More than four times as many Americans, 59%, sympathize with the Israelis compared with those who sympathize with the Palestinians, 13%, in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to a new CNN/ORC International poll released today.
In the survey, 57% also said that Israeli military action in the Gaza strip was justified, compared to 24% who said it was unjustified. Three out of four U.S. Republicans thought the Israeli action was justified, compared to 41% of Democrats and 59% of Independents. The poll has a sampling error of plus or minus 3%. Ref. CNN
Gaza death toll rises over 100 - The number of people killed in the six-day Israeli offensive against Gaza has risen above 100, Palestinian officials say, as Hamas rockets continue to land in Israel. Ref. BBC
A senior Hamas official tells CNN that a "Calming down" will be announced at 9 p.m. Local time (2 p.m. ET).
The "Calming down" of the deadly attacks of the past week in Israel and Gaza could halt violence, but is not the same as an official cease-fire or truce, CNN's Ben Wedeman reported.
A source familiar with discussions in Jerusalem told CNN that Israel has not agreed to a cease-fire. "One of the Israeli demands is that there should be a period of total calm for 24 hours before committing to any agreement," that official said. Negotiations are continuing, the source said.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is due to arrive in the region soon to help in negotiations. Ref. CNN
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is now in Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the crisis between Israel and Gaza.
People in Gaza and Israel came under attack for a seventh straight day Tuesday, and officials from Israel and Hamas gave conflicting views as to whether any kind of truce was near.
Clinton is scheduled to meet later with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank, and then head to Cairo, where Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy has a key role to play in the mediation.
Officials in Morsy's office told CNN they would have no announcement tonight that would take Gaza and Israel closer to peace. Ref. CNN
A cease-fire between Israel and Hamas will take effect at 9 p.m. (2 p.m. ET) today, Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr announced at a joint news conference with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The Israeli-Hamas cease-fire should "Improve conditions for the people of Gaza and provide security for the people of Israel," Clinton said.
The upsurge in violence began eight days ago. Hamas has been firing hundreds of rockets from Gaza into Israel, and Israel has launched repeated airstrikes into Gaza.
At least 142 people have died in Gaza since the Israeli airstrikes began, according to the Ministry of the Interior in Gaza. Another 1,180 have been injured, the ministry said. In Israel, five people have died and 94 have been wounded, according to authorities. Ref. CNN
That is a bold admission from the Iranians that will only seek to anger the Israelis and give them grounds for an attack on Iran.
UN prepares to vote on Palestine
The Palestinians are certain to win United Nations recognition as a state, but success could exact a high price: delaying an independent state of Palestine because of Israel's vehement opposition. Ref. Source 3