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The Israeli mindset is very simple: military force is a must even if civilians are being killed. Only through force will the Hamas leaders yield and the Palestinians essentially turn against them. To survive, Israel must continue to use force and teach Hamas a lesson. That logic has governed the Israeli leaders for the past four decades but is bound to fail. The UN Security Council and the world community have condemned the Israeli attacks and called for an immediate ceasefire to save lives and allow humanitarian assistance to get through, but the Israeli leaders are not paying any attention, because they are not subject to international pressure, only to their domestic constituency. After all, their biggest international supporter, the US, especially under outgoing President George W Bush, is still backing their actions.

This time the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has reached insanity level as February polls draw year. It is not difficult to see that the key players in Israeli politics are campaigning to win the election on hard-line warlike stands. The aerial attacks of the past week and more that have killed more than 400 in the Gaza Strip are intrinsically linked to the polls. The candidates, who happen to sit in the same Cabinet, are playing off against each other beyond the comprehension of outsiders.

They have their own ulterior motives, but all support war with Hamas. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of the Kadima Party is fighting to save his own dismal legacy. His conduct of the Labanon war in 2006 destroyed his reputation. The report by the Winograd Commission was succinct in accusing him of "serious failure in exercising judgement, responsibility and prudence". Defence Minister Ehud Barak has also minced no words. He is a decorated soldier and wants to crush Hamas in order to reverse his Labour Party's downfall. He was prime minister in 1993 but is not popular. At the other end of the scale, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni of Kadima is a contender for prime minister too, so she cannot yield.

What is sad about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is that it is the civilians that suffer and get killed. Something must be done to save the peace process in the Middle East. Of course, major international players, especially the European Union, must play a major role. US president-elect Barak Obama will need to ponder new ways to bring warring factions to the negotiating table. There was once a truce that both sides observed.

The Palestinian authority and its leader Mahmoud Abbas must be given strong support against Hamas. The problem is that the victory of Hamas in the Gaza Strip back in January 2006 has given legitimacy to its presence there. Since then no country has attempted to engage it, though it is perceived as a terrorist group. It is hard for Hamas fighters to back down, which is why the missiles continue to land in Israeli territory. Hamas of course has also killed Israeli civilians in the south. It also should be condemned. Taking innocent lives on either side must not be condoned.

To end this crisis, there must be an immediate ceasefire, and peace negotiations must start again. The Arab Peace Initiative of 2002 should be used as a broad framework as it is the most suitable forum to end the current quagmire. It has received strong support from all Arab countries. Both Israelis and Palestinians will benefit from a negotiated settlement. Israel will receive recognition and normalisation with Arab countries in exchange for troop pullouts from all occupied lands and a just solution for Palestinian refugees. Major powers liked the US, Russia and the European Union must contribute to bring all sides to the peace process once more.