Ma’ariv suggests that "After months of severe violence, it is no longer possible to dispute that Bashar Assad’s regime is one of terrorism and horror. The son learned from the father how to forcefully suppress opposition. For whoever has forgotten, in 1982 Assad Sr. oversaw the massacre of 30,000 people in the city of Hama and Assad Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps in repressing that same downtrodden town. So far in Syria nearly 8,000 residents have been murdered, and the Syrian economy is in shambles. The fall of Assad will bring with it a great shock the end result of which cannot be foreseen. In today’s Egypt, there are many who long for Mubarak’s regime, for the days in which citizens enjoyed a more-or-less stable economy… Today’s Egypt is in a state of chaos, and it is certain that this was not the result for which the protesters in Tahrir Square prayed." The author argues, "Whoever wishes for the fall of Assad, does not understand that a weakened Assad is clearly in Israel’s interest, and it is best that the West understand what Turkey has already internalized – better a weakened Assad regime than his fall. The chaos in Egypt is a reminder of what is expected in Syria after the fall of the Syrian tyrant."
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