From the Liveblog of
Monday, July 21, 2014
UN chief said to push new ceasefire initiative
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleUN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is spearheading a new ceasefire bid along with the European Union, Arab sources report, based on the Egyptian truce proposal which was refused last week by Hamas.
The new initiative will reportedly include guarantees for the opening of the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt in the future in cooperation with Palestinian Authority security forces, as well as a significant easing of restrictions on the transfer of goods from Israel to Gaza.
Ban met on Sunday with PA President Mahmoud Abbas as well as the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Tomorrow he will meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and US Secretary of State John Kerry.
Ban is expected in Israel on Tuesday.
–Avi Issacharoff
The Times of Israel Community.