Watch part two

It has been a week and a half since Israel started its campaign in Gaza and there is now talk of the conflict spilling into other parts of the region. 
 
The US has vetoed a ceasefire deal that does not include guarantees sought by Israel, while Europe and even some Arab states are holding back from strongly pressing for an end to the attack on Hamas.

This means the war on Gaza is set to continue for some time to come.

Observers say a part of this war is a regional contest between the camp of Syria and Iran and the camp of Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.

The region is divided. There is a lot of regional diplomatic activity, but the region has no leadership.

Arab nations have generally condemned the attacks but have come to no agreement as to how to stop Israel's actions.
 
As the international push for a ceasefire intensifies, demonstrations continue in Arab and Islamic capitals, and popular pressure also grows on the governments of Morocco to Indonesia to act. 

Will others get involved? Right now, it is ostensibly Israel versus Hamas and some other Palestinian factions within the Strip, but there are ominous signs from elsewhere in the region.

Can a prolonged battle with an increasing number of victims spill into neighbouring countries? 

What are the repercussions of the continuing failure of diplomacy on the region, on the Arab street, and on the current regional balance? Who are the current main players in the region and can their roles change based on the outcome of the current war?

On Tuesday's Inside Story, presenter David Foster is joined by Timur Goksel, a former senior advisor of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon; Mounzer Sleiman, the director of the Center for American and Arab Studies in Washington DC; and Robert Jordan, a former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

This episode of Inside Story airs from Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 1730GMT and 2230GMT with repeats at 0430GMT and 0830GMT on Wednesday.

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For more background information and context watch a selection of programmes