Hamas acts swiftly to quash radical Islamists in Gaza, but the Salafist source may prove more difficult to quell than its expressions, writes Saleh Al-Naami

Relatives of Palestinian detainees have fresh hopes for the conclusion of a prisoner exchange deal with Israel, but nothing rules out Israel pre-empting the deal by force, writes Saleh Al-Naami

Many passed over in Fatah's elections are disgruntled while Abbas drops talk of resistance and picks up the prospects of peace with Israel, writes Khaled Amayreh in the West Bank

Rows over electoral alliances have focussed new attention on the Iraqi Shia. Can their post-Saddam revival now be saved, asks Salah Hemeid

Lebanon's leaders are still staking out their territory in the next government, and Ramadan may bring them another reprieve, Lucy Fielder reports in Beirut

As conflict once again breaks out in Yemen between the government and the Al-Houthi rebels, could the military option be the answer to the country's civil strife, asks Nasser Arrabyee

Gamal Nkrumah argues that Megrahi's trial was purely political and had nothing to do with justice

Piracy continues to be a threat to global trade, argues Attia Essawi

A threat by the secretary-general of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement to take his party out of the Sudanese parliament has called a referendum on the country's future into question, writes Asmaa Al-Husseini