Three women and a general

The swearing in of Egypt’s new government dominates Arab news on Wednesday, alongside reports of a lengthy meeting between US Secretary of State John Kerry and PA President Mahmoud Abbas.

“The Egyptian government begins its work today with 35 ministers,” reads the headline of Saudi-owned daily A-Sharq Al-Awsat, featuring a ceremonial photo of Hazem el-Beblawi’s new government.

Sticking out in his khaki uniform amid a group of black-suited men (and three women), General Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi was appointed deputy prime minister for security affairs as well as defense minister.

The new government “will face formidable economic and security burdens,” claims the daily, known for its deep disdain for the Muslim Brotherhood government of Mohammed Morsi. It adds that according to experts, “Beblawi’s appointments, and especially his economic team, is the best.”

London-based daily Al-Hayat leads with the fact that the Muslim Brotherhood has refused to recognize the new government, claiming that it will not join a national reconciliation process before deposed president Morsi is returned to power.

According to Al-Hayat, the new government is characterized by technocrats, although seven of its new ministers belong to the liberal opposition group the National Salvation Front. That fact caused the Salafi Nour party to criticize the new make-up, claiming that “a number of ministers belong to a specific group,” constituting “a repetition of the same mistake they accused the previous government of, creating a completely non-neutral government.”

How long will it take Egypt to regain political stability? wonders A-Sharq Al-Awsat columnist Abdul Rahman Rashed.

“Between three months and three years; all the possibilities exist given the divide which grows deeper with time. Most likely, the new Egyptian government … will find itself committing the same mistake the Brotherhood government committed throughout its year in power.”

“Being busy with disputes instead of dealing with the bad situation of the Egyptian citizen is what caused the Egyptian revolution. Were deposed president Mohammed Morsi to have achieved something of value, his opponents may not have found enough people to fill one single street in protest against the government.” 

Independent Egyptian daily Al-Masry Al-Youm points out that for the first time, the new government does not include a justice minister. Instead, a new ministry was created called “the ministry for transformative justice.”

Kerry gives it another try

A protracted meeting between US Secretary of State John Kerry and PA President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman Tuesday, part of the American minister’s sixth trip to the region, is making major headlines in Arab media on Wednesday.

According to Al-Hayat, American officials have tried to lower expectations regarding Kerry’s ability to bring the sides back to the table.

An editorial in London-based daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi titled “Kerry’s failed mission” claims that the US minister’s mission already seems like a dud.

“Kerry is like other officials in the UN administration: every time Israel shuts the door in their faces, they demand new compromises from the Palestinians,” reads the editorial.

“Today… it is clear that the American policy has not changed. It blackmails the Palestinians and hints at stopping the aid. But what the American minister must understand is that he brings with him nothing but pressure on Arabs and Palestinians, dooming his efforts to failure.”