The fundamental weakness of the Oslo Peace Accords of 1993 is that they failed to address the important issues, such as Jerusalem, borders, settlements, refugees and sovereignty. Rather they stressed symbolic “confidence building measures” which were largely cosmetic, such as flags, airports and stamps. As we move further into what the Palestinians call the ‘Al Aqsa Intifada’ Mariam Shahin looks at the remaining options for the region.

• Joining forces
• Saddam takes a chance
• Banking crisis prompts anti-corruption drive
• Syria’s Nuclear alternative?
• Reluctant return — Afghans prefer to stay in Iran
• The new man in the White House

• Lebanon bides its time
• Egypt’s mobile phone market heats up
• Impact of WTO on Oman
• The future of industrial zones
• Turkey seeks economic discipline
• The key to Iran’s prosperity

• A living art
• Egypt’s king of shaabi
• Crusader castles of Lebanon