundred miles up the Great Rift Valley Jerusalem was enveloped in cloud. For once, the secular and the religious of all faiths covered their heads and rushed through the streets, bracing themselves against wind, rain and snow.

The Jews, Muslims and Christians of East and West Jerusalem were further united by their cautious welcome of the end to hostilities declared by Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, and Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leader.

The Jaffa Gate links the Old City to West Jerusalem and it is one of the few areas where the two communities can be seen together.

Palestinian shopkeepers and money-changers tout for business among scarce tourists and Jews walk quickly towards their most sacred place, the Western Wall. Rarely is there any interaction.

Adam Teitcher, 18, an Israeli student on his way to the Western Wall, said: "I hope something good comes of it all but there has been these things in the past. The same things always happen. Israel ceases fire and the Arabs just keep attacking us. Maybe this time because it's Abu Mazen [Mr Abbas] and not Arafat it might be different.

"Withdrawing from Gaza won't help. It will just mean that the Arabs can fire missiles at us from a closer range. Maybe the best we can hope for is a bit of calm but in the long run it will go back to fighting. Only God knows what the solution is here."

According to an opinion poll published in the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, a majority of Israelis say the summit gives grounds for optimism but there is a hard core which dis trusts Mr Abbas and opposes concessions to him.

Only a small number (18%) strongly oppose withdrawal from Gaza but 31% believe that Palestinian prisoners linked to violence against Israelis should never be freed. But around 60% trust Mr Abbas's sincerity in ending violence and 61% are optimistic that the current calm will continue.

Sasha Gitin, 26, a Russian Jewish photographer, said he was hopeful. "Israeli soldiers tell me they are sick of being in the army and they don't want to do it any more. They are much more pro-peace than before. The Palestinians seem desperate for peace so they can earn a proper living. Both people are tired and that means there's a better chance of peace this time."

George Angelo, 31, a Palestinian shopkeeper, reflected that fatigue. "We have heard things like this for a long time. I want to see it first. This time feels a little different because now we have Abu Mazen as the head of the Palestinian Authority. He could change a lot and some good things could come of it.

"But there is still Sharon. He will not change. If he gets what he wants then things will stay quiet. But if he doesn't there will be a return to violence. He will engineer it in such a way that it seems like the fault of the Palestinians. There will be some kind of provocation or a bomb somewhere," he said.

The Angelo family depend on tourism and the political atmosphere is a barometer of their business prospects. "Every time there is a bit of calm we expect the tourists to come but it never lasts more than a couple of months and they never arrive. Something always happens to frighten them off," he said.

Many Palestinians believe that the failure to meet expectations would lead to new violence on a greater scale than before.

Sami Nasser, 60, was discussing the summit with friends in his souvenir shop. "We hope things will get better. I hope this time it is serious. It is time to finish the occupation, stop building the wall, end the checkpoints and release the prisoners. Then let us have our own state so we can live side by side as good neighbours.

"If nothing changes. It will get worse and worse. If the Israelis want peace let them be realistic. If not they will pay for it in their buses and restaurants in Tel Aviv and Haifa," he said.

However, Muhammad Yusef, 38, also a shopkeeper, saw no reason for hope and predicted that violence could escalate to levels seen in Iraq.

"Things are very bad for the Palestinians. Everywhere the settlements are growing. There is no chance that the Israelis will let the Palestinians have East Jerusalem," he said.

"This summit means nothing. Abu Mazen does not have the strength of Yasser Arafat to stand up to the Israelis. It will explode again."