Israel's economic strangulation of Palestinians is coming into focus as negotiations over the control of Rafah's border crossing came to an end, writes Erica Silverman

A US serviceman speaks out to confirm non-embedded reports from Falluja that the US military used banned chemical weapons against Iraqis, writes Nermeen Al-Mufti from Baghdad

Despite wresting gains from Israel, the ruling party of the Palestinian Authority looks set to postpone scheduled polls yet again, writes Khaled Amayreh in the West Bank

Amir Peretz's shock election as Labour Party leader has already lived up to the translation of his name in Hebrew: "breakthrough", writes Graham Usher

With questions yet unanswered as to the causes of Arafat's death, Samir Ghattas examines the lost political savvy that preceded his passing and wonders if the two are not related

Syria's president portrays a commanding presence, but perhaps only because politics remain foreign to everyday life, writes Sami Moubayed from Damascus

Cracks in the echelons of the Lebanese government are beginning to show, and mounting pressure on Syria is likely to widen the divisions, reports Hicham Safieddine

The disappeared of Lebanon are again on the political agenda, haunting all those responsible, writes Zeina Khodr

Jordan's security services have acted swiftly, restoring some confidence as a nation unifies against terror, reports Sanaa Abdallah in Amman

The Forum for the Future might have proved an economic success but politically it is a pitfall, writes Sherine Bahaa