Plans made concrete    Enlarged version and caption    The final bridge by Tarek Atia

'No separate peace' Lebanon is not optimistic about the outcome of the forthcoming Israeli elections, fearing a right-wing triumph. Prime Minister Al-Hoss spoke to Galal Nassar in Beirut The price of diplomacy Yasser Arafat has been feted internationally for his "wise" decision not to declare a Palestinian state on 4 May. But in the Occupied Territories Palestinians are less impressed with his leadership. Graham Usher reports from Jerusalem 'Resistance is the only option' Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, in an interview with Mohamed El-Masri in Gaza, said he did not care whether Labour or Likud won the upcoming 17 May elections in Israel as both parties have their hands covered with Palestinian blood Rehearsing for Y2K Despite the great damage it inflicted, the Chernobyl virus remains at best a mini-rehearsal for the Y2K bug. Are we learning the lessons? Amira Huweidy wonders

Snoopy taboos David Blake hears what's moving on the twist

Other families The recent scandal over the abuse of some of society's most vulnerable members sent shock waves through the country. Amany Abdel-Moneim seeks a calm haven in the storm