At last we have a ceasefire thanks to the gentle persistence of Kofi Annan with very little help from Blair or Bush sadly, who should have called for a ceasefire long ago. I feel slightly sick to think that Parliament has remained on holiday rather than discuss whether we need reforms in our foreign policy. Not so long ago, when in opposition, MP’s in the Labour Party would have been outraged and shouting for a calling back from the recess. How times change, or is this an illustration of how power corrupts?

The ceasefire holds, and yet there are still strong words of defiance being used on both sides.

The cost of this tragedy is enormous as shown from this table on the BBC website:

IMPACT: 34 DAYS OF FIGHTING
Lebanon deaths:
About 1,000 – mostly civilians
No precise data on Hezbollah dead
Israeli deaths:
Soldiers: 114 (IDF)
Civilians: 43 (IDF)
Lebanon displaced:
700,000 – 900,000 (UNHCR; Lebanese govt)
Israeli displaced:
500,000 (Human Rights Watch)
Lebanon damage:
$2.5bn (Lebanese govt)
Israel damage:
$1.1bn (Israeli govt)

Despite what Israel says, I fail to see how this has been a measured response to Hezbollah’s crimes. The numbers say it all: over 1000 Lebanese dead to 150 Israelis.
1150 lives and the western world stood and watched.
Stood and watched when it could have intervened and appealed for calm.
People are crying all over the region, lets be praying that this ceasefire holds.