Tel Aviv / London Governments in turmoil, bodies litter the landscape

Contileezza Rice must awake today with the grim satisfaction that the billions of US taxpayers dollars she has funnelled to Israel, are paying off.

US supplied F 16's have been active over Gaza , where early in the morning they bombed and destroyed the Interior Ministry building, with it appears remarkably light cicilian casualties although the death toll this week stands at 60 and rising.

In the Lebanon, air strikes throughout the day destroyed bridges, roads and two missiles struck Beirut airport closing it to air traffic.

The kidnapping of a single Jewish soldier has unleashed massive destructive power which is set to alter the balance of power in the Middle East - and drive the price of oil , now at a record US$75 a barrel even higher.

The kidnapping of a single Jewish businessman, Lord Levy by the Metropolitan Police in London yesterday threatens to alter the balance of power in London. A rich and highly paid solicitor from blue chip City firm Bindman & Co displayed a hurt tone when he explained that the arrest of his client was unecessary. Maybe, but it must have brought a warm glow to the cockles of the heart of beseiged Plod Sir Ian Blair, and a few others at new Scotland Yard.

Commentators point out that Lord Levy could sue for damages for wrongful imprisonment... it seems there is a slim chance that Lord Levy will wish (by choice) to be responsible for the washing of New Labour Party dirty linen in a court of law... although the opportunity may arise if PC Plod cannot be called off.

One thing is certain , Lord Levy as Tony Blair's very personal envoy in the Middle East (from his office situated in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office c/o Ma Beckett) will have little time to contemplate the savage and wanton destruction of Gaza and Southern Lebanon and the slaughter of it's citizens by his fellow Zionists.

The body count has not started in London but expect it to rise very quickly.

Pic from reuters - Smoke rises after Israeli jets fired missiles on the village of Rachaya Al-Fokah near Chibaa in south Lebanon .