The British response in Gaza

Talk is cheap. David Miliband has had the roar of a poodle in his statements that a ceasefire must be sought in the latest conflict between Israel and Hamas. Gordon Brown said "we must act", a particularly hollow addition from him. Just what exactly are the British doing in the process of brokering a ceasefire?

The French have led the way in that respect, despite their package falling on deaf ears. In the 2006 Lebanon war it was also the EU and not the UK who were unrepentant in their condemnation of Israel and push to stop the killing. Britain supported that war and America's position of support in this case has surely again decided the British position.

Perhaps it was understandable in 2006 that the French defended the Lebanon from the off, after all it became their "backyard" after Middle-Eastern territories were divided up following the First World War.

But then, the British got Palestine. Surely then with our historical links to this geographical mess, we Brits should be the ones in a prominent role, trying to mediate an end to this latest conflict.

However as we know all too well, these days we look to our friends further west before we take any kind of meaningful position when it comes to Palestine and Israel. Whilst our leaders wax lyrical about how "a solution must be found" to "end the suffering", our impotence in world affairs becomes all too apparent as a result of our "special relationship" with the US.