SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE IZRAELI HEBREW PRESS

 

1. TODAY – ELECTIONS IN EGYPT IN THE SHADOW OF VIOLENCE; UNPRECEDENTED SANCTIONS ON THE SYRIAN REGIME

(…).

 

1. In the riots’ shadow: Egyptian elections begin today.

ISRAEL WARNS THE US NOT TO WEAKEN TANTAWI

Senior diplomatic source: „Washington repeating its mistake from the days of the first revolution when it called on Mubarak to leave power.”

 

1. FINANCE MINISTRY PREPARING DEEP CUTS

Due to economic slowdown and crisis in Europe: Finance Ministry preparing to cut ministries’ budgets. Today: Tension before Bank of Israel decision on whether to lower interest rates.

 

2. EGYPT: ELECTIONS IN THE SHADOW OF RIOTS

(…).

 

1. EGYPT STORMY – AND VOTING

(…). Due to tension in Egypt and pressure from Jordan, demolition postponed of Mughrabi Bridge, which leads to Temple Mount. (…).

 

1. HISTORY IN EGYPT: CANDIDATES PREPARING FOR START OF VOTING

 

2. JORDAN AND EGYPT PRESSURED – NETANYAHU POSTPONED PLAN TO DEMOLISH TEMPLE MOUNT BRIDGE

 

3. SINAI: GAS PIPELINE TO ISRAEL SABOTAGED AGAIN

 

4. SURVEY: PALESTINIANS TRUST ABU MAZEN MORE THAN HANIYEH

 

1. NINE MONTHS AFTER TOPPLING MUBARAK, EGYPT GOING TO THE POLLS

 

2. FOR THE NINTH TIME, EGYPTIAN GAS PIPELINE BLOWN-UP

 

3. SURVEY IN THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY: 56% AGAINST ARMED STRUGGLE WITH ISRAEL

 

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Two papers comment on the situation in Egypt, including today’s elections:

 

Yediot Ahronot asserts that, „Even if the worst-case scenario occurs in Egypt – the Muslim Brotherhood takes power – it is clear that this regime will want to avoid a military confrontation with Israel for four reasons: One, the political reality in Egypt will require any regime to concentrate – first of all – on the internal situation. It is reasonable to assume that such a regime will make many anti-Israeli statements but it is unreasonable to assume that it will try to translate these statements into action. Second, the main challenge for an Egyptian regime will be economic…Third, Egypt is dependent – both economically and militarily – on American aid. Conflict with Israel would end this vital assistance. And fourth, given that Israel has withdrawn ‘from the last grain of sand’ on Egyptian soil, it has no real reason for conflict. There is a limit to what any future Egyptian regime will be willing to sacrifice in order to help the Palestinians or Hezbollah.”

 

Ma’ariv notes that Israelis’, „immediate instinct is to prepare for the worst,” but claims that, „Egypt, even under the control of the Muslim Brotherhood, cannot strategically threaten Israel. It has the power to influence the flow of war materiel to Gaza and indirectly control the level of terrorism but no more. Egypt has neither the interest in, nor the ability to, enter a war with Israel. Whoever takes power in the wake of today’s elections knows very well that their country has no chance of winning such a conflict.” The author, who was born in Alexandria and is a former diplomat, says that a radical Islamic regime would only further damage Egypt’s already reeling economy and ventures that in practice, the influence of a Muslim Brotherhood-dominated regime on Israel, „would be marginal.” The paper doubts whether today’s elections will resolve the questions over Egypt’s future course.

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Yisrael Hayom suggests that the latest Arab League sanctions on Syria are, „a harsh blow, given that Syria has always presented itself a bastion of Arabism in the struggle against Israel and the West,” and adds that Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad is now lumped together with the former leaders of Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. The author suggests that while states like Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq may find it difficult – or may even refuse – to honor the sanctions, the Arab League decision may yet pave the way for some sort of Western or Turkish intervention against the Assad regime. However, the paper cautions that, „The foundations of the regime are still far from collapse,” and contends that Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states are leading the effort against the Al-Assad regime as part of their campaign to curtail Iranian influence in the Arab world.