-- By CNN Cameraman Neill Bennett

The Al Deira hotel is an oasis of calm in the conflict-ridden place that is Gaza. A regular haunt for foreign journalists on assignment here. Once back in its airy rooms from a day filming, it’s easy to forget the dangers and the squalor of Gaza.

But there was no getting away from events last night. An unholy sound of battle erupted outside.

Our first thoughts were that this was a continuation of the fighting that has recently engulfed this place. Ben Wedeman and I had heard moments before, as had the people of Gaza, the news of the shooting at the Jewish seminary in Jerusalem. This wasn’t fighting – this was celebration.

A cacophony of gunfire, cheering, car horns and fireworks went on all around the hotel. Standing cautiously at the window I filmed bright red tracer rounds flying overhead. Very much aware that what goes up, must come down.

This morning from my window at the Al Deira all seems calm. The sun reflects on the Mediterranean and people on the street go about their lives. And one fears how long this can last and whether there is another storm brewing.

Our Alphonso Van Marsh sent in this photo of a billboard in Cairo. The clinic advertising its services here offers plastic surgery and weight loss programs. It makes sense in Arabic, but in English, it may be a hard sell.

The United States has quietly deployed two naval ships near Lebanese waters.

They both replace the USS Cole (target of a terrorist attack off the coast of Yemen in 2000) which made the trip from Yemen to Lebanese shores last February 28th.



Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora is quoted as saying that the Cole and other US ships " (...) will cruise off the coast, not in Lebanese territorial waters."

White House National security Spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the purpose of US warships near Lebanon was to "show of support for regional stability."

But in a Daily Star article, retired General Elias Hanna, who now teaches political science at Notre Dame University, said the purpose of the deployment may be more specific: "In addition to signaling support for its allies in the March 14 governing coalition, the USS Cole also sends a message to Hizbullah to reconsider any plans to retaliate against Israel" following the February 13 assassination of senior Hezbollah member Imad Mughniyeh in Damascus.

What do you think of the warship deployment near Lebanon?

Email us at mideast@cnn.com or add a comment below.

Here is an interesting look at the controversial "charter" recently adopted by Arab League Ministers of Information, by CNN's Arab Affairs Editor Octavia Nasr.

-- From Rabat to Riyadh, the Arab world gets its news from satellite television - Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya and others.

Networks that have brought plain speaking to a region where government censorship is the norm, and has been for decades.

Now those governments - members of the Arab League - plan to rein in these free-wheeling broadcasters.

A new charter adopted by Arab information ministers bans anything that "undermines social peace, national unity and public order."

The sweeping charter threatens to revoke a broadcaster's license, if it defames politicians, national figures or religious leaders. Or if it criticizes religion.

Egypt's Information Minister says it's needed because "some satellite channels have strayed from the correct path."

Journalists are up in arms. They say repressive regimes want to silence them and impose restrictions on their editorial freedom, disguised as regulation.

Saad Jabbar, an International Law Expert, told Al-Jazeera: “ "This is like going backward to the dark ages. They want to muzzle all opinions that disagree with them."

Critics say the restrictions could even extend to comedy shows like the popular ones which routinely poke fun at politicians.

And if the charter is applied with force, cartoons lampooning leaders may become a thing of the past.

It could make life even more difficult for bloggers like Wael Abbas in Egypt. He's already spent time in jail after exposing torture by Egyptian police.

Another Egyptian blogger Abdel Karim Suleiman is serving jailtime after being convicted of defaming President Mubarak and inciting hatred of Islam.

The irony is that Saudi Arabia is a sponsor of the charter, but Saudi financiers run many of the Arab world's independent media outlets, including the satellite news channel al Arabiya. The only countries not to sign the Charter were Lebanon and Qatar, home to news pioneer al Jazeera.

The charter has caused such a stir that it's even made it to the cartoon pages - such as one featuring an Arab journalist carefully avoiding mouse traps.

In the past Arab League declarations and charters have withered and died - the organization has no executive power.

But journalists across the region are worried - some describing it as a dark day for press freedom in the Arab world.