The spiraling violence that has been sparked by the Arab soccer scene is of course deplorable and embarrassing and a whole other list of adjectives that one can come up with. At first glance, the violence and counter-violence appears to be a sign of strong nationalist sentiment, a sign that pan-Arab unity doesn't mean much. The two countries do share a history of bad blood.

The leaders of Hizbullah and Amal have endorsed a seemingly non-monolithic step: inviting the police and security forces to take action in Beirut's southern suburbs, where crime and related social problems seem to have overwhelmed the ability of the resistance to cope. Naturally, people can have a field day with such a policy:

 The news this week that the Israeli government has approved a further 900 new buildings in an East Jeru salem settlement deals another hammer blow to the already waning peace process. Not only does the expansion of the Gilo settlement show a complete disregard for international law, it shows once again a preference for expansion over peace on the part of the Israel.

As the long-awaited Cabinet of Saad Hariri was in the process of being formed, there was a lot of talk about "S and S," or Syria and Saudi Arabia, and the impact of their relationship on the battle to cobble together a working executive branch of government. We now have this government, and it's busy putting together its policy statement.

This weekend, the US and Russian leaders warned that time was running out for Iran over the future of its nuclear program. Taken in isolation, such a stance might reflect joint determination, or perhaps a bid by Moscow to gain favor with Washington on the Iran issue. However, also Sunday, Russia's energy minister said the construction of a Russian nuclear power station in Iran.

President Michel Sleiman's participation in a ceremony to inaugurate a dam in Baalbek on Saturday brings the issue of the management of our natural resources to the forefront of the national political debate - a refreshing change after the drought of ideas that characterized, until recently, the Cabinet-formation deliberations.

Lebanon's new energy and water minister called Friday for "national consensus" to ensure that electricity and water are kept free of politics as officials struggle with the problems in these sectors. Jibran Bassil, who took up his duties at one of the country's most demanding ministries after ending a controversial tenure as telecommunications minister.