IN an almost-empty restaurant on Gawhar El Kaid street in Cairo, a snippet of information passes from Samir, a waiter, to a lonely client who has just finished his serving of falafel. It is an astounding bit of information. Osama bin Laden, Samir claims, is a Mossad agent.

His proof? Osama went to school with Ariel Sharon.

No explanation is given about precisely which school this was. Samir doesn't go in for detail. Neither does Mustafa, a