Violence in the Middle East continues to escalate despite calls from the United Nations for a ceasefire and longstanding resolutions condemning the actions of both Israel and Hizbollah.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities, but fighting has continued regardless of hopes for a 48-hour ceasefire.

Do you think this situation proves the impotence of the United Nations? Or is the issue not that the UN is inherently powerless, but that it is unable to act when its decisions conflict with the wishes of the United States?

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Posted at: 10:01 | Permalink | Comments 151

Israel, Hizbollah, parliament’s 76-day summer holiday, Oxford’s admissions policy and John Prescott have all sparked strongly-worded criticism from Telegraph.co.uk readers this week.

As Israel intensified its attacks on South Lebanon, killing hundreds of civilians, comments continued to rain into our debate on the best method of achieving a ceasefire.

Like last week, readers were evenly – and bitterly – split between supporting and condemning Israel’s actions.

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With Tony Blair away on summer holiday, deputy prime minister John Prescott is now running the country, overseeing everything from transport to foreign policy.

Do you feel comfortable with this state of affairs?

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Oxford plans to take into account the background of applicants when deciding who to interview, a new policy deemed ‘immoral’ by the headteacher of a leading private school.

Under the reforms, pupils from schools near the bottom of league tables could be more likely to be offered an interview - and subsequently a place - at Oxford, while some with better grades from top schools may be overlooked.

Do you think the new policy is fair? Is positive discrimination a legitimate way of countering the University’s elitist image?

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Tony Blair has taken a step back from the “nanny state” by urging people to take more responsibility for their health and wellbeing.

Even though illnesses related to obesity, alchoholism and smoking put a massive strain on public finances, Mr Blair has acknowledged that the Government has a limited ability to dictate how people live their lives.

Do you think the Prime Minister has the right idea? Should people take responsability for their own health, or should the government attempt to enforce healthier lifestyles to conserve public funds?

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Parliament will wrap up today as MPs head off for their annual 76-day summer recess, despite calls from some politicians to curtail the break.

The public has long complained that a vacation of nearly three months is excessive given that salaries start at £60,000 for backbenchers, all provided at the taxpayer's expense.

Do you think the summer recess impedes the process of government? Or do MP’s deserve a substantial break from the toils of Government?

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American Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has started a tour of the Middle East, where she is expected to push for a “sustainable ceasefire” .

Israel is continuing its onslaught against Lebanon in retaliation for the capture of two Israeli soldiers, though its increasingly fierce tactics have not stopped Hizbollah militants from firing rockets at Israel.

Aides to Ms Rice have said a ceasefire would have to involve the disarming of the Iranian-backed Hizbollah. Saudi Arabia, a key US ally, advocates a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hizbollah.

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Posted at: 09:01 | Permalink | Comments 180

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has enmired the Labour Party, who rode to election victory in 1997 with the promise of being “whiter than white,” in sleaze and scandal.

He has provoked a barrage of bad publicity by having an affair with his diary secretary, retaining a ‘grace and favour’ country home and most recently accepting a gift of a £600 cowboy suit from an American tycoon bidding for the Millennium Dome.

Do you think Mr. Prescott is doing more to help the Conservatives than his own party?

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Israel’s actions in the Middle East dominated readers’ comments in a week when the shooting of de Menezes, stem cell research and even the hot weather all stirred up debate.

Nearly 600 people responded to the question of whether Israel’s actions could be justified as it waged war on Lebanon in retaliation for the capture of two Israeli soldiers.

Unusually, the comments were divided roughly 50-50.

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The first Britons have been evacuated from Lebanon by sea as Israel continues to launch air raids on the south of the country.

A conflict that started with the abduction of three Israeli soldiers has escalated into a war on two fronts: against Hamas in the Gaza strip and the pro-Iranian Hizbollah in Lebanon.

Do you think Israel’s tactics are justified? What do you think will be the consequences - for the region and beyond?

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President George W Bush has vetoed legislation to increase the funding of research using human embryo cells to fight serious illnesses, stoking a fraught emotional and ethical debate.

Supporters of the Bill say it would allow research only on cells created in fertility clinics which would otherwise be thrown away, but President Bush claims the legislation would have supported the use of human beings as scientific material.

Do you support the president’s veto? What stance do you think the British Government should adopt towards stem cell research?

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US authorities have arrested the chief executive of BetonSports, David Carruthers, and charged him with “racketeering conspiracy” for operating online and telephone sports betting in the US.

The arrest has come as a shock, but the company knew the risks. Sports gambling is illegal in the US, which is why none of the main online gaming operators are registered there. BetonSports had even warned that directors might be arrested. But does that justify the US reaction?

No warning appears to have been issued before Mr Carruthers was picked up, and the company has operated as a listed company for two years without incident. Perhaps the arrest was meant to send a message, but is a heavy-handed crackdown necessary?

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Posted at: 09:28 | Permalink | Comments 42

Britain is sweltering in temperatures of up to 36 degrees, hotter than holiday destinations such as Malta and Bermuda.

The nation has been divided into those who have air conditioning and those who have not, while authorities have shut schools and warned the elderly to stay out of the sun.

Is the scorching weather a blessing or a curse?

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Task forces have been sent into primary schools to tackle the rise in sexualised behaviour among children as young as seven and eight.

Social workers involved in the scheme blame modern culture for bombarding children with sexual images which they are too young to contextualize.

