The writers today were Craig Hutchison, Ashleigh Keenan-Bryce and Jonathan Geddes. The editors were Graeme Esson, Steven Brocklehurst, Paul Hastie and Paul McLaren.
You can still keep up with our main story on Kate Forbes and John Swinney holding leadership talks here.
Thanks for joining us today and have a good evening.
The Headlines: Forbes and Swinney hold talks on SNP leadership
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
It's been another day rife with speculation at Holyrood, with no-one yet confirmed to join the race to replace Humza Yousaf as first minister. The headlines:
A spokesperson for Kate Forbes confirms she met with John Swinney yesterday, fueling speculation that the pair will do a deal to avoid a contest to replace Humza Yousaf
Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, branded the meeting a "shady stitch-up"
Nicola Sturgeon said she would wait to see who emerged as candidates before deciding who to back
A motion of no confidence in the Scottish government was defeated by 70 votes 58
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar led the debate and said the government was chaotic and divided - and it was time for a new one
Yousaf defended his record - and said the focus must be on the "real priorities of people in Scotland"
With the Scottish Greens backing the SNP, the motion of no confidence was easily defeated
Earlier, speaking in an interview for the first time after his resignation, Humza Yousaf said he had "paid the price" for the way he ended the SNP's power-sharing deal with the Greens
Video caption: ‘That's on me’ – Humza Yousaf reflects on end of his time as First Minister‘That's on me’ – Humza Yousaf reflects on end of his time as First Minister
Analysis
A taste of what's to come for Humza Yousaf's successor
David Henderson
BBC Scotland Correspondent
The SNP leadership campaign got personal
today.
But it's the Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross who
fired the first shots at both leading candidates - and the SNP.
During the debate on the no confidence vote on the Scottish government, he said it looks like Nicola Sturgeon's Health Secretary (Humza Yousaf) will be replaced by her deputy (that's John
Swinney) or her finance secretary (Kate Forbes).
Ms Forbes, he claimed, had raised taxes for
Scottish workers and was “an even more radical nationalist" than Humza
Yousaf or Nicola Sturgeon.
So far, so knockabout - prompting a bemused
smile from Ms Forbes.
But then, the focus switched to Mr Swinney -
or "Honest John" as Douglas Ross called him - and then "Not So
Honest John".
This earned a rebuke from the presiding officer - and Douglas Ross was forced to apologise.
Amid roars from fellow MSPs, John Swinney
looked livid - wagging his finger at Douglas Ross - and voicing his anger.
But the first blows have been landed. And both leading candidates have been put on
notice about what may lie ahead if they become first minister.
Forbes talks to people to give her perspective - Ivan McKee
BBCCopyright: BBC
The SNP's Ivan McKee told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime earlier programme that his preferred leadership candidate Kate Forbes is "very thorough and takes a lot of advice".
The MSP for Glasgow Provan said : "She is looking at things from many different angles.
"She has been talking to people over the last couple of days who can give her a perspective on things".
But asked about her meeting with John Swinney, McKee said: "I saw some rumours about deals being negotiated - I've certainly not been involved in any of that."
Tories brand Swinney and Forbes meeting a 'shady stitch-up'
The Scottish Conservatives say talks between John Swinney and Kate Forbes show the SNP is "desperate" to avoid another leadership contest.
Party leader Douglas Ross labelled the meeting on Tuesday as a "shady stitch-up".
Ross said: “Even if they do agree a deal, it will be like putting a
sticking plaster on a gaping wound when it comes to the bitter splits within
the SNP."
The 2023 SNP leadership contest was bitterly fought, with debates between candidates featuring personal attacks.
BreakingKate Forbes confirms 'informal meeting' with John Swinney
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
The two front-runners for the SNP leadership had an "informal" meeting on Tuesday.
Responding to media reports, a spokesperson for Kate Forbes has confirmed to the BBC that she met John Swinney.
They said: "We can confirm Kate spoke to John yesterday. It was a purely informal meeting.
"Kate is continuing to weigh up whether to run and is grateful for the growing outpouring of support."
News of the meeting will fuel speculation of a deal being struck to avoid a potentially damaging leadership contest for the party.
