Celebrations abound, but the future of Gaza will ride on pressuring Israel to end its practice of economic strangulation, writes Erica Silverman

There is no euphoria in Gaza ahead of the disengagement -- only a hope for relief, reports Graham Usher in Khan Younis

The Palestinians must guard against complacency and not be overwhelmed by the Israeli disengagement from Gaza, writes Mustafa Barghouti

Friday's festival gives hope for a brighter Palestinian future, writes Stuart Reigeluth from Gaza

Ending occupation traditionally is prelude to the restoration of sovereignty, but in Gaza's case, this is highly unlikely, reports Sherine Bahaa

Freeing five per cent of all occupied lands and involving 21 of 150 illegal settlements, the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza is not something to marvel over, writes Ramzy Baroud

Will a one-week extension break the impasse of drafting Iraq's permanent constitution, asks Salah Hemeid

The trial of Saddam Hussein continues to be a farce that would stand nowhere else in a court of law but in Iraq, writes Zaid Al-Ali

As the probe into John Garang's helicopter crash heats up, Khartoum appears more realistic about the insecurities of the southern Sudanese, writes Gamal Nkrumah

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has wasted no time in showing his political colours, reports Rasheed Abou-Alsamh from Jeddah

The real issue in Iraq is not the constitution but the split between those doing business with the occupation and others fighting for fundamental sovereignty, writes Hana Al-Bayaty

Despite and against all efforts of the occupation, the seeds of an Iraqi renaissance have been sown. The future of Iraq lies not in faux constitutions, but in its people, writes Abdullah Al-Bayaty