Arafat made his preposterous claim in the course of negotiations about the disposition of Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: The Age of Dissimulation

That happens in the course of the three stories which make up Rachel Seiffert's excellent novel.

ECONOMIST: New fiction

After throwing the camera a knowing smirk on the final "Beautiful girls...." Rachel assured the judges in an eye-rollingly scripted conversation that of course she had been aiming the song toward Paula and Simon's voodoo doll Nicole.

CNN: 'The X Factor' top 5 recap: Shut up and dance