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What's New? Electronic Archive MEI Issue 761 requires subscription October 26th, 2005 --
 Editorial Questions and answers October 26th, 2005 -- The preliminary report issued by Detlev Mehlis’ commission of investigation into the death of Lebanon’s erstwhile prime minister, Rafiq al-Hariri, and 22 other people in Beirut on 14 February posits more questions than answers, on both the events surrounding the killing itself and the wider repercussions of the affair. News Analysis The yellow brick road-map October 26th, 2005 -- Writing in the Wall Street Journal on 20 October, Mahmud Abbas was typically candid as to why George Bush occupies such a central place in the Palestinian president’s strategy. The “climate of peace needs the help of the United States and the international community. For without sustained pressure on the Israeli government to sit down and negotiate, Israel will only bolster those within Palestinian society who do not share the majority’s desire for peace… Palestinians cannot pursue the road-map alone,” he wrote, referring to the long dormant peace plan the US leader launched in June 2003. Features The evolution of Iran's nuclear programme October 26th, 2005 -- The passage of a resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) on 24 September, paving the way for the possible referral of Iran to the UN Security Council (MEI 759) due to its “many failures and breaches of obligations” under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), was the latest twist in the dispute over the nature and aims of Tehran’s nuclear programme. Back Cover Letter from Gaza October 26th, 2005 -- After a longish trek through the barred enclosures of the compartmentalized shed Israel constructed at the northern entrance to the Gaza Strip and a rough ride in an old taxi through the pot-holed streets of Gaza city, Marna House provided a gate to sanity, if not to paradise. Electronic Archive MEI Issue 760 requires subscription October 12th, 2005 --
Worsening factional violence spreads from Gaza to the West Bank, leaving Mahmud Abbas facing the most serious crisis of his leadership. His scheduled talks with Sharon are called off at the last minute. They appear to have little to talk about. Netanyahu, meanwhile, disappears from view as Ariel Sharon emerges from the Likud Central Committee vote with a dominance unusual even for a serving prime minister. Iraqis prepare to vote on the draft constitution, but despite last-minute tinkering basic divisions persist and Britain accuses Iran of supplying Shi�ite insurgents. In Lebanon there is rampant speculation over the outcome of the UN investigation into Hariri�s assassination and Sinyura launches negotiations with the main Palestinian factions over the fate of their weapons. Meanwhile in Sudan, conditions on the ground across the South continue to deteriorate while the crisis in Darfur deepens. News Analysis Sliding towards civil war October 12th, 2005 -- For the first week of October concerted efforts were made to arrange a meeting between Ariel Sharon and Mahmud Abbas, their first since Israel’s successful withdrawal from Gaza and four small settlements in the northern West Bank. On 10 October the meeting was shelved. Instead, joint Israel-Palestinian committees are to be formed to “prepare” adequately for the event, now presumably to be held some time after Abbas’ parley with George Bush in Washington on 24 October. Features Protecting Europe's borders October 12th, 2005 -- At least 11 refugees from Sub-Saharan Africa died in late September and early October after being shot or crushed during a number of mass attempts to enter Europe by breaching the fences which encircle the Spanish enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta in northern Morocco. Share this page:
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