PR and nothing else
The toning-down of Israeli rhetoric against Arafat is nothing but a smokescreen as the brutality of the occupation continues unabated, Khaled Amayreh reports

Hudna, resistance and war on Islam
Graham Usher met Ahmed Yassin, the Hamas founder and spiritual leader, in his house in Gaza's impoverished Sabra district

Prisoners deal going nowhere
A delay in the prisoners exchange deal might trigger "other options" that abolish the prospects for agreement. Mohalhel Fakih reports

American elections shadow Sudanese peace
A final Sudanese peace deal has been stalled once again. But the protagonists, with US prodding, are still inching closer to a resolution of Africa's longest-running conflict, writes Gamal Nkrumah

Out in the cold
A bungled last-minute invitation for a regional meeting caused the first diplomatic hiccup between Iraq and its neighbours, writes Salah Hemeid

Tyrants and Trees
By Sinan Antoon

Thanks for nothing
Countries at the Madrid Donors' Conference recently pledged $33 billion for the reconstruction of Iraq. Kamil Mahdi questions the motives and substance behind the donors' promises