16 - 22 January 2003 [621]
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Pursuing the peace option
Eleventh-hour consultations may yet succeed in averting war in the region, writes Ibrahim Nafie
Hopes and gestures
A gesture towards Palestinian reform in London, a gesture to Palestinian hopes in Tel Aviv. Does either carry substance, asks Graham Usher in Jerusalem
By Graham UsherLand of promise
Water has begun flowing through the main arteries of the mega land reclamation project in the south. Nevine Khalil reports from ToshkaImpeding disaster
President Mubarak has warned that an American war against Iraq would serve no purpose but pour fuel over a fire. Meanwhile, inter-Arab efforts continue to prevent such a disaster, reports Nevine KhalilA new beginning?
Although Cairo is adamant about steering clear of the upcoming Sudanese peace talks, it still wants to be involved in helping to resolve the conflict. Soha Abdelaty reportsInterpellation jam
A three-year confrontation between the government and parliamentary opposition reached a fiery crescendo this week. Gamal Essam El-Din looked onBrotherhood barred at the poll
The Wafd Party routed the banned Muslim Brotherhood in last week's Damanhour by-election. But did they?Rough start for new parking system
"Electronic Cairo's" new parking metres aim to resolve at least some of the city's chronic traffic problems -- but not without cost or controversy. Dena Rashed reportsThe eternal battle
Traffic planners are battling it out with conservationists once again. This time, the controversy involves a six-kilometre section of the Cairo-Aswan highway at Abydos. Nevine El-Aref reportsNewsreel
An annual event commemorating World Inner Wheel Day was held on Sunday in Cairo...
Edging towards the abyss
There is more than meets the eye to recent events in Yemen, writes Fahmy HoweidyBlood for votes
Additional Palestinian lives are sacrificed to the Israeli election campaign, writes Khaled Amayreh from occupied JerusalemArmed men on the hilltop
Annika Hampson visits the Tel Rumaida settlement in Hebron and discovers a microcosm of the Palestinian-Israeli conflictDance of defiance
Not if, but when. Not why, but how. Nyier Abdou finds Washington and Baghdad still locked in the same decade-old rhetoricJockeying for position
Iraqi opposition figures have their eyes on the prize as they put their best foot forward in the contest for the US administration's favour. Dina Ezzat reportsThe war on the streets
In the event of a US strike, Iraq will be more than ready for the street battles. Sherine Bahaa reviews Arab intelligence insights about the war ahead
Iraq: Blair's Suez?
George Galloway talks to Omayma Abdel-Latif in Cairo about the future of the Middle East, the Anglo-American alliance, the impending war on Iraq and division within the British Labour Party's ranks
A double-edged sword?
The draft unified banking law has many positive aspects but it may undermine the central bank's autonomy, Mahmoud Fahmy, CBE board member, tells Aziza SamiCautious optimism
Stock market experts see signs of a revival, but are reluctant to rejoice just yet. Wael Gamal reportsBriefs
Cairo is expected to host the first business roundtable organised by the Economist's conference division 27-28 January...The enemy within
Hindu nationalists have formulated a new ideological platform centred around fighting terrorism that could spell disaster for India's Muslim community, reports Saba Naqvi from New DelhiParleying in Paris
The Ivorian government and two armed opposition groups have clinched a cease-fire deal in Togo just two days ahead of Ivorian peace talks in Paris, writes Gamal NkrumahOne year in limbo
A year after Al-Qa'eda suspects were whisked off to a US naval facility at Guantanamo Bay, the world seems to have forgotten about their continued detention without charge, writes Anayat Durrani
An unacceptable helplessness
Will the last person to leave please turn out the lights? Edward Said urges an Arab alternative to the wreckage that is about to engulf our worldIsrael post-elections
What hope change? Little, if any, writes Ibrahim NafieBarbarians at the gate
Once upon a time the US had a moral compass, these days, Ayman El-Amir argues, it is adopting the unsavoury behaviour of an unfettered imperial powerTurkey and its new Islamic rulers
Can the Turkish experiment help define new rules for cooperation between Europe and the Islamic world? Asks Mohamed Sid-AhmedThought in a time of war
What is at stake, argues Anouar Abdel-Malik , is nothing less than a continued Arab existenceA year of living dangerously
Beware of adventurers, Hassan Nafaa argues as he reviews the exploits of the 'great men' of 2002Bahgory One-line: KIM JONG-IL
Editorial: Killing with kindness
When will the world tell Israel enough is enough? This week in London a conference on Palestinian reform convened without the participation of PA representatives...Close up
Parallel war
The Middle East conflict -- certainly in its current manifestation on the Iraqi and Palestinian fronts -- might be characterised as a parallel war. It relies on deception and disinformation to confuse the enemy and destroy morale...