Minority government is not a new situation for the SNP
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
As discussions continue around the SNP leadership, one fact that remains is that after the end of the Bute House Agreement, the new first minister will lead a minority government.
This is not a new situation for the SNP. After the 2007 Holyrood election, Alex Salmond found himself leading a minority government of 47 MSPs.
Robert Hazell, professor of government at University College London, said he was able to govern by working collaboratively in parliament.
He says: "Alex Salmond was able to govern very effectively by building individual support agreements with different parties.
"He also managed expectations very well by saying to the parliament and the public ... 'my government is likely to be defeated quite often but that's not going to be an issue of confidence, we'll have to negotiate our way, bill by bill, measure by measure and get support in the parliament for everything we do.
"Minority government is a challenge for the opposition as it is for the government, because the opposition cannot automatically oppose everything all of the time.
"They have to behave more responsibly in terms of picking and choosing which measures they're going to support and oppose."
'The SNP wish they had a time machine'
Political commentator Brian Taylor says there is a lot of "horse-trading" and "coded messages" coming from the camps of both potential SNP leadership candidates.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live programme earlier, Taylor said: "You hear Kate Forbes supporters say she is facing a degree of support and indications that perhaps she should stand - that's code for 'I could be popular as a leader'.
"You hear John Swinney supporters saying that he is experienced ... a diplomat. Now, that's code for 'John could work with the Greens and Kate couldn't."
He adds that he thinks the SNP "wish they had a time machine" to go back and stop Humza Yousaf's abrupt ending of their power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens.
Analysis
Sturgeon wants to stay away from the contest... for now
Lynsey Bews
BBC Scotland political correspondent
Nicola Sturgeon says she’s waiting to see who emerges as the
candidates in the SNP’s leadership contest before she decides who to back.
You’d
be forgiven for assuming her natural inclination would be towards her former
deputy John Swinney – if he does indeed decide to stand
After all, she once
described him as "the most important person in my adult life outside my
husband and family".
But it’s clear Ms Sturgeon wants to stay out of this
contest, at least for now.
Asked if she was involved behind the scenes, she
told reporters at Holyrood she was actually enjoying not being in the thick of
the political drama.
The former first minister did call for a “positive,
forward-looking” leadership though. Perhaps a nod back to the last leadership
race, where yellow-on-yellow attacks laid bare internal divisions.
Attention turns back to the SNP leadership contest
With Labour's motion of no confidence in the Scottish government defeated, attention once again returns to finding the successor for Humza Yousaf as SNP leader and Scotland's first minister.
Former leader John Swinney and ex-finance secretary Kate Forbes are the potential candidates in the frame.
A source close to Swinney has told BBC News he has no plans to make an announcement today. Forbes says she is "weighing up" whether or not to run.
The headlines: No confidence motion defeated at Holyrood
PACopyright: PA
Humza Yousaf saw off the motion of no confidence in his governmentImage caption: Humza Yousaf saw off the motion of no confidence in his government
If you're just joining us this afternoon, the Scottish government has comfortably survived a vote of no confidence at Holyrood.
Here are the stand-out moments from the debate:
The no confidence motion in the government tabled by Scottish Labour failed by a margin of 70 votes to 58 in the chamber.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar opened the debate accusing the SNP government of being "chaotic, divided and dysfunctional" and saying he had no confidence in it.
Humza Yousaf defended his government and said the focus must be on the "real priorities of people in Scotland".
The leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Douglas Ross, argued his motion of no confidence in Humza Yousaf had led to his resignation.
Patrick Harvie, the Scottish Greens co-leader, said the minority government must still be a "progressive government" going forward.
Speaking for the Scottish Lib Dems, Willie Rennie said the government was "riddled with complacency".
Analysis
The SNP government's survival depended on Green votes
David Henderson
BBC Scotland political correspondent
The chamber of the
Scottish Parliament is an impressive place. More so on a day like
today. Noisy too.
There was a full house of
MSPs. Notable among them, former FM Nicola Sturgeon.
The debate today - on
Motion 13005 - was a matter of political life and death. A vote of no confidence,
with the survival of this Scottish government at stake.
