For the first time the Russian leader has visited Israel followed by a visit to Palestine. Thus Russia reestablishes herself as a major player in the Middle East. The United States of America, who had an open field all to herself has missed the bus. From all accounts President Putin had a very successful visit to the area. He offered President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine technical help and deliveries of military equipment and training stating 'if we expect Mahmoud Abbas fight effectively against terrorism, we cannot expect him to do this with stones'. President Putin offered to hold a Middle East Peace Conference which was welcomed by Abbas and elicited cool response from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel and President George Bush of the USA. Thus after a long period of hibernation Russia has reclaimed her place in the Middle East.

This falls in line with the project of the quartet which includes Russia, USA, European Union (EU) and the UN. They have together sponsored the Roadmap whereby two states -- Palestine and Israel -- will live as independent, sovereign states side by side.

Putin concluded his visit by placing a wreath at the grave of the icon of the Palestinian people -- Yasser Arafat.

The Middle East Peace Process has been progressing haltingly since the assumption of power by Mahmoud Abbas following the death of Yasser Arafat. Abbas has eschewed violence and murderous suicide bombing of Israeli targets and Israel seems determined to pull out of Gaza. The question of dismantling of Israeli settlements from the fertile West Bank remains a tricky one. By all accounts Sharon seems to push for settlements near Jerusalem, which is the heart of the conflict between the Arabs and the Jews.

Ariel Sharon has made a trip to the Texas ranch of President Bush but reports seem to suggest that he failed to persuade his friend Bush that he had to expand settlements in the West Bank. President Mahmoud Abbas is reported to have been invited to the US by President Bush in the summer. What can President Bush offer Abbas? Abbas has successfully pressurised his militants from attacks on Israeli targets although Abbas's security forces are still weak. If there is special relations between two countries it is between the US and Israel and more so between Bush and Sharon. It is hard to imagine Bush not bending to the wishes of Sharon.

In the old days -- the Palestine-Israel dispute is more than half a century old -- the US used to side with Israel and the USSR used to side with the Arabs. That situation changed dramatically during the Presidency of Bill Clinton, the immediate predecessor of President Bush. President Clinton, operating alone without any other country playing any effective part, played a brilliant even handed role between the Palestinians and the Israelis. He came within a whisker of a settlement but failed on the rock of Jerusalem. President Bush has been an open advocate of Israel and refused to meet the elected Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

The Palestine-Israel conflict has entered a new ball game. Gone are the days when Russia would automatically side with the Arabs, although they would wish to continue their old links. Gone are the days when Russia would shun Israel for Putin has just concluded a historical visit to Israel. The Palestine-Israel conflict is no longer the private preserve of the US but has resumed its international status. The world will eagerly watch the denoument.

Arshad-uz-Zaman is a former Ambassador.