Do you support the use of these task forces, which aim to provide confidential information and advice?

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UN secretary general Kofi Annan has called for the deployment of an international "stabilisation force" in Israel and Lebanon, as the region teeters on the brink of all-out war.

Earlier, the G8 proposed the prompt deployment of an international force in southern Lebanon to put a halt to the fighting.

Caught unawares chatting to Tony Blair by an open microphone, George W Bush expressed his doubts over Kofi Annan's prioritisation of a ceasefire.

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Posted at: 13:01 | Permalink | Comments 174

The Metropolitan Police is to be prosecuted under health and safety laws over the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, but no individual officers will face charges.

The result of an investigation into the killing of the innocent Brazilian has angered his family, who have described the decision as "shameful" and accused the police of attempting a cover-up.

Do you think the investigation has been appropriately concluded?

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Posted at: 13:01 | Permalink | Comments 172

Ken Livingstone has announced that the £8 per day London congestion charge will rise to £25 for 4 x4s in 2009.

Those set to be penalised will be owners of cars with emissions of more than 225g of carbon dioxide per kilometre. That includes many "Chelsea tractors" and hundreds of ordinary family estates, although some 4x4s with low emissions will escape.

What do you think? Will the move help beat climate change, or will Transport for London's coffers be the only real beneficiary?

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A government review of immigration procedures has ruled out an amnesty for people who have entered the country illegally.

The Home Office will instead announce proposals for the "fair but tough" enforcement of immigration rules within the next fortnight.

How do you think the Government should tackle illegal immigration?

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Yesterday the Government enraged green groups by pledging support for a new generation of power stations in Britain, including wind farms and nuclear reactors.

Is the Government right to embrace wind farms and nuclear energy?

Are wind farms a noisy blight on the landscape or an aesthetically acceptable and safe way to provide energy?

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English Heritage has urged the public to think of more imaginative ways of rescuing dilapidated historical buildings.

The group praised the conversion of a threatened building into a Habitat store as it launched the 2006 edition of the "Buildings at Risk Register."

What do you think is the best approach to protecting historical buildings?

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Cases of murder and manslaughter have risen by almost a quarter since Labour came to power, Home Office figures have revealed, dealing a blow to Tony Blair’s pledge to be "tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime".

Those hoping for tough policy proposals from the Conservatives to counter the crime wave may have been disappointed, after party leader David Cameron said the public needed to show more "love" to gangs of teenage hoodies.

Where do think Labour has gone wrong in tackling the most serious types of crime?

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Posted at: 00:04 | Permalink | Comments 58

The Daily Telegraph has launched a campaign to pressure the Government into changing its extradition treaty with the United States so that British business people are tried in the UK for British offences.

The treaty was originally devised to handle terror suspects in the wake of September 11th, but it has since been used to call for the extradition of 23 alleged white collar criminals, including the ‘NatWest Three’.

So far, the US has refused to ratify its side of the treaty in order to reciprocate the arrangement, provoking sharp criticism from British business.

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Britain is mourning the first anniversary of the July 7 attacks, which killed 52 innocent people and injured hundreds more.

In the year since four British suicide bombers set off their blasts, Britain has sought to understand the root causes of the attack, scrutinised its own response on the day and taken a hard-line approach to handling further terror suspects.

Do you think July 7 has changed Britain?

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An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council has been called after North Korea test-fired seven missiles, including one which could have reached American soil had it not failed shortly after take-off.

The reclusive communist stated defied international warnings with the launch, which sparked strong condemnation from world leaders?.

A draft resolution suggested that all nations withhold all funds, goods and technology that could be used for North Korea's missile program. How do you think the international community should respond to North Korea?

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Downing Street has pledged to send any necessary reinforcements to Afghanistan, as resurgent Taliban fighters intensify their struggle against foreign troops.

Ten British soldiers have died since 2001 in the war-ravaged country, where a Nato force is attempting to train the Afghan army, clamp down on opium production and bring security to lawless southern areas.

Should Britain increase its commitments in Afghanistan, or attempt to withdraw? Does Britain have a duty towards the country after supporting the US-led war there five years ago?

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Britain’s opinion of the United States has sunk to an all-time low, according to a YouGov poll that revealed only 12pc of Britons trusted America to act wisely on the world stage.

The Daily Telegraph defended the superpower in a Leader article arguing that to dislike such a diverse country is misanthropic as well as ungrateful, given America's benign intervention in various European conflicts.

Do you think it is hypocritical of Britain to demonise the United States, while supporting its foreign policy and copying its social trends? Or does the UK have a legitimate case for backing away from the 'special relationship'?

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Posted at: 10:05 | Permalink | Comments 286

Three out of four voters believe Tony Blair has broken his promise to be "tough on crime" in the nine years since Labour came to power, an opinion poll reveals.

The survey shows the Tories are still seen as the party most trusted on law and order, but with the narrowest possible advantage over Labour - 22 per cent to 21 per cent. Some 38 per cent of voters say no party deserves trust on crime.

Are you worried about crime levels?

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Three British businessmen face two years in a US jail while a case is assembled against them after the European Court of Human Rights turned down their last-ditch plea for a hearing in the UK.

The United States is using a pact originally designed for handling terror suspects to extradite the ‘Natwest three’, who are accused of conspiracy with others to defraud NatWest of £12m.

Do you think the extradition pact is being misused? Should Britain be more ferocious in defending the rights of her own citizens?

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