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Turkey tries to embark but the EU has flown off. By Mohamed Salem in Al-Sharq of Qatar ; As the press debates whether the new Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZ) trade agreement is good or bad for Egypt, Mustafa Hussein in Al-Akhbar draws what many people are thinking: "It looks great but I hope you didn't put anything funny in it."

"The declaration by Coptic Christian Egyptians that they have become Muslim is a ... difficult exercise." -- Makram Mohamed Ahmed, Al-Mussawar

"The problem is that Costantine is no ordinary woman, personifying a special symbolism for she is, after all, a priest's wife." -- Fahmy Howeidy, Al-Ahram

"Today, the US is no longer concerned about showing bias towards Israel especially since the Arab reaction is often wishy-washy and does not go beyond a statement or two expressing disappointment. These days it is too much to expect condemnation." -- Abdel-Wahab El-Messiri, Al-Bayan

"Had Bush been running a politically insignificant, small country, then his behaviour [as a political cowboy] would have been perceived in an entertaining light. The trouble, however, is that he is running the world's leading power whose stances have a direct impact on world developments." -- Abdullah Iskandar, Al-Hayat

"Apparently breaking the law has won the support of the Knesset's Constitutional Committee." -- Tal Rosner, Yediot Aharonot