The general budget is a key document in defining a state's socio-economic policies. It reflects its social biases or balance between the interests of the poor, middle class and wage workers on the one hand, and the interests of the wealthy, and local and foreign large-scale capitalists on the other. It reflects the balance between consumption and enjoying the present through INVESTING in the future and achieving economic leaps through major improvements in future standards of living. It also reflects the government's choice to mobilise society and state to trigger an economic boom based on self-reliance or borrowing or burdening future generations with heavy debts.

By taking the decision to launch a ground offensive against the Gaza Strip, Israel chose military escalation. The decision came as a result of the refusal of Hamas, which has controled the Strip since 2007, to accept the Egyptian initiative for a ceasefire. This rejection gave Tel Aviv the pretext and political cover to carry out its aggression against Gaza, with has caused hundreds of deaths and thousands of wounded among the Palestinians.

Growing up in Tucuman, a town in the North of Argentina, I had the opportunity to see a small example of peaceful coexistence and collaboration between Arabs and Jews. I was reminded of that experience after reading an article by Uri Avnery, one of the leading peace activists in Israel.

How’d they do it? How did Israel manage to bombard civilians with impunity and convince so many to stand silently by or even offer their endorsement and secure the support of many of their citizens who cheer on the attacks and encourage the Israeli military to go further?

The Egyptian events in the days preceding 3 July 2013 coincided with an African tour by American President Barak Obama. As he said in an afternoon news conference in the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam: "We all feel concerned with what's happening in Egypt". He pointed to the importance of ensuring that the voices of all Egyptians were heard and represented by their government.

Thinking about the multitude of drama television series aired during Ramadan, one question comes to mind. Which genius, may God never forgive him, made a correlation between the holy month of Ramadan on one hand and the flood of shoddy series on the other?

A week of ceasefire calls, efforts and proposals has not stopped Israel from launching a ground invasion of Gaza in tandem with its aerial and naval bombardments. Developments suggest that Israel, while accepting an Egyptian proposal, used it as a pretext to intensify and widen its offensive. Cairo, which since the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi last summer is as hostile to Hamas as Israel is, may have enabled such a plan, deliberately or otherwise.

One day in the summer of 1974, I was getting ready to go to the swimming pool with a mixed-gender group of friends when my mother took me aside. “Remember,” she said, “that a well-brought-up young man does not ogle women.”

Thinking about the multitude of drama television series aired during Ramadan, one question comes to mind. Which genius, may God never forgive him, made a correlation between the holy month of Ramadan on one hand and the flood of shoddy series on the other?

I first learned of Dr Albert Schweitzer’s work when I was a medical student in the 1960s. During those years, the story of Schweitzer’s efforts to improve the health of Africans in his hospital in Lambaréné ignited my companions’ and my imagination. It was thus with a sense of privilege that I visited his hospital, where his excellent work continues today. Sadly, the same cannot be said about the continuation of his message of peace.

“What makes you the happiest?” “When my father and mother are not fighting and he doesn’t beat her up,” said Gamal, an 11-year-old vendor selling lupine grain, as he smiled and posed for the picture. Salma Hegab, a fresh graduate of Multimedia Journalism, posted the photo on the Facebook page “Humans of Cairo”.

The first time Ethar Hassan rode a bicycle, a car pulled over and stopped her. She fell over her bicycle. “You fell, cutie?” a man said from the car. “I wish I was the bike.” Hassan tells her story on a new blog dedicated chronicling the women’s experiences with sexual harassment and gender issues in Egypt. The Cairo-based non-profit “BuSSy” raises awareness about the challenges Egyptian women face by transforming real-life experiences into dramatic monologues. It launched the blog to act as a sort of archive for stories collected over eight years of operation.

Not known for their rapid reaction capabilities, it took Arab governments about a week to convene an emergency meeting of the Arab League, which took place yesterday in Cairo, to discuss the rapidly escalating confrontation between Israel and Gaza.

The Egyptian events in the days preceding 3 July 2013 coincided with an African tour by American President Barak Obama. As he said in an afternoon news conference in the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam: "We all feel concerned with what's happening in Egypt". He pointed to the importance of ensuring that the voices of all Egyptians were heard and represented by their government.

In principle, every citizen deserves a better life; why should people suffer if their lives can be improved? However, a better life won’t be dished out and served up on a golden plate. To lead better lives, citizens should not only work hard, they must abide by a number of values that are critical to the enhancement of their standard of living. Although Egyptian society is known for its cheerfulness, Egyptians have lately become significantly more unhappy, stressed, depressed and angry. To regain their joyful life, they simply need to deserve it.

As somewhat muted congratulations from world leaders pour into Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s office, one cannot help but wonder how much there really is to celebrate for both Sisi and ordinary Egyptians alike. Many Egyptians celebrated Sisi’s electoral victory in Tahrir Square upon its announcement, and posters, pictures and other Sisi iconography remain prevalent on the streets. Sisi himself, in his post-election speech thanked the Egyptian people and military, insisting, “The future is a clean page. We can fill it with bread, social justice and dignity”.

While revolutions usually take decisive actions to achieve the goals that triggered them, achieving social justice – the main demand of the Egyptian revolution – remains unfulfilled, as the revolution overthrew two regimes but has not ruled.

Subsidy reform was inevitable. That’s what President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and his supporters said this week when fuel prices were raised and taxes on some consumer goods were hiked. And they aren’t wrong.

The fate of Iraq as a united country is at stake, and it is most likely veering rapidly towards actual partition based on sectarian affiliation. This would destroy all historic and geographic bonds exactly along the lines of maps that emerged at the start of the US-British invasion of Iraq, demarking three countries in Iraq each belonging to a different sect, five states in the Arabian Peninsula and two countries in Syria.

Amnesty International said last week that Egypt is witnessing a “catastrophic” decline in human rights. Indeed, human rights conditions in Egypt are currently a disaster, but the “catastrophe” Egyptians are witnessing these days is all-encompassing.

“Laughter is the best therapy to overcome life problems and come to grips with mistakes.” That’s Islam Gawish’s life motto.