So it was a bit odd to see
Humza Yousaf as its principal defender. He's already lost his job.
Would his colleagues follow suit?
The Greens forced the FM
out of office. But they’ve shown they’re
not willing to go the whole hog, and remove the government too.
The motion of no confidence was defeated by 70 votes to 58. So this storm has passed.
But the Greens have made
their point: The SNP government's future survival may depend on their votes.
Scottish government is riddled with complacency - Willie Rennie
During the debate, Willie Rennie from the Scottish Liberal Democrats said the Scottish government was "fond of saying it's the best".
He talks about constituents being forced to pay for private dentistry because they cannot get NHS appointments, the long NHS waiting lists for other medical care and islanders still waiting for a reliable ferry service.
"This government is riddled with complacency," he says.
"It believes that somehow because we're marginally better on some occasions than the Conservative government, that somehow we should be grateful for the performance of this government."
Minority government must be a progressive government - Harvie
Patrick Harvie tells the chamber: "Minority governments can work, it's happened before and it can happen again.
"It's not beyond the ability of any political party in this chamber to work constructively in that context if they choose to."
The Scottish Greens co-leader says: " A minority government must reach out and bring together a majority in parliament and for that to happen it will need to remain a progressive government."
No confidence motion betrays true motives of others - Harvie
BBCCopyright: BBC
Shortly before the no-confidence motion was defeated, the debate continued in the chamber with Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie paying tribute to the first minister.
He says Humza Yousaf spoke out for the victims of Gaza in a way "that no other national leader I can think of was able to do".
However he criticised the ending of the Bute House Agreement, which he describes as "needless". He adds that it is to Yousaf's credit that he has taken responsibility.
Harvie says that the motion today "betrays the true motives of others".
He points to the problems that could have come with having an election over the summer holidays, and says it would cause delays to legislation on rent controls, homelessness and climate policy.
BreakingVote of no confidence in Scottish government defeated
The Labour-led vote of no confidence in the Scottish government is defeated by 70 votes to 58.
Forbes is more radical nationalist than first minister - Ross
Douglas Ross turns to the candidates for the SNP leadership, claiming Kate Forbes ran Scotland's budget when it "lagged behind the rest of the United Kingdom" and saying she put up taxes for Scottish workers.
He goes on: "Kate Forbes has said she wants to hold an independence referendum within three months of a general election.
"She's an even more radical nationalist than Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon."
Douglas Ross says Tory motion of no confidence was success
BBCCopyright: BBC
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross enters the fray next, saying: "The Scottish Conservatives will vote in favour of the motion today."
He adds: "We want to see the SNP government removed and will look to use every opportunity to do so."
Ross points out that Labour does not have the numbers required to win this vote.
He says his party's previous motion of no-confidence - aimed directly at the first minister himself rather than the entire Scottish government - had the desired outcome.
He says: "My party's vote of no confidence in Humza Yousaf was successful.
"Humza Yousaf has announced he is resigning from the office of first minister and it was the Scottish Conservatives who built a parliamentary majority to force him out."
Union with UK is 'failing and miserable' - Yousaf
The first minister goes on to attack Labour over their record of u-turns on policy - citing examples such as the two child cap and support for Waspi women.
He says the SNP will always "stand by Scotland's values" and that the "true vote of no confidence" should be in the union, which he labels as "failing and miserable".
Yousaf says the "cosy Westminster alliance" is terrified of another referendum, as they "know what the result will be".
He concludes his rebuttal by calling for the motion to be rejected and that the focus returns to the "real priorities" of people in Scotland.
I chose to be a voice of peace and humanity - Yousaf
The first minister says, as he has found out in recent days, "politics is definitely about the choices we choose to make" and as a government, he is "exceptionally proud" of the choices they have made.
He says: "We choose progressive taxation, we choose to launch a ten year just transition fund to support Scotland's drive to net zero - where of course, Labour choose to ditch their £28bn green energy pledge.
"Where Keir Starmer refused for months to call for an immediate ceasefire even failing to condemn the collective punishment of the people of Gaza, I and the government I lead chose to be a voice of peace and humanity in the world."
