Walking on Eggshells

Why is it that British and American politicians are always walking on eggshells when it comes to Israel?

The situation is simple - there are three sovereign nations involved in the conflict but only one government and one army. The Lebanese and Palestinian governments and armed forces are not involved in the conflict. The Israeli's are supposedly going after militants based in both of those countries but an awful lot of civillians seem to be getting killed and there are next to no casualties amongst Hamas or Hezbollah.

The Egyptian Prime Minister stood next to Condy Rice last night and said that there should be an immediate ceasefire but as he was walking away from the podium, Condy rushed over to a microphone and said "only when it is prudent to do so". For fucks sake!

Now Margaret Beckett has said that she understands "the provocation" the Israeli's face (from militants, not the Palestinian or Lebanese governments but lets not let facts get in the way of some arse licking) but said that they need to act in a "proportionate" manner. What she actually meant was "Yes, I understand that you're a bit pissed off about your soldiers being kidnapped but actually you're breaking international law yet again and it would be far less embarassing for the British government if we didn't have to try and defend you when you are cleary a bunch of warmongering fuckwits". But, of course, she can't say that because Israel is under American protection and is therefore allowed to do what the fuck they want whether it is legal or right.

Meanwhile, several thousand British citizens have been evacuated by Royal Navy warship (I guess the Israeli's must have graciously given their permission for them to enter Lebanese waters) before Israel had a chance to blow them up. The UN has chartered a ferry to evacuate other foreign nationals from Southern Lebanon but the Israeli's are too busy trying to bomb Southern Lebanon into the stone age at the moment so it's not safe for it to dock at Tyre.

Unconfirmed reports state that the Americans are stepping up their humanitarian efforts in the middle east by sending more guns and bombs to the brave Israeli freedom fighters.*

* I made this up.