The emergence of “Hamastan” in Gaza sent leaders in the Middle East and elsewhere scrambling for an answer: Whose fault is it? Is it reversible? Will the same thing happen in the West Bank? What should and could be done now? In this soul-searching process there is plenty of blame …

President Hosni Mubarak yesterday signed a long-awaited law on teachers’ pay, which was passed by the People’s Assembly (the lower house of the Egyptian Parliament) on Wednesday. As of July 1, teachers and all other personnel involved in education will be entitled to pay rises.

By JASON STRAZIUSO, Associated Press Writer FORWARD OPERATING BASE THUNDER, Afghanistan – NATO and U.S.-led coalition forces killed about 60 insurgents Friday along the border with Pakistan, the military said, while local officials in the south reported that a NATO airstrike killed 25 civilians.