Live Reporting
Edited by Paul McLaren
All times stated are UK
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media -
A spokesperson for Kate Forbes confirms she met with John Swinney yesterday, fueling speculation that the pair will do a deal to avoid a contest to replace Humza Yousaf
- Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, branded the meeting a "shady stitch-up"
- Nicola Sturgeon said she would wait to see who emerged as candidates before deciding who to back
-
A motion of no confidence in the Scottish government was defeated by 70 votes 58
-
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar led the debate and said the government was chaotic and divided - and it was time for a new one
-
Yousaf defended his record - and said the focus must be on the "real priorities of people in Scotland"
-
With the Scottish Greens backing the SNP, the motion of no confidence was easily defeated
-
Earlier, speaking in an interview for the first time after his resignation, Humza Yousaf said he had "paid the price" for the way he ended the SNP's power-sharing deal with the Greens
Video caption: ‘That's on me’ – Humza Yousaf reflects on end of his time as First Minister‘That's on me’ – Humza Yousaf reflects on end of his time as First Minister Analysis
BBCCopyright: BBC 
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images Analysis
PACopyright: PA Humza Yousaf saw off the motion of no confidence in his governmentImage caption: Humza Yousaf saw off the motion of no confidence in his government -
The no confidence motion in the government tabled by Scottish Labour failed by a margin of 70 votes to 58 in the chamber.
-
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar opened the debate accusing the SNP government of being "chaotic, divided and dysfunctional" and saying he had no confidence in it.
- Humza Yousaf defended his government and said the focus must be on the "real priorities of people in Scotland".
-
The leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Douglas Ross, argued his motion of no confidence in Humza Yousaf had led to his resignation.
- Patrick Harvie, the Scottish Greens co-leader, said the minority government must still be a "progressive government" going forward.
-
Speaking for the Scottish Lib Dems, Willie Rennie said the government was "riddled with complacency".
Analysis
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC
Latest PostHave a good evening
That's all from the live page team.
The writers today were Craig Hutchison, Ashleigh Keenan-Bryce and Jonathan Geddes. The editors were Graeme Esson, Steven Brocklehurst, Paul Hastie and Paul McLaren.
You can still keep up with our main story on Kate Forbes and John Swinney holding leadership talks here.
Thanks for joining us today and have a good evening.
The Headlines: Forbes and Swinney hold talks on SNP leadership
It's been another day rife with speculation at Holyrood, with no-one yet confirmed to join the race to replace Humza Yousaf as first minister. The headlines:
Read more here.
Video content
A taste of what's to come for Humza Yousaf's successor
David Henderson
BBC Scotland Correspondent
The SNP leadership campaign got personal today.
But it's the Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross who fired the first shots at both leading candidates - and the SNP.
During the debate on the no confidence vote on the Scottish government, he said it looks like Nicola Sturgeon's Health Secretary (Humza Yousaf) will be replaced by her deputy (that's John Swinney) or her finance secretary (Kate Forbes).
Ms Forbes, he claimed, had raised taxes for Scottish workers and was “an even more radical nationalist" than Humza Yousaf or Nicola Sturgeon.
So far, so knockabout - prompting a bemused smile from Ms Forbes.
But then, the focus switched to Mr Swinney - or "Honest John" as Douglas Ross called him - and then "Not So Honest John".
This earned a rebuke from the presiding officer - and Douglas Ross was forced to apologise.
Amid roars from fellow MSPs, John Swinney looked livid - wagging his finger at Douglas Ross - and voicing his anger.
But the first blows have been landed. And both leading candidates have been put on notice about what may lie ahead if they become first minister.
Forbes talks to people to give her perspective - Ivan McKee
The SNP's Ivan McKee told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime earlier programme that his preferred leadership candidate Kate Forbes is "very thorough and takes a lot of advice".
The MSP for Glasgow Provan said : "She is looking at things from many different angles.
"She has been talking to people over the last couple of days who can give her a perspective on things".
But asked about her meeting with John Swinney, McKee said: "I saw some rumours about deals being negotiated - I've certainly not been involved in any of that."
Tories brand Swinney and Forbes meeting a 'shady stitch-up'
The Scottish Conservatives say talks between John Swinney and Kate Forbes show the SNP is "desperate" to avoid another leadership contest.
