it is not accurate to say hezzbollah or hamas started this war. that would be accept the idea that israel was obliged to bomb the hell out of a neighbouring state following the capture of 2 of it's soldiers - a relatively minor incident in the bigger middle east picture.

to me, the middle east is a question of demographics. the state of israel is flanked by arab-islamic states on all sides and is in a minority position which is becoming weaker with every day that passes. the populations in these neighbouring states are booming and israel must understand that co-existance is a necessary reality. it's a simple numbers game. if you accept that, it makes you realise how absurd israel's current policy is. only US support so far has helped israel to maintain an isolationist position. but in reality, this is a false position which cannot be sustained in the long-term.

it's fairly clear that israel's long-term future depends on peace and political stability in the region. that is what ariel sharon realised at the end of his life after years of bloody-minded resistance. it is a shame to see his positive work he did for peace at the end of his political career undone so dramatically and so quickly by Ehud Olmert. His inexperience and short-sighted approach is doing infinite damage to israel's own longer future.