The assassination of Benazir Bhutto leaves Pakistan on the edge of a precipice, writes Graham Usher in Islamabad

The plight of Palestinian pilgrims stranded in northern Sinai is approaching an end but the trauma of Gaza will continue, reports Dina Ezzat from Arish

Israel's policy of assassinations in lieu of re-occupation in Gaza is doomed, argues Saleh Al-Naami

Has the time come for Egypt to re-visit its relationship with Israel? Dina Ezzat asks

Gamal Essam El-Din reports on attacks by MPs on the government's economic record

The future of US aid is expected to be decided in 2008, reports Doaa El-Bey

Larijani's visit to Cairo continues to improve ties between Egypt and Iran but Rasha Saad asks whether it is enough to restore diplomatic relations

Society must embrace, rather than question, the renunciation of violence by what was once one of Egypt's most militant Islamic groups, writes Jailan Halawi

As more victims fall prey to Avian Influenza, Reem Leila highlights the weaknesses of national awareness campaigns to combat the disease

New settlements being built under Abbas's nose are a time-bomb, warns Khaled Amayreh

Things are going well or not so well, depending on who you listen to, says Nermeen Al-Mufti

A senior official and an informed report cast doubt over the prospects of Arab security and cooperation in 2008. Dina Ezzat reports

Egypt is poised to integrate more renewable energy resources into its national electricity grid, writes Sherine Nasr

Nader Noureldeen Mohamed assesses water scarcity in the Arab world and suggests several solutions to avoid poverty

Charlie Hill is the Republican presidential candidate Rudolf W Giuliani's chief foreign policy adviser, and the head of an advisory team the New York Times calls "the hawks". Some of the names in this group give the impression that the neo-conservatives are back, marketing themselves under a new brand. Hill was interviewed by Ezzat Ibrahim

Last Thursday's presidential election results raise concerns that Kenya's politics will be increasingly unstable in 2008, writes Gamal Nkrumah

Building up to Coptic Christmas on 7 January, Nader Habib celebrates New Year's Eve

Abdel-Wahab Elmessiri is among the Arab world's most distinguished historians of ideas, perhaps best known for his gargantuan Encyclopedia of Jews, Judaism and Zionism. To be launched by May 2008, the English edition of his autobiography -- to appear with Awakening (London-Los Angeles) -- spans the widest range of topics from Judaism to an Easterner's experience of the West. Originally written in Arabic, this is the latest chapter to have been added to the book