Inching towards a cease-fire
If prospects for a Palestinian-Israeli cease-fire are better now than at any time since Israel re-conquered the West Bank it is because a truce serves Ariel Sharon as well as the Palestinians, writes Graham Usher from Jerusalem

Building from the ruins
While the Palestinian Authority settles on another cabinet in Ramallah, Hamas delivers governance in Rafah. Graham Usher reports on the new Palestinian order

Amman for all seasons
The new Jordanian prime minister is trying to convince a sceptical opposition that the government's promises of inclusion are the real deal, reports Sana Abdallah from Amman

Terror strikes Turkey
Two bombings in Istanbul on Saturday killed 25 and wounded over 300. The ostensible target was Turkey's tiny Jewish community, but the majority of the victims were Muslims. Gareth Jenkins reports from Istanbul

Reality bites
In the week following the second devastating attack in Riyadh in less than six months, Saudis finally woke up to the fact of home-grown terrorism, writes John R Bradley

Against sectarianism
Iraqi political figures have welcomed America's new strategy in Iraq, although some problems remain. Omayma Abdel-Latif reports

Selling success to the Arabs
As the Bechtel school refurbishment programme comes under question, representatives of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad continue to insist on their neo-conservative vision of success in Iraq. Karim El-Gawhary reports from Baghdad