Third party intervention led by the US and France has achieved a ceasefire in Lebanon. The US now needs to push for a settlement in Gaza where the combatants withdraw, and an external force is charged with maintaining the peace.

A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect at 4 am local time on Wednesday morning.

There are 13 points in the ceasefire agreement, but essentially the agreement requires Hezbollah to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon, after which the Israeli troops will withdraw to their side of the border.

This new “peace-zone”, south of the Litani River and north of the border with Israel, will be patrolled by thousands of additional Lebanese army troops and UN peacekeepers. An international panel, headed by the United States, and including France and the UN, will monitor compliance with the terms of the ceasefire.

With more than 3800 people killed and more than 1 million people displaced in Lebanon, and more than 60,000 people displaced from northern Israel, this ceasefire agreement is most welcome news.

However, at present the ceasefire is only for 60 days and what........

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