Yediot Aharonot discusses Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The author suggests that some of the protestors in Egypt "have forgotten his splendid achievements," and adds that "When Egypt is exploding – every nine seconds a new baby joins its 82 million people – there is no way in the world to pull rabbits out of a hat." The paper asks "What is most painful for Mubarak: The millions screaming expressions of hatred or the stinging slap in the face from the White House?" The author believes that "Mubarak knows that the game is over," and wonders "Where will this ill, embittered and betrayed old man go?"
Ma’ariv criticizes US President Barack Obama’s understanding of the Middle East as "naïve and superficial," and says that "His charisma covers up an absence of managerial skills." The author predicts that the next US president "will – as a reaction against Obama – be a more conservative and hardline version of George Bush."
Yisrael Hayom characterizes the Egyptian opposition as "divided and lacking both a leader or unifying political force and a clear vision regarding the future," and doubts whether it will be able to oust Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak before his term ends in September. The author says that newly-appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman will be the de facto ruler for the present regime, which views Dr. Mohammed El Baradei as no more than the demonstrators’ spokesman and fears a takeover by the Muslim Brotherhood in the event of any revolution.
The Jerusalem Post remarks on the tough choices facing Jordan’s King Abdullah, who seems willing to initiate reforms in the kingdom in light of the unrest in Tunisia and Egypt. The editor raises the possibility of an uprising by “disenfranchised masses of Palestinians, including hundreds of thousands living in Jordanian refugee camps,” who have so far remained quiet on the whole, and declares: “The Egyptian precedent, which surprised the world – experts no less than everyone else – is a lesson in humility about guessing the future in the Middle East.”
Haaretz applauds the decision not to appoint Yoav Galant as the next IDF Chief of Staff, and states that “Even were the cabinet to insist on showing tolerance for the flaws in Galant’s civilian conduct on account of his military capabilities, and even were the High Court of Justice to be persuaded on this matter, Galant would be unable to command the Israel Defense Forces effectively.” Critical of Minister of Defense Ehud Barak’s conduct in the appointment of Galant, the editor calls on the Cabinet to “deny him the authority to recommend the next chief of staff and instruct a ministerial committee to conduct a sober and considered search for the best candidate,” and adds: “Until that happens – quickly, we hope – Ashkenazi should be asked to stay on.”
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