19 - 25 December 2002 [617]
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Little can be expected out of the Quartet meeting as the US continues its preparations for war against Iraq, reports Khaled Dawoud from Washington
By Khaled DawoudProblems of representation
The Iraqi opposition meeting in London this week was never going to be a smooth ride, writes Jamal Haidar from London
By Jamal HaidarBRIDGING THE GAP
On Tuesday President Hosni Mubarak opened Egypt's first suspension bridge across the Nile.
Tycoons in trouble
The government's crackdown on businessmen who defaulted on their bank loans witnessed a serious new escalation this week. Gamal Essam El-Din reportsPromising partnerships
NGOs are at the head of institutions required to contribute to the national effort of modernising Egypt. Dahlia Hammouda reports from the annual NGO conferencePathway to the past
A nearly two-decade old dream, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation looks set to finally see the light. Nevine El-Aref witnessed the placing of its foundation stoneA good catch?
Confusion surrounds the recent announcement that a high-ranking Al-Qa'eda official is in Egyptian custody. Jailan Halawi investigatesHard times for Heshmat
Does parliament's rapid removal of one of its Muslim Brotherhood MPs hearken an escalation in the chronic confrontation between the government and the banned group? Gamal Essam El-Din reportsNewsreel
STARTING 2003, Egypt will officially celebrate Coptic Christian Christmas, which falls on 7 January of every yearA leftist reshuffle?
As a leading member aims to introduce a quiet sort of opposition to the Tagammu Party's attitude, some party members cry foul. Mona El-Nahhas examines the prospectsPark or play?
A massive underground garage being built in Zamalek has attracted a fair share of controversy. Dena Rashed reportsAn uncertain road
The explosive issues plaguing the Middle East look no closer to being resolved. Nevine Khalil reportsDemocratic rumblings
Omayma Abdel-Latif gauges reactions to the US's new role as a "democracy broker" in the region, finding deep scepticism to be the overwhelming moodKhul' law passes major test
Although the Supreme Constitutional Court recently ruled in favour of a controversial new divorce law, Mariz Tadros discovers that the path to marital equality for all remains mired with thorns
The next Sim City
Do the US administration's grand plans for Iraq include rebuilding the country's devastated economy? John Sfakianakis asksReaching out to the south
Development and job creation efforts in Assiut have borne fruit. Sherine Nasr tours the southern governorate with USAIDNo concrete agreement
A new pricing agreement concluded earlier this week between local cement producers is unlikely to succeed if problems are not addressed at the root. Sherine Abdel-Razek reportsPushing cotton ahead
Egypt's cotton sector has come a long way since its liberalisation eight years ago, but it has yet to strengthen its international market position. Niveen Wahish investigatesBriefs
CENTRAL Bank of Egypt (CBE) governor, Mahmoud Abul-Oyoun, is sounding out the market for feedback on the general framework of the CBE's proposed future monetary policy. This week, he met with businessmen and economists at the Egyptian Centre for Economic Studies, reports Niveen Wahish
For prosperity and war
The US's latest initiative for a more prosperous Middle East remains glaringly at odds with its plans to wage a war on Iraq. Khaled Dawoud reports from WashingtonThe viceroy
Continuing her series on US war hawks, Lamis Andoni traces the history of Zalmay Khalilzad'Bridge' over troubled waters?
The Powell initiative for "sustained reform in the Arab world" has been received with disappointment or, at best, indifference, by most Arab capitals. Dina Ezzat reportsRoad blocked
Bush said he is not yet ready to adopt a diplomatic "roadmap". It is another case of the US weighing Israel's interests above all others, writes Graham Usher in RamallahCovering history with concrete
Is Nazareth the victim of politicisation of archeology? Jonathan Cook investigates the case of an archaeological find that may rewrite history booksHear no evil, see no evil
Israeli bullets and the scourge of poverty are the enemies in Palestinians daily struggle for survival. Khaled Amayreh reports from occupied JerusalemA man with a plan
Although Ankara's dream of joining the EU is on hold, Turkey's prime minister claims to have a 'Plan B' ready to put into action. Gareth Jenkins reportsWho's going nuclear
Iran's nukes come under scrutiny. Azadeh Moaveni reportsCriminalising Hizbullah
Political pressure has induced the Canadian government to ban Hizbullah. Aziza Sami reports from MontrealNot kid stuff
A book by a 15-year-old girl on Palestine is causing a sharp outcry by anti-Semitism activists in France. Amina Elbendary reports
The ultras' comeback
Tensions are running high in the wake of the right-wing's electoral victory in Gujerat, reports Iffat Malik from IslamabadWeapons of mass deception
Britain's anti-terrorism campaign exposes the British government's cynicism and hypocrisy, writes Gavin BowdEurope moves east and south
Europe's eastward expansion unleashes a torrent of challenges, not excepting the Cypriot conundrum, writes Michael JansenBorrowed time
Foreign troops keep the peace in Africa even as African governments scout the militant Islamists. Gamal Nkrumah assesses developmentsVenezuela on the brink
A new challenge to Venezuela's Hugo Chavez suggests an imminent showdown. There may be more at stake than the stability of the country's oil exports, Hisham El-Naggar writes from Buenos AiresElection blahs
Apathetic and disillusioned, Serbian voters failed to show up at the polls for the third time running. Adisa Busuladzic reports from BelgradeKissinger bows out
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger withdraws from a commission investigating the 11 September attacks on New York and Washington, reports Anayat Duranni
Mitzna and prospects for peace
Israeli Arabs must support new Israeli Labour Party leader Amram Mitzna in January's elections if only to frustrate Sharon, writes Hassan NafaaWhy defend Iraq?