By Salama A SalamaSoapbox
Who first?
During former Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's tenure, his government adopted the slogan "Lebanon First" in an attempt to separate the Syrian and Lebanese tracks in peace negotiations...
By Magdi MehannaMeditations on poetry
My earliest literary discoveries were to do with poetry...
By Naguib Mahfouz
Confessions of a pilgrim
Nora Armani is talented, determined and ready to strike back: Youssef Rakha joins her on the multinational couchIn progress:
Enthusing the wait
Ahmed Rashwan plans to shoot his first long feature this summer...Plain Talk
By Mursi Saad El-DinExcluding the magic
What to do with The Magic Flute? Not totally subvert it, suggests Amal Choucri CattaAn audience rediscovered
Nabila Erian takes solace in a gust of fresh airBriefs
The Arabic Music Institute's season opened on Saturday at the Opera House with the popular singer Medhat Saleh, accompanied by pianist Amr Selim and the Abdel-Halim Nuweira Orchestra for Arabic Music, conducted by Salah Ghobashi...
El-Makhzangi's mind games
Awtar Al-Maa' (Water Strings), Mohamed El-Makhzangi, Cairo: Miret Publications, 2002. pp114That seductive life
To you, peaceful girl, I tell my story this time...A way of life
Coptic Monasteries: Egypt's Monastic Art and Architecture, Gawdat Gabra, with an historical overview by Tim Vivian, Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2002. pp156, 33 maps and plans, 92 colour illustrationsArabic into English
Banipal: Magazine of Arab Literature, Spring, Summer & Autumn/Winter 2002 (3 Issues), eds. Margaret Obank & Samuel Shimon, London, 2002No country is an island
The Nile Basin: National Determinants of Collective Action, John Waterbury, New Haven: Yale University Press, 2002. pp211Open to question
L'Islam en Questions (Islam in Questions), Alain Gresh & Tariq Ramadan, Paris: Actes sud, 2002. pp342A godly tree
The Tree of Arabic Literature, Arabic Literature, An Overview, Pierre Cachia, London: Routledge Curzon, 2002. pp194At a glance
A shorthand guide to recent publications compiled by Mahmoud El-Wardani
A family affair
Divorce, alimony, custody disputes and violence within the family are among the plethora of cases to be dealt with by a new court, which will include sitting women justice. Reem Leila investigatesOff drugs
A recent survey found that 26 per cent of drug abusers in Egypt are under 25. Efforts are afoot in schools and on the street to rectify this alarming situation, Amira El-Noshokaty discovers
Fluke or fake?
A relic of the brother of Jesus has been on show in Toronto. Jill Kamil visited the exhibition and reports on the controversy it has arousedDig Days:
Hidden treasures on view
Can you imagine that an Ancient Egyptian physician once fitted a patient with a prosthetic toe?..
By Zahi Hawass
The human condition
By Injy El-KashefGoing shopping
Injy El-Kashef spends a whole lot of money -- againPears in Red Wine
By Moushira Abdel-MalekThe grip of it
Medhat Fawzi shows Youssef Rakha the identity of life and theatre
Moving mountains
If you only have as much faith as a grain of mustard seed you can move a mountain, Jesus said. Jenny Jobbins visited Muqattam to see how they do it
Perfect dozen
Ahli broke a local league record and remained atop the football table. Abeer Anwar reports on the achievementsSaturday special
Egypt's football youths got two things done in Burkina FasoTurn the page
Egypt's handball team will try to remain among the world's top five nations. Inas Mazhar assesses whether the squad can pull it offEgypt on wheels
More than 30,000 cars were in Egypt by 1930, approximately 50 times the number only 15 years earlier. Egyptians had entered the new world of the automobile but as Professor Yunan Labib Rizk writes, the new world had plenty of bumps along the road
Sayed El-Guindi: Pathways of experience
A distinguished career, abreast of change
By Khairya Khairy
Pack of Cards
By Madame SosostrisLimelight
By Lubna Abdel-Aziz