Above all, the Palestinian national dialogue conference needs the impetus of honesty, patriotism and integrity, because the Palestinians have few reliable allies elsewhere, writes Azmi Bishara

Egyptian officials haven't exactly reassured foreign investors of late, and allegations of stock market manipulation should be investigated in full, writes Ibrahim Nafie

Anti-terror laws, like states of emergency, are apt to being abused by domineering governments, annulling effective progress towards democracy, writes Ayman El-Amir

Revelations of past approaches to Washington by Tehran illustrate the baseless wash of US propaganda and the changing fortunes of the two players as Iran's hand strengthens and that of Bush weakens, writes Hassan Nafaa

Though celebrated in Washington, Olmert's "convergence" plan is but the same old Israeli policy of dominating and ruining the Palestinians, by force if necessary, writes Jonathan Cook

It's not so much that the state of Israel cannot find a partner as that it refuses to negotiate or recognise others, writes Galal Nassar