Shelters from the storm
Israel and the Palestinian factions are awaiting the formation of the next Palestinian government -- each for their own reasons. Graham Usher reports from Jerusalem

Against the common enemy
As resistance to the American occupation of Iraq escalates, Karim El-Gawhary , in Baghdad, discovers that the boundaries between political factions are blurring

Out in the cold
A bungled last-minute invitation for a regional meeting caused the first diplomatic hiccup between Iraq and its neighbours, writes Salah Hemeid

Thanks for nothing
Countries at the Madrid Donors' Conference recently pledged $33 billion for the reconstruction of Iraq. Kamil Mahdi questions the motives and substance behind the donors' promises

PR and nothing else
The toning-down of Israeli rhetoric against Arafat is nothing but a smokescreen as the brutality of the occupation continues unabated, Khaled Amayreh reports

Hudna, resistance and war on Islam
Graham Usher met Ahmed Yassin, the Hamas founder and spiritual leader, in his house in Gaza's impoverished Sabra district

A circle of negligence
Two members of the Egyptian squad participating in the recent All Africa Games in Nigeria have died of cerebral malaria, while 24 others have been hospitalised. Inas Mazhar searches for answers

Mother Egypt
Nearly 700 people with Egyptian mothers and foreign fathers have recently become Egyptian citizens. Reem Leila tries to find out how many more will benefit from a long-awaited amendment to the Egyptian Nationality Law

Egypt:

Doomsday for draft-dodgers
The Supreme Administrative Court has rejected a draft dodging MP's last-ditch appeal, setting the stage for 15 MPs to be formally stripped of their seats. Gamal Essam El-Din reports

Textiles test case: 2005
Pascal Lamy charts an optimistic course around the pitfalls of quota elimination

International:

Crucifying secularism
A court ruling ordering the removal of the crucifix from a classroom has triggered an uproar in Italy, writes Samia Nkrumah from Rome

Hard act to follow
Widely regarded as a champion of the developing world, Mahathir Mohamed's remarks often fuelled widespread consternation in the West. Gamal Nkrumah reviews the legacy of Malaysia's outgoing prime minister

Press review