ISRAEL-HAMAS – AT 7:01 A.M. ET:  Israel has agreed to an Egyptian ceasefire proposal and has ordered a halt to attacks on Hamas targets in Gaza.  Unfortunately, the military wing of Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by everyone not under severe psychiatric therapy, has not agreed to the ceasefire, and rocket fire continues.  The situation is therefore very tense.  Hamas can have quiet, but only if they stop lighting those fuses.  From Reuters:

(Reuters) - Palestinian militants fired rockets at Israel on Tuesday after it agreed to an Egyptian proposal to end the week-old Gaza conflict, and a Hamas leader said the Islamist group was still undecided on whether to accept the ceasefire.

Under the terms of the blueprint announced by Egypt - whose military-backed government has been at odds with Hamas - a mutual "de-escalation" of fighting was to begin at 9 a.m. (2 a.m. EDT), with hostilities ceasing within 12 hours.

Rocket salvoes were fired at Israel after 9 a.m. and live television showed the Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepting several projectiles over the port city of Ashdod, where a factory was hit. Emergency services said no one was hurt.

Sirens sounded in other parts of southern Israel after what Channel Two television reported had been volleys of at least 10 rockets.

Israel said it had halted its attacks in the Gaza Strip but would respond strongly if Palestinian strikes persisted.

COMMENT:  What's interesting is that Egypt proposed terms that were unacceptable to Hamas, and the Arab League is reportedly backing Egypt.  We're told a great deal about the "Arab-Israel conflict," but it's pretty apparent that conflicts within the Arab world are often greater, and more bitter.

We should know within hours whether Hamas will stop firing.  If it doesn't, Israel is pledged to resume air attacks. 

July 15, 2014