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Egypt: Now what? And any fallout in the Middle East?

People power has won out with the departure of Mubarak in Egypt. Remarkable scenes and justified jubilation by the populace. Now what though?

The Guardian's Middle East editor comments in "Mubarak's departure marks the end of an era for Egypt":

"Hosni Mubarak's dramatic departure marks the end of an era for Egypt and the Middle East. Thirty years of his rule has left a deep impression on his country's domestic affairs and external relations. Without him, much could change on many fronts — at home and across the region.

Egyptian politics, like all politics, are local, and what happens next depends crucially on the readiness of the military establishment to oversee what Barack Obama has called a genuine transition to democracy, in line with the thunderous demands of the now triumphant protestors massed in Cairo's Tahrir Square."

Meanwhile, what are the possible ramifications of the Tunisian and Egyptian "experience" for other countries in the region? A round-up here - but almost certainly with news of the Egyptian president's departure having spread rapidly through region, other authoritarian rulers in power are bracing themselves for protest-movements from their people.

As a staunch supporter of Mubarak, even in the last days, the fallout of events in Egypt will doubtlessly effect Israel. Haaretz reports:

"Israel hopes the resignation on Friday of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will bring no change to its peaceful relations with Cairo, a senior Israeli official said.

"It's too early to foresee how (the resignation) will affect things," the official said. "We hope that the change to democracy in Egypt will happen without violence and that the peace accord will remain."

"We have a tough period ahead of us," Zvi Mazel, a former Israeli ambassador in Egypt, told Israel TV. "Iran and Turkey will consolidate positions against us. Forget about the former Egypt. Now it's a completely new reality, and it won't be easy."

Unlike in Israel, the rest of the Arab world, including in the Hamas-ruled Gaza strip celebrated Mubarak's resignation.

In Israel, there were reports of fireworks going off in Arab villages throughout the northern part of the country.

Palestinians in Gaza let off fireworks and shot into the air to celebrate the resignation of Mubarak, and the Islamist group Hamas called on Egypt's new rulers to change his policies."

As they say, watch this space!

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