VOL. XXXIV

NO. 45

12-AUGUST-1991

The Political Scene

When US Secretary of State James Baker left the region at the end of hislatest mission, the question of Palestinian participation in the proposed MiddleEast peace conference remained the most obvious obstacle still to be overcomebefore the ground would be clear for the gathering to convene. The release ofa British hostage in Lebanon has raised hopes of a regional exchange ofprisoners which would end the hostage issue once and for all, but the...