I am horrified by what is happening in Lebanon - which has only very recently begun to experience real independence after years of conflict and effective occupation by both Israel and Syria . Given Lebanon’s recent history, I do not find it surprising that the disarming of Hezbollah has not yet taken place - it has taken years to achieve even something of that with the IRA.

Since July 12 th , more than 1,100 people have lost their lives: 100 Israelis and over 1,000 Lebanese. Of these, 973 Lebanese civilians have been killed, compared to 33 in Israel : that’s more than thirty Lebanese civilians killed for every Israeli. As many again have been wounded, and millions have been displaced, in both countries.

I consider the British and US Governments to be complicit in allowing the Israeli Government to act outside the confines of international law. In short, Israeli action in both Gaza and Lebanon is unlawful collective punishment, and the British and US governments have prolonged it by failing to support the UN call for an immediate ceasefire, pushing for a negotiated settlement and an international UN stabilising force, nearly two weeks ago.

I was deeply disappointed by the failure of the Rome conference to issue a clear statement in support of the UN position. Israel has clearly interpreted the lack of such a statement as a green light to continue its military action both in Lebanon and Gaza .

Intense diplomatic activity has, we’re told, produced a draft UN Security Council resolution designed to end the fighting. But even though Israel ’s powerful US ally and the French have been able to agree to sign up to the same document, it is obvious that the US – and therefore Israel – is in the driving seat.

As it stands, the draft UN Security Council resolution is a one-sided document, already dismissed by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem as ‘a recipe for continuing the war’. It doesn’t call for an immediate ceasefire to stop the bombings. It requires Hezbollah to lay down its arms, but it doesn’t demand the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese land – and hence will not bring an end to the military occupation which has driven thousands from their homes. It makes no reference to the extreme disproportionality of Israel ’s response since July 12 th and makes no serious attempt to resolve the territorial status of the disputed Shebaa Farms area.

Most of the resolution’s problems stem from the fact that the US and Israel believe Hezbollah ‘started’ the ongoing hostilities by kidnapping two Israeli soldiers – and killing three others - on July 12 th , but in reality the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has been simmering away since Israeli troops officially withdrew from Lebanon in 2000. Israel has been flying sorties of fighters at ear-splittingly low altitudes repeatedly over the last six years, with Hezbollah rockets attempting to shoot them down as they violated Lebanese airspace.

In truth, recent weeks have seen an horrific intensification of a long-simmering conflict between Hezbollah and Israel , and any peaceful resolution of must recognise this.

Greens are completely committed to the UN process – and to a more balanced and universally acceptable Security Council resolution: one which calls for an immediate ceasefire, an exchange of prisoners of war, a demilitarised zone straddling the border between Israel and Lebanon, security guarantees and logistical support from all parties to aid convoys, and a full investigation of war crimes and human rights violations committed by both Israel and Hezbollah during these current hostilities. Any resolution must seek to resolve issues of territorial insecurity in the Shebaa farms and Golan Heights areas, and recognise the wider regional interest in doing so. It must establish a peace conference of all combatants and parties, including Syria and Iran to ensure diplomatic channels are in place as an alternative to any resurgence of hostilities.

Israeli attacks, regardless of the level of any provocation, will only make a peaceful, sustainable outcome more difficult. It seems to have brought Hamas and Al-Fatah closer together and has massively increased support for Hezbollah both in Lebanon and across the region. Instead of strengthening Lebanese independence, it opens the way for Syria and Iran to become more closely involved.

I am sure the Green Group in the European Parliament will renew its calls for the suspension of the EU-Israel agreement and reiterate our demands for Israel to pay the tax money which is due to the Palestinian authorities. Failed states are not in the interests of their own citizens or the international community. We also support the need for international humanitarian aid. To that end, the EU needs to release funds to support UNHCR and assist it diplomatically in getting assistance to affected areas.

Although it is difficult for the EU to speak with one voice on this matter, given the position of the UK Government, I welcome reports that the Finnish Presidency of the EU has made it clear that the EU has not given a green light to Israel to continue its military activities.

I signed a latter to Tony Blair organised by the Stop the War coalition before Saturday’s anti-war march and peace rally in London saying as much. As a Vice-President of Stop the War, I will do all in my power will to mobilise the growing public discontent at the UK’s contribution to the war until we see an end to the bombing and the murder of innocent civilians in both Lebanon and Israel – guilty of nothing more then living in the wrong country at the wrong time.