Though the Palestinians have caved in to heavy US pressure to take part in direct talks with Israel, it remains unclear how progress can be made on final status issues when there is not even an end to settlement building, reports Khaled Dawoud from Washington

The theft of Vincent Van Gogh's Poppies from the Mahmoud Khalil Museum has exposed the parlous state of security at Egypt's museums, reports Nevine El-Aref

Why is Egypt spending precious political capital on shaky US attempts to kick-start MidEast peace talks? Dina Ezzat seeks an answer

If the life and times of Hassan El-Banna make for good TV, it is the real life political drama that will determine all our futures, writes Abdel-Moneim Said

A large administrative settlement from ancient Egypt's Second Intermediate Period has been discovered in Kharga Oasis, Nevine El-Aref reports

Despite the criminalisation of female genital mutilation it has claimed the life of another young girl, reports Reem Leila

Despite a more stringent selection process, the list of NDP parliamentary candidates is unlikely to contain many surprises, reports Gamal Essam El-Din

A spate of problems affecting power, water and wheat supply is provoking public ire, reports Mohamed El-Sayed

As the Yemeni government began a campaign against Al-Qaeda in the south of the country this week, peace talks with the Al-Houthi rebels started in the north, writes Nasser Arrabyee

Direct negotiations might start, but Israel will continue on the ground to undermine peace, writes Khaled Amayreh in Ramallah

Abbas's decision to resume direct talks with Israel puts paid to any prospects of inter-Palestinian reconciliation, writes Saleh Al-Naami