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

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

New US diplomatic tangle
Beirut and Washington bicker over Hizbullah and tense relations with Syria. Mohalhel Fakih reports from Beirut

Reconsidering reconstruction
Congress ironed out the financing of Iraqi reconstruction as US officials hopefully awaited the Madrid donors conference, reports Khaled Dawoud from Washington

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

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