Bottom lines

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The trampling of the Palestinian flag. By Essam Hanafi in Egypt's Rose El-Youssef

"If both Hamas and Fatah are erroneous, then why is the Egyptian regime supporting Fatah and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas?" -- Magdi Mehana, Al-Masry Al-Yom

"Our national newspapers seemed to [paint a rosy picture] of elections that took place on Mars or another planet." -- Amr Badr, Al-Dostour

"There is not only no demand for democracy but there is no interest in any political activity whatsoever." -- Hazem Munir, Al-Mal

"The picture of inter-Palestinian fighting is grim. There is no hope for any future because there is mutual rejection between the two main parties." -- Bilal Al-Hassan, Asharq Al-Awsat

"Arab governments accept democracy as long as it conforms with their policies and keeps them in power." -- Mahmoud Al-Mubarak, Al-Hayat

"The decisions of the opposition are taken outside Lebanon and are influenced by external calculations." -- Elias Harfoush, Al-Hayat