Without Saddam Hussein, asks Mohamed Sid-Ahmed , would Iraq not be a better place to live?Immediate imperatives
Real change can come, in Palestine as elsewhere, only when people actively will that change, writes Edward SaidChoreographing the war
As the US military build-up continues in advance of a possible war against Iraq, Washington's strategists are performing a precarious balancing act, writes Ahmed Abdel-HalimModernising the Arabs
Ayman El-Amir searches long and hard for a silver lining to the Middle East Partnership InitiativeIs violence avoidable?
The Palestinian Intifada is headed down a path of armed resistance that was unthinkable a few years ago. For outsiders, this poses new questions, writes Khaled Al-AzaarEditorial:
Storm warnings
The Arab world is facing imminent winds of change with an American administration busy planning either war or peace for the countries in the region.Close up
America and democracy
The US-Middle East Partnership Initiative launched by Colin Powell, intended to foster democracy, open up markets, strengthen civil society and reform education systems in the Middle East, might have met with a more positive response had it not come at a time when Washington's credibility within the region is at an all time low.
By Salama A SalamaSoapbox
Constructive solidarity
A large-scale popular movement is backing Iraq against an imminent American attack.
By Salah IssaWhither winter?
It is at precisely this time of the year that I begin to wonder just what has happened to passing of the seasons?
By Naguib MahfouzBahgory One-line:
MOHAMED EL-BARADIE
'An assembly of wonders'
The Glory of Cairo: An Illustrated History, ed. André Raymond, Cairo: AUC Press, 2002. pp492Homecoming to Iraq
Buthaina Al-Nasiri, Final Night, translated by Denys Johnson-Davies. Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press, 2002. pp124Memoir of a collapse
Gamil Matar, The First Story, Dar Al-Hilal, Cairo, 2002. pp269Variations on enchantment
Colors of Enchantment, Theater, Dance, Music, and the Visual Arts of the Middle East, Sherifa Zuhur (ed.), Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press, 2002. pp456'The chain that is round us now...'
Victoria College: A History Revealed, Sahar Hamouda, Colin Clement & Hala Halim, Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2002. pp324Beautiful progeny
Lailat Urs (Wedding Night), Youssef Abu-Rayya, Cairo: Al-Hilal Novels SeriesAt a glance
A shorthand guide to recent publications compiled by Mahmoud El-Wardani
Ibn Khaldun resurrected
Amina Elbendary attends the Mahfouz Award Ceremony at AUCCanals and rivers
Amal Choucri Catta is waterbornePlain Talk
From the start of Ramadan through to the end of the feast no one was spared the presence of the all-powerful soap opera; musalsalat, as these popular serial dramas are called, became an unequivocal part of our lives
By Mursi Saad El-DinThe art of dodging
Nehad Selaiha joins the khalabees at the gallery of Al-HanagerHassan Fathy: innovation and tradition
Drawing on the American University in Cairo's collection of architectural drawings and memorabilia of Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy, as well as on similar material held by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Hassan Fathy, un architecte égyptien is a free exhibition at the Institut du Monde Arabe that traces the development of Fathy's work from the earliest experiments to the architect's late commissions in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, writes David Tresilian in ParisBriefs
Novelist Alaa El-Deeb submitted his resignation as secretary of the Fiction Committee of the Supreme Council for Culture.Siesta in the midst of siege
Mahmoud Darwish is in Cairo for the first time in two years. He spoke to Amina ElbendarySmall town, big history
Once a busy intersection between east and west, Qosseir is a town which is rediscovering its identity. Amira El-Noshokaty visits the port city as it attempts to reclaim vestiges of its past
By Amira El-Noshokaty
Onward into the 21st century
The legendary opening of the Egyptian Museum, inaugurated by Khedive Abbas Helmi II in 1902, was replayed last week with a thoroughly modern twist in celebration of its centenary. Nevine El-Aref reportsMaat prize
Statues of the goddess Maat were presented to prominent museologists and curators during the centenary celebrations of the Egyptian Museum. --read on--Dig days
Hidden treasure
By Zahi Hawass
Timelessness
By Yasmine El-RashidiBean Salad
Gamal Nkrumah samples Cairo's only Persian eateryBean Salad
By Moushira Abdel-MalekNot so young and single
You're young, successful, and generally pleased with your life. But if you're unmarried, the chances are you're under pressure, says Amira El-Noshokaty
Won the hard way
In 180 minutes of fractious play, Zamalek's only goal was enough to capture Africa's most coveted club football award. Abeer Anwar reports on a tournament that was anything but easyCHRIS Byrd outboxed Evander Holyfield to take the IBF heavyweight title in Atlantic City on Saturday. --read on--
Gandhi in Egypt
Mahatma Gandhi's visit to Egypt in 1931 was greeted with jubilation within Egyptian nationalist circles urging them to draw many comparisons between the struggles of India and Egypt for independence from British colonial rule. Professor Yunan Labib Rizk recovers Al-Ahram 's coverage of that historic visit and the lively political debate it spurred
Dr Fathy Loza: The meeting of minds
The family that smiles together, psychoanalyses together
By Yasmine El-Rashidi
Pack of Cards
By Madame Sosostris
Limelight
By Lubna Abdel-Aziz