Creator
David Hirst
The ‘Arab democratic revolution’ has a long way to go
The burning question is, where next? After Ben Ali and Mubarak, others may not fall as easily, though most regimes are candidates.
Arabs reject caution, Hamas to benefit
When, in 2001, Ariel Sharon first took office, there was no great contrast between Arab governments and their publics in what they had to say about it. But now he is departing,…
Fleshly pleasures and puritanism
When, in 1981, Margaret Thatcher met Fahd bin Abdul Aziz bin Saud for the first time, she came away distinctly unimpressed. ”You say this man runs the country,” she sniffed, ”he…
Conflict at a dangerous level
There is one broad certainty about the highly professional assassination of Rafik Hariri, the billionaire former prime minister who has dominated Lebanese politics since the end…
The Middle East in 2003
When, at dawn on March 20 the US and its British ally went to war against Iraq, they were intervening in the region on such a scale that Arabs everywhere compared the invasion,…
Beware the martyr
Ever since he was confined to his Ramallah headquarters, Yasser Arafat ? the world?s most exalted political prisoner ? has been making it clear he is prepared to die for his cause