EGYPT’S first post-revolution vote will shift the political scene in favour of Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, whether or not the Muslim Brotherhood wins, analysts and Hamas officials say.

Jordanians headed to the polls today to elect their second parliament under King Abdullah II, amid apathy toward Islamist politicians and scepticism that the government will help create jobs or alleviate growing poverty.

US President George Bush’s new strategy to send thousands of more troops to Iraq was met with harsh scepticism across the Middle East today where many predicted that even with more soldiers, America would fail at breaking the cycle of violence.

Arab officials today reacted with concern to the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, criticising Israel for causing suffering to Gaza residents and citing Israeli warplanes’ buzzing of the Syrian president’s home as especially troubling.