International humanitarian law seems to be "growing teeth." But are these real cracks that we see in Israel's long-entrenched immunity? Amira Howeidy sheds light on the unprecedented prosecution of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon before a Belgian court, and explores the limits of international justice where Israeli crimes of war are concerned

The force of law, not the law of force
Why is Ariel Sharon not being tried for crimes against humanity? Nur Farahat proposes a strategy

Spoiling for a strike
Ariel Sharon's new "public" assassination policy is not only a means to bring the Intifada to heel. It also keeps his coalition together. Graham Usher reports from Hebron

Inside the same vicious circle
The Security Council's rejection of Washington's "smart sanctions" against Iraq is a victory for Baghdad, but has it brought the suffering of millions of Iraqis any closer to an end, asks Salah Hemeid

What's in a name?
The OAU successfully rallied African countries in the struggle against colonialism and apartheid. But the newborn African Union fights for the continent's very survival, writes Gamal Nkrumah from Lusaka

IT blues
Dreams of freeing the market from its apocalyptic boom-slump cycle are fading as the ripples of yet another devastating Wall Street crash reach Europe, writes Faiza Rady

A stake in the WTO medicine
Arab countries are gearing up for the forthcoming WTO conference in Doha, where, as Dina Ezzat reports, the developing countries will once again have to face up to the challenge of exclusion

Anything but a breeze
Women are still working -- harder than ever, it seems. Reem Leila reports