In reaction to the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian extremists in June 2006 and two Israeli soldiers by the Lebanese Hezbollah in mid July, Israel has launched massive military operations in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. These have targeted not only the facilities of the militants but also the civilian infrastructure and have severely affected the civilian population. The international community has given Israel a free hand, at least implicitly, to achieve its goals by military means. In its statement of mid July 2006 the G8 suggested comprehensive measures to reach a lasting ceasefire, but debate in political circles and the media has increasingly narrowed to the deployment of an international stabilisation force in south Lebanon. In Germany attention has centred on the question of possible German participation in such a force. (SWP Comments / SWP)