4 - 10 December 2003 [667]
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Fault lines betrayed
For some the Geneva Accord was a model peace agreement, for others the ultimate betrayal. In Jerusalem Graham Usher looks at Palestinian dissentFactions, take two
Palestinian factions meet in Cairo today for a new round of talks. But, as Amira Howeidy finds out, not everyone has the same agendaPhoto caption
Egyptian defender Reda Metwalli tackles English player Steven Taylor during their 2 December fixture in Dubai...
Rooting for peace
Any effort to move peace forward in the region is welcome by Egypt, reports Nevine KhalilTarget NDP
Parliament's first week of work was marked by fierce opposition criticism of the ruling party on three fronts -- electoral integrity, political reform, and the economic crisis. Gamal Essam El-Din reportsThe comfort zone
Reem Leila looks at the latest developments in the genesis of the Family Court -- a kinder, gentler judicial alternative for troubled family tiesNew terminal, but not the end
Although Cairo International Airport is in the midst of a major upgrade -- including the addition of a new terminal -- its ambitions may be impossible to meet, writes Amira IbrahimBrothers deny "compromising" dialogue
Top Muslim Brotherhood figures denied published reports that the group wants to dialogue with the US. Omayma Abdel-Latif reportsEngineers on the move
Eight years after their syndicate was sequestered, engineers have begun taking serious steps to try and lift the siege. Mona El-Nahhas reportsBringing the temple down
A gruesome murder-suicide in Zamalek reinforced the public's impression of businessmen as an repugnant breed. Shaden Shehab reportsMajor haul
A huge cache of stolen Egyptian antiquities has come home. Nevine El-Aref reports
Geneva dissension
As Israeli and Palestinian politicians were launching the "Geneva Accord" in the Swiss city, thousands of Palestinians took to the streets in the occupied territories to protest and condemn the "treacherous document", Khaled Amayreh reports from the West BankWalking the tightrope
Faced with increasing US pressure, daunting regional challenges and domestic worries, Iran and Syria are in the eye of the storm. Dina Ezzat and Rasha Saad visit Tehran and Damascus in search of answers to open questions about the present and future of two vulnerable statesNot that easy
Washington's plan to give power back to Iraqis earlier than planned has hit a snag as an influential Shi'ite leader voiced opposition to indirect elections, writes Salah HemeidFamily affair
The families of American military personnel deployed in Iraq are visiting the war zone to see things for themselves, writes Nermeen Al-Mufti in New YorkReturn of the Ayatollah
Can the Interim Governing Council handle the political and moral standoff caused by Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani's demands for elections? Omayma Abdel-Latif seeks answersVultures home
It is no coincidence that the majority of detainees suspected of involvement in the recent spate of bombings in Istanbul are Kurdish, writes Gareth Jenkins from IstanbulJust hanging on
As Jordan's monarch visits Washington this week, Sana Abdallah reports from Amman on the rhyme and the reason
Free but flawed
The current exchange rate policy has not helped the trade balance, the flagging economy, or budgetary woes. Ahmed El-Naggar argues it could not possibly have succeededShow me the money
The sting of recession is even more acute after Eid. Eman Youssef shops aroundFighting financial fears
Risk happens, but there are ways to reduce it. Waleid Gamal Eldien makes a case for financial derivativesBriefs
The cabinet decided on Sunday that the prices of at least 15 food products available in public retail and wholesale markets will be reduced by as much as 30 per cent...Bush talks turkey
American pundits debated whether Bush's top secret, brief visit to Baghdad airport last week was an act of heroism, or an indication of failure, reports Khaled Dawoud from WashingtonRethinking the UN
After a bruising year, the United Nations is looking to a new panel of experts to help stave off irrelevancy. Jaideep Mukerji investigatesAnother Irish question
Will the electoral shift towards hard-liners on both sides of the sectarian divide in Northern Ireland prove the death of devolution, asks Alistair AlexanderEurope apes America
At last weekend's European Union summit in Naples, the continent's leaders pledged to boost defence spending and fight terrorism more effectively, reports Samia Nkrumah from RomeVariety's the spice
Why do Western governments turn a blind eye to human rights violations in one African country and condemn abuses in another, wonders Gamal NkrumahSpeaking in tongues
The US will have to dismantle illegal tariffs on steel if it is to escape trade sanctions, writes Faiza Rady
Amid the divisions
In the absence of Israeli and US commitment to peace the glimmers of hope represented by the Geneva Accord are likely to remain just that, writes Ibrahim NafieThe minutiae of racism
Azmi Bishara examines the roots, and effects, of anti-SemitismA question to the European Union
Mohamed Sid-Ahmed asks where Europe stands on the water problems in the Middle EastGeneva cannot be Oslo
Instead of becoming embroiled in endless and fruitless factional negotiations, Palestinians should unify their forces and press for an internationally legal settlement, writes Hassan NafaaSmug as a bug outside reality
Polite society everywhere rejects violence as a means to effect change, yet Western opinion remains blind to the sheer level of violence the West inflicts on the world, writes Curtis DoebblerDemocracy or hypocrisy?