Party leader Douglas Ross labelled the meeting on Tuesday as a "shady stitch-up".
Ross said: “Even if they do agree a deal, it will be like putting a sticking plaster on a gaping wound when it comes to the bitter splits within the SNP."
The 2023 SNP leadership contest was bitterly fought, with debates between candidates featuring personal attacks.
BreakingKate Forbes confirms 'informal meeting' with John Swinney
The two front-runners for the SNP leadership had an "informal" meeting on Tuesday.
Responding to media reports, a spokesperson for Kate Forbes has confirmed to the BBC that she met John Swinney.
They said: "We can confirm Kate spoke to John yesterday. It was a purely informal meeting.
"Kate is continuing to weigh up whether to run and is grateful for the growing outpouring of support."
News of the meeting will fuel speculation of a deal being struck to avoid a potentially damaging leadership contest for the party.
Read more about the meeting here.
Minority government is not a new situation for the SNP
As discussions continue around the SNP leadership, one fact that remains is that after the end of the Bute House Agreement, the new first minister will lead a minority government.
This is not a new situation for the SNP. After the 2007 Holyrood election, Alex Salmond found himself leading a minority government of 47 MSPs.
Robert Hazell, professor of government at University College London, said he was able to govern by working collaboratively in parliament.
He says: "Alex Salmond was able to govern very effectively by building individual support agreements with different parties.
"He also managed expectations very well by saying to the parliament and the public ... 'my government is likely to be defeated quite often but that's not going to be an issue of confidence, we'll have to negotiate our way, bill by bill, measure by measure and get support in the parliament for everything we do.
"Minority government is a challenge for the opposition as it is for the government, because the opposition cannot automatically oppose everything all of the time.
"They have to behave more responsibly in terms of picking and choosing which measures they're going to support and oppose."
'The SNP wish they had a time machine'
Political commentator Brian Taylor says there is a lot of "horse-trading" and "coded messages" coming from the camps of both potential SNP leadership candidates.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live programme earlier, Taylor said: "You hear Kate Forbes supporters say she is facing a degree of support and indications that perhaps she should stand - that's code for 'I could be popular as a leader'.
"You hear John Swinney supporters saying that he is experienced ... a diplomat. Now, that's code for 'John could work with the Greens and Kate couldn't."
He adds that he thinks the SNP "wish they had a time machine" to go back and stop Humza Yousaf's abrupt ending of their power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens.
Sturgeon wants to stay away from the contest... for now
Lynsey Bews
BBC Scotland political correspondent
Nicola Sturgeon says she’s waiting to see who emerges as the candidates in the SNP’s leadership contest before she decides who to back.
You’d be forgiven for assuming her natural inclination would be towards her former deputy John Swinney – if he does indeed decide to stand
After all, she once described him as "the most important person in my adult life outside my husband and family".
But it’s clear Ms Sturgeon wants to stay out of this contest, at least for now.
Asked if she was involved behind the scenes, she told reporters at Holyrood she was actually enjoying not being in the thick of the political drama.
The former first minister did call for a “positive, forward-looking” leadership though. Perhaps a nod back to the last leadership race, where yellow-on-yellow attacks laid bare internal divisions.
Attention turns back to the SNP leadership contest
With Labour's motion of no confidence in the Scottish government defeated, attention once again returns to finding the successor for Humza Yousaf as SNP leader and Scotland's first minister.
Former leader John Swinney and ex-finance secretary Kate Forbes are the potential candidates in the frame.
A source close to Swinney has told BBC News he has no plans to make an announcement today. Forbes says she is "weighing up" whether or not to run.
The headlines: No confidence motion defeated at Holyrood
If you're just joining us this afternoon, the Scottish government has comfortably survived a vote of no confidence at Holyrood.
Here are the stand-out moments from the debate:
The SNP government's survival depended on Green votes
David Henderson
BBC Scotland political correspondent
The chamber of the Scottish Parliament is an impressive place. More so on a day like today. Noisy too.
There was a full house of MSPs. Notable among them, former FM Nicola Sturgeon.
