25 June 2007

From the Editor…

Welcome to the New Statesman website. Whether you are a new reader or an existing one - online or via the magazine - I hope you'll enjoy the great writing, fresh ideas and provocative debate that make the New Statesman Britain's award-winning current affairs weekly

Jason Cowley, Editor, New Statesman

Cover story

Israel and Gaza and a summer of war?

The creation of an Islamic Bantustan under Hamas is the result of Israeli belligerence, Palestinian corruption and a failed US experiment in democracy that threatens the whole of the Middle East, argues Haim Baram, while Zaki Chehab argues that Gaza risks becoming the world's new pariah state

By Haim Baram

Features

If only they told the truth

By Martin Bright

When the NS revealed how the government would seek to bury bad news during the Blair-Brown transition, ministers issued wrongful denials. Martin Bright reports on politics in disrepute and a parliament that tries to work

1 comment

Giving Dave a headache

By Tara Hamilton-Miller

Just when the Tories have a real strategy to announce, a banana skin presents itself

2 comments

The new pariah state

By Zaki Chehab

Hamas showed its strength in forcing Fatah from Gaza. But will it turn the desperate strip into a new Afghanistan?

Where on earth are we all going to live?

By Edmund Conway

Our national obsession with property has led us into dangerous waters. At every level of the market there is now a shortage of homes

4 comments

We must raise our ambition and build many more homes

By Yvette Cooper

With a new prime minister, Labour needs to seize the opportunity on housing - including new eco towns and bolder plans

3 comments

Time Out with Nick Cohen: Steve Jones

By Nick Cohen

Darwin had to contend with religious dogma and bad poetry. An illustrious successor is equally frustrated by bad science

Regulars

New Statesman Leader

Reprehensible Israeli policies and mistaken token responses

Israel's policy towards the Palestinians has long been morally and politically reprehensible. But it is only through concerted engagement that a broader catastrophe can be averted

Commons Confidential

So, exactly what is on the "Boy George" Osborne iPod?

By Kevin Maguire

Druggie Dave ruffles diplomatic feathers and Big Brother sparks Trot tantrums

The political is personal No 3983

Set by George Cowley We asked for two speeches, one from a male and one from a female, about a common political topic

Culture

The way I see it

Devo

Devo are an art-punk band from Akron, Ohio, best known for the 1980 hit “Whip It”. Their first UK tour for 15 years continues until 26 June. For dates and booking details, phone 0870 735 5000 or visit http://www.bookingsdirect.com.

Northern soul: Liverpool

By Paul du Noyer

Scruffy, careless, brazen and kind, Liverpool is a city with soul, argues Paul du Noyer

Northern soul: Manchester

By Dave Haslam

Manchester has always occupied a special place in British culture, says Dave Haslam

The art of a good time

By Alice O'Keeffe

There's a lot of hot air wafting around the Venice Biennale. But one thing is for sure: the art world can party.

A feast for the senses

By David Smyth

Music now blares through every public space - but sound art reminds us how precious our hearing really is

Theatre

Heart of darkness

By Rosie Millard

The Old Vic has returned to form with a disturbing Victorian thriller Gaslight Old Vic, London SE1

Film

A life less ordinary

By Ryan Gilbey

The turbulent tale of Édith Piaf is rendered vividly by a clever director La Vie en rose (12A)
dir: Olivier Dahan Paris, je t'aime (15)
dirs: various