Despite considerable protests, the Norwegian authorities decided to close down their office in Gaza during the term of the last government. The reasons for so doing so thin and few savings have been made. Norwegian People's Aid and a number of other organisations argued that this was the wrong signal to send to the hard pressed population of Gaza and the Palestinian independent authorities.

It is therefore good news to hear that the sitting government has resolved to open an office in Gaza once again (as a sub-division of the representational office in Al Ram on the West Bank).

Support for a sovereign, democratic, and prosperous Lebanon is a key element of U.S. policy in the Middle East. We are therefore increasingly concerned by mounting evidence that the Syrian and Iranian governments, Hizballah, and their Lebanese allies are preparing plans to topple Lebanon's democratically-elected government led by Prime Minister Siniora.

The working conditions of Iraqi doctors have become increasingly difficult as they toil in a health-care system on the brink of collapse and attempt to treat Iraqis injured by the ongoing violence. At the same time, Iraqi doctors have found themselves being targeted by both insurgents and Iraqi security forces.