The credibility of Bush's concern for the democratic rights of the peoples of the Middle East must be tested against his record in office and the rhetoric of his buddies. It doesn't look good, writes Mohamed HakkiScripture cut short
Strident religious groups emphasise the self-sacrificial element of martyrdom attacks. But a collective, responsible, communal understanding of their impact is alarmingly lacking, writes Abdel-Moneim SaidDestination Geneva
After the signs on the roadmap pointed to failure, the Swiss-sponsored accord has a real fighting chance, writes John WhitbeckEditorial: Where's the beef?
On Monday a group of Israelis and Palestinians signed a much-publicised peace agreement in Geneva...Close up
Iraq, but not as we know it
There is no doubt that at the time of launching its war against Iraq the US administration had no idea of how to manage the country after deposing the ruling regime...
By Salama A SalamaSoapbox
Hungry for justice
It's not easy to count the number of hungry people in our world. Not only are statistics sketchy at best, but rarely do two scholars agree on a simple criterion for poverty...
By Awatef Abdel-RahmanThe war on terror
The explosions we've heard of in Turkey and Iraq, and those to be expected in several other countries, all targeting American and British interests...
By Naguib MahfouzBahgory One-line: MARIE QUEENIE
Bringing out the dead
The murder of a Tunisian-born singer by her Egyptian husband brought the season of goodwill to a sensational close. Gamal Nkrumah scans the Egyptian press for a killing that left the entire nation horror-struckThe balance of terror
This week, the Arab press had much to offer on the ongoing debate about change in the Middle East. Dina Ezzat read the news and assesses the viewsBottom Lines
Quotes from the Arab press
Timely tidings
Amal Choucri Catta previews December highlightsHassan Khalifa: Fondly remembered
I don't remember the year I met Dr Hassan Khalifa...Plain Talk
Last week I gave a rather quick survey of borrowings from Arabic in the English language over the years, and I will continue from where I left off...
By Mursi Saad El-DinAn active impresario
Sonali Pahwa speaks to Ahmed El-Attar about his latest play and other projectsPhoto caption
NUBA.COM continues to pull in the audience after three weeks at Al-Hanager.Marie Queenie: Little queen
Last Thursday the funeral of Marie Queenie was held at the Maronite Church in Heliopolis in the absence of her son, filmmaker Nader Galal, who was away visiting his daughter in Canada...
Friends in deed
Colette Kinsella drags herself off her sun lounge to sample the delights of sunset dining in SinaiFish strudel
Weekly recipe
By Moushira Abdel-MalekA day at the baths
Steam, vinegar and an energetic masseuse -- Amany Abdel-Moneim takes a bath at one of Cairo's few remaining hammams
Trying times for SMEs
Ever since the government hailed Small and Medium Enterprises as the lifejacket for Egypt's floundering economy, it's been one closed door after another for small entrepreneurs. Yasmine Fathy reports
Tied at the start
Egyptian U-20 footballers tied at the start of the World Championships in the UAE, writes Mohamed El-SayedKidnapping of key players
Head coach of the Ismaili club Theo Bucker opened fire on Egyptian football officials for depriving the Ismaili team of two key players in the Under-20 World Cup in the Emirates. He spoke to Inas Mazhar before his team's match against Enyimba in NigeriaIsmaili's first fall
After a long African rally, Ismaili lost their first leg African Champions League match to Enyimba of Nigeria 2-0. Abeer Anwar reports
School days
A column in Al-Ahram in 1933 described the system of education in Egypt and how it compared, in most cases unfavourably, with that of the British. Though it lasted for just three months, the column gave rise to several issues of concern regarding the country's schools that, says Professor Yunan Labib Rizk , are as relevant today as they were then
Fathi Abdel-Wahab: Tickets to admit
It began with angels and ends on screen
Profile by Youssef Rakha
Pack of Cards
Society column
By Madame SosostrisLimelight: The many faces of genius
The fate of Michael Jackson will not be settled for months in US courts, but even then, whatever the outcome, the question will always remain -- is he or isn't he?
By Lubna Abdel-Aziz