Mon 27 Nov 2006

Civil wars threaten in the Middle East.

David Starkey is joined by Edward Luttwak (economist), Dr Rosemary Hollis (Director of Research at Chatham House in London), Professor Haleh Afshar (Professor of Politics and Women's Studies at York University).

In an interview on American television, King Abdullah of Jordan has warned that three civil wars could break out in the Middle East next year, in Iraq, in Lebanon and between Israel and the Palestinians, unless urgent action is taken by the international community. He says the US and its allies must start talking to Iran and Syria.

Meanwhile, tensions between Syria and Lebanon remain after the assassination of Pierre Gemayel last week.

To what extent do all the tensions in the Middle East lead back to Israel/Palestine? Both Israel and Hamas are currently urging restraint, despite a number of provocations, to preserve the new ceasefire over the Gaza strip. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he hopes the agreement can be extended to the West Bank and that it can lead to serious, direct negotiations with the Palestinian President Abbas. But even if Israel and Palestine can come to terms, what of the tensions between Christians in Lebanon, and between Muslims in Iraq?