Against the wall
The Palestinians need far more practical support than Tuesday's non-binding UN General Assembly vote condemning Israel's construction of the West Bank barrier, writes Graham Usher in Jerusalem

Carnage in Gaza
The end of a bloody week of destruction and terror in Gaza has left people dead, maimed and homeless, writes Khaled Amayreh

United nation?
A senior member of the IGC downplayed fears of a schism between Iraqi Shi'ites. Omayma Abdel-Latif reports

Resolution on the cheap
Washington wins a new resolution on Iraq but few countries are willing to provide cash or troops, writes Salah Hemeid

Primary concerns
Democratic presidential candidates are courting Arab-Americans, in some cases unsuccessfully, reports Khaled Dawoud from Dearborn, Michigan

Flirting with freedom
Last week Saudi Arabia announced its first elections, broke up its firstever peaceful demonstration and hosted a three-day Human Rights Conference, writes John R Bradley in Jeddah

Gearing up for dialogue
In an attempt to turn recent calls for national dialogue into reality opposition parties and the ruling NDP have begun a series of preparatory meetings, reports Gamal Essam El-Din

All quiet at Abdeen
A planned assembly at Abdeen Palace to present the president with an opposition reform agenda was banned. Amira Howeidy examines the symbolic significance of the defunct event

Egypt:

A challenging report
Continuing intransigence on the part of both the opposition and the government will undermine Egypt's plans for political reform, argues a recent high-profile report. Omayma Abdel-Latif investigates

Economic reform, NDP style
Mahmoud Mohieddin speaks to Niveen Wahish about the challenges facing the NDP's policy recommendations

'Subsidise or die'
Although subsidisation is mainly to blame for the growth of the budget deficit in recent years, food subsidies will be increased substantially this year. Gamal Essam El-Din reports

Reclaiming the initiative
What do we know about ourselves and the world? Fatemah Farag considers the answers offered in the second Arab Human Development Report released this week

International:

Our present, their future
While world elites get richer, hunger is on the increase, Samia Nkrumah writes from Rome

Sports:

Topping the table
Nigeria was declared the winner as the eighth All-Africa Games came to an end in Abuja. Eric Asmougha reports from Nigeria