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The Middle East: Sensible assessments

Israel keeps on pounding Lebanon, the death toll in Lebanon and Israel is rising and things in Gaza are going from bad to worse - yet the US veteod the Security Council calling for a ceasefire and the world basically stands by watching events unfold. George Bush, who ought to be taken a lead on behalf of the USA, is basically sitting on his hands. In fact, the present "uplifting" underway of various nationalities from Lebanon has been described as the biggest evacuation of people since WWII.

This morning Peters Rodgers - journalist, author and diplomat and Australia's Ambassador to Israel between 1994 to 1997 - was interviewed on ABC National Radio's Breakfast program. Listen to this interesting interview and the revelation by Rodgers that Israel at one time supported Hamas and Hezbollah.

A different and sober assessment of the current crisis - and not the shrill pro-Israel material pushed in the media - can be read in this op-ed piece, Deadly Double Standards Sow Terror, in yesterday's The Australian newspaper here.

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