As Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon returns home on Wednesday evening after a high-profile India visit, the Arab world hopes Delhi will remain sincere in its relations with them and continue its traditional support to the Palestinian cause.

Sharon's India visit: The complete coverage

"We hope India will not back the Jewish state in a way that helps Israel escalate its killings and destruction in the Palestinian territories," Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said in Cairo after a meeting of Arab foreign
ministers.

"Of course, we cannot tie any country's hand from receiving a certain official or not...," he said.

Sharon visit has got wide coverage in the Arab media. A Dubai-based leading daily even expressed the fear that it might result in the emergence of an Israel-US-India axis.

Gulf News in an editorial page article said the Indo-Israeli summit "is believed to be nothing but a formal declaration of an alliance that brings together three right-winged administrations that have much in common."

This, it said, "will certainly result in a major shift in the balance of power not only in the Indian sub-continent but also in the Middle East and the rest of Asia."

The Israeli media, meanwhile, has stressed the importance of improving ties between the two countries.

The Indo-Israeli relationship is "now coming to full bloom" and "turning India into Israel's main allies," the Jerusalem Post said.

Talking about similarities and shared interests, the daily said both countries boast ancient cultures and vibrant democracies. "There has long been miniscule Jewish presence in India, happily encountering no anti-semitism. Finally, both countries face the ongoing threat from fanatic Muslim fundamentalism."

Another daily The Ha'aertz said India's improved relationship with the US has encouraged it "to think in terms of
a triangular alliance in which India and Israel would act as cushions providing stability in the tumultous South Asia-Middle East regions, areas which face threats posed by terror, and by dictatorial regimes of Arab, Muslim states."

It also called upon India to "translate its openess towards Israel into changes in its voting pattern at the United Nations. Up to now, India has automatically cast its ballot with pro-Arab majority."