It's the number you dial before the rest. The one your hands know without looking. 20 is Egypt. 970, Palestine. Then Syria on 963, Lebanon 961, Iraq 964, Sudan 249. Punch it in and someone picks up in Cairo, or a kitchen in Beirut, or across the ocean in Khartoum.
Area Codes is a small run of printed pieces. Giza's pyramids under Egypt's 20, an olive branch around Palestine's 970, the spiral minaret of Samarra beside Iraq's 964.
The codes: Egypt 20 · Palestine 970 · Syria 963 · Lebanon 961 · Iraq 964 · Sudan 249
