From Today's Israeli Press
WHAT NEXT?
DON'T STOP US NOW: Avi Bareli asserts in Israel Hayom that contrary to U.S. interest, Sinwar's death does not change that Israel must escalate against Iran.
THE IDF BELIEVED ITS OWN LIES: Shalom Yerushalmi claims in Makor Rishon that the fence built along the Gaza border at a cost of billions is the greatest failure precipitating the October 7 massacre.
GAGGING FOR A CEASEFIRE: Ehud Yaari argues in N12 that under Iran's worried stewardship, Hezbollah is putting the pedal to the metal in the hopes of quickly grinding to a halt.
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM: Ben-Dror Yemini stresses in Yedioth Ahronoth that Israel must beware complacency in the aftermath of Sinwar's killing and strive for a ceasefire now.
DISCOMFORT: Amos Harel proclaims in Haaretz that the Pentagon leak shows the U.S. estimates Israel's response to Iran will be significant and worrying, as continued combat in Jabaliya proves total victory is far off.
THE DAY-AFTER IS NOW: The Jerusalem Post editorial contends that time has run out for arguing; Israel needs a hostage deal.
From Today's Arabic Press
NO RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
OVERJOYED BIDEN: After Saturday's attack on his residence, Israeli PM Netanyahu believes he has the pretext to go further in his response to Iran and fulfill his dream of establishing a new regional order regardless of Washington's reservations and of the repercussions, claims Palestinian commentator Talal 'Awkal in Monday's leading Palestinian daily al-Ayyam. But the consequence will be major security, military, and economic upheaval, and may even lead to a Third World War in which the Arabs' passivity will ensure that they will be the main victims.
NETANYAHU'S REPEATED REFRAIN: Donald Trump both commends Netanyahu for not listening to Biden and claims that, had he been U.S. president, Hamas' attack would not have occurred, the war in Lebanon would not have happened, and the Russia/Ukraine war would never have broken out, notes Monday's editorial in the London-based, Qatari-owned, pan-Arab daily al-Quds al-Arabi. But the Israeli wars in the region clearly suggest that Netanyahu and his allies are the one dictating what serves their interest on a U.S. administration that enables and colludes with Israel's genocide.
ANNOUNCING A LIMITED CAMPAIGN: The scale of Israel's mobilization on the Lebanese front confirms that this is a wide-scale ground campaign which however is not making significant headway, maintains Editor-in-Chief Nasser Qandil in Monday's pro-Damascus Lebanese daily al-Bina. If so, the Israeli army faces a critical and bitter choice: To stop the ground operation in a few days' time, which would be a major admission of defeat, or to transition to a broader ground campaign in which it will suffer major casualties and which will force questions about the war to resurface.
MORE THAN A YEAR: Reaching a diplomatic solution for the Hezbollah/Israel war seems immensely difficult, but it is possible to show both sides that they have more to gain from this, argues Lebanese commentator Tony Khouri on Monday's Lebanese www.elnashra.com. A solution can assure Netanyahu that the effects of his considerable achievements against Hamas and Hezbollah will not fade with more Israeli losses in a war of attrition, and allow Hezbollah, which has largely bounced back militarily after the serious damage it suffered, to tend to its wounds and recover.
SAVING THE SYRIAN REGIME: After more than a year since the October 7 attack, Syria remains the only part of the resistance axis that has stayed out of the conflict both in words and actions, failing to react to the assassination of Hezbollah's leader or the infiltration of Israeli forces into Southern Syria, notes Lebanese commentator Amin Qammouriyeh on Monday's Lebanese website www.asasmedia.com. While some defend this policy as "prudence", the picture is very complicated, and this silence is not likely to protect either Syria or its regime against serious threats from too many parties.