The debate today - on Motion 13005 - was a matter of political life and death. A vote of no confidence, with the survival of this Scottish government at stake.
So it was a bit odd to see Humza Yousaf as its principal defender. He's already lost his job. Would his colleagues follow suit?
The Greens forced the FM out of office. But they’ve shown they’re not willing to go the whole hog, and remove the government too.
The motion of no confidence was defeated by 70 votes to 58. So this storm has passed.
But the Greens have made their point: The SNP government's future survival may depend on their votes.
Scottish government is riddled with complacency - Willie Rennie
During the debate, Willie Rennie from the Scottish Liberal Democrats said the Scottish government was "fond of saying it's the best".
He talks about constituents being forced to pay for private dentistry because they cannot get NHS appointments, the long NHS waiting lists for other medical care and islanders still waiting for a reliable ferry service.
"This government is riddled with complacency," he says.
"It believes that somehow because we're marginally better on some occasions than the Conservative government, that somehow we should be grateful for the performance of this government."
Minority government must be a progressive government - Harvie
Patrick Harvie tells the chamber: "Minority governments can work, it's happened before and it can happen again.
"It's not beyond the ability of any political party in this chamber to work constructively in that context if they choose to."
The Scottish Greens co-leader says: " A minority government must reach out and bring together a majority in parliament and for that to happen it will need to remain a progressive government."
No confidence motion betrays true motives of others - Harvie
Shortly before the no-confidence motion was defeated, the debate continued in the chamber with Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie paying tribute to the first minister.
He says Humza Yousaf spoke out for the victims of Gaza in a way "that no other national leader I can think of was able to do".
However he criticised the ending of the Bute House Agreement, which he describes as "needless". He adds that it is to Yousaf's credit that he has taken responsibility.
Harvie says that the motion today "betrays the true motives of others".
He points to the problems that could have come with having an election over the summer holidays, and says it would cause delays to legislation on rent controls, homelessness and climate policy.
BreakingVote of no confidence in Scottish government defeated
The Labour-led vote of no confidence in the Scottish government is defeated by 70 votes to 58.
Forbes is more radical nationalist than first minister - Ross
Douglas Ross turns to the candidates for the SNP leadership, claiming Kate Forbes ran Scotland's budget when it "lagged behind the rest of the United Kingdom" and saying she put up taxes for Scottish workers.
He goes on: "Kate Forbes has said she wants to hold an independence referendum within three months of a general election.
"She's an even more radical nationalist than Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon."
Douglas Ross says Tory motion of no confidence was success
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross enters the fray next, saying: "The Scottish Conservatives will vote in favour of the motion today."
He adds: "We want to see the SNP government removed and will look to use every opportunity to do so."
Ross points out that Labour does not have the numbers required to win this vote.
He says his party's previous motion of no-confidence - aimed directly at the first minister himself rather than the entire Scottish government - had the desired outcome.
He says: "My party's vote of no confidence in Humza Yousaf was successful.
"Humza Yousaf has announced he is resigning from the office of first minister and it was the Scottish Conservatives who built a parliamentary majority to force him out."
Union with UK is 'failing and miserable' - Yousaf
The first minister goes on to attack Labour over their record of u-turns on policy - citing examples such as the two child cap and support for Waspi women.
He says the SNP will always "stand by Scotland's values" and that the "true vote of no confidence" should be in the union, which he labels as "failing and miserable".
Yousaf says the "cosy Westminster alliance" is terrified of another referendum, as they "know what the result will be".
He concludes his rebuttal by calling for the motion to be rejected and that the focus returns to the "real priorities" of people in Scotland.
I chose to be a voice of peace and humanity - Yousaf
The first minister says, as he has found out in recent days, "politics is definitely about the choices we choose to make" and as a government, he is "exceptionally proud" of the choices they have made.
He says: "We choose progressive taxation, we choose to launch a ten year just transition fund to support Scotland's drive to net zero - where of course, Labour choose to ditch their £28bn green energy pledge.
"Where Keir Starmer refused for months to call for an immediate ceasefire even failing to condemn the collective punishment of the people of Gaza, I and the government I lead chose to be a voice of peace and humanity in the world."