Alexander Bett and Paul Collier

If the ceasefire collapses, China has an interest in getting the two sides back to the table, but it would be a difficult task given Tehran's deep mistrust of the US and Israel.

The fragile truce faces significant obstacles.

Instead of the "no endless wars" they were promised, Americans were thrown into a disastrous war and were feeling the economic pinch at the gas pump

Islamabad is humming with behind-the-scenes diplomacy to turn this tentative pause into lasting peace.

Israel's parliament approved a draconian death penalty law last week that only applies to Palestinian prisoners, in a move that the UN says "would constitute a war crime"