Abbas looks to Bush to bring Israel to heel, marvels Khaled Amayreh in Ramallah

With Israel gaining more respect, at least in military terms, for Hamas, the situation over Gaza appears ever more deadlocked, writes Saleh Al-Naami

Russia's plan to host a peace conference is causing a swirl of interest, says Eric Walberg

Economic conditions in the West Bank as well as Gaza are deteriorating, leaving many incensed at the masquerade of peace talks, writes Khaled Amayreh in Ramallah

America is cultivating new allies among Iraq's disaffected, reports Saad Abdel-Wahab

As fighting flares up in an eastern Christian town and the presidential election is delayed yet again, Lebanon looks ahead to a stifling summer of stagnation, Lucy Fielder reports from Beirut

For Abbas and Fayyad, Palestinian unity is not an option. Hence they betray the Palestinian people, writes Ramzy Baroud