Does Diplomacy Have a Chance in the Middle East?

Secretary of State Kerry is shuttling around the Middle East in the hope of negotiating a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. But both sides seem to be hunkering down, with Israel vowing to “dismantle” Hamas, while Hamas rockets pose an unexpected threat to Ben Gurion airport. Will Hamas increase its demands, at the cost increasing the suffering of its own people? Can Israel pull back now before scoring some kind of “victory?” We’ll hear about the challenges for international leaders as the war goes on.

Also, two Ukrainian warplanes are shot down near the crash site of MH 17, and proposed new rules for train cars carrying oil from the Mid West to coastal refineries.

Banner Image: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry talks with U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Bill Grant as he arrives in Tel Aviv, July 23, 2014. Kerry arrived in Tel Aviv on Wednesday to seek ways of ending the deadliest violence in years between Israel and Gaza's Islamist Hamas. REUTERS/Charles Dharapak/Pool