Another handshake - could this one be the clincher?

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas (left) and Israel's Ariel Sharon oblige photographers with a prolonged handshake. Picture / Reuters

At last, a handshake full of hope and inspiration after four years of violence in the Middle East.

But will this be the one that seals a lasting peace deal?

Meeting for the first time in four years at such a high diplomatic level, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stood and gripped hands across the biggest divide in Middle East politics.

It was a moment heavy with symbolism but tempered with reminders of dashed hopes.

In 1978, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israel's Menachem Begin signed the landmark Camp David Accords, which showed the Arab world that negotiations were possible.

In 1993, it had all seemed so hopeful. Signing the Oslo peace accords in Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin shook Yasser Arafat's hand - a historic moment of recognition - although Mr Rabin was unable to mask his distrust even for the camera.

United States President Bill Clinton later revealed the lengths he went to ensuring the spontaneous looking handshake went to plan. When he told Mr Rabin he must shake Mr Arafat's hand in public, Mr Rabin replied, "All right. But no kissing."

Mr Clinton practiced for hours how to nudge Mr Rabin forward with his right hand but keep his left ready to grip Mr Arafat's elbow if he moved to give an Arab kiss on the cheek.

Six years ago, with the peace accords increasingly rocky, two former leaders, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Arafat, were shepherded by Mr Clinton through a 21-hour negotiation for a land-for-peace deal. It looked solid but the photo opportunity told the story - Mr Netanyahu, suspicious, Mr Clinton, distracted.

Another year, another handshake. This time, a handshake to begin a new round of peace talks in Oslo in 1999. Mr Arafat, wearing a jovial smile for the camera, Mr Clinton, unsure, and Israel's Ehud Barak as if he wished he were elsewhere.

This week, it was the photographers, clamouring for a shot of the handshake, who delayed Mr Abbas and Mr Sharon getting down to business.

The pair were forced to keep gripping hands for moments on end as photographers snapped away.

Finally, a top Sharon aide said: "Please, let us make peace."

The handshake was repeated three times for the cameras, and the smiles and good vibes kept coming.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the summit's host, who had not met Sharon since 1982 when the latter was Defence Minister, spent more than an hour with him, pushing the schedule back.

On the way to the joint session where the leaders delivered their statements, Mr Sharon was sandwiched between Mr Mubarak and Mr Abbas. Mr Abbas leaned over to Mr Sharon, murmuring in his ear. The stocky 76-year old Israeli leader grinned in return.

A good sign.