Kerry arrives in Cairo in search for Mideast peace

CAIRO (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Cairo to push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

Kerry will try to get the militant Palestinian group to accept a truce agreement that was offered by Egypt. It would stop nearly two weeks of fighting — during which more than 500 Palestinians and 27 Israelis have been killed.

Also in Cairo is U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. He’s urging Israel and Hamas to end the fighting, and then hold talks.

Earlier today, President Barack Obama reaffirmed his belief that Israel has a right to defend itself against rockets being launched by Hamas into Israel. But he contended that Israel’s military action in Gaza had already done “significant damage” to the Hamas terrorist infrastructure. And Obama said he doesn’t want to see more civilians getting killed.

%@AP Links

176-a-12-(President Barack Obama, in statement)-“Hamas in Gaza”-President Obama says Secretary of State John Kerry has returned to the Mideast. (21 Jul 2014)

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174-a-09-(President Barack Obama, in statement)-“of Israeli lives”-President Obama says Israel has the right to defend itself from Hamas rockets, but that he’s concerned about casualties on both sides. (21 Jul 2014)

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APPHOTO EGYD102: Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, July 21, 2014. Kerry has returned to the Middle East as the Obama administration attempts to bolster regional efforts to reach a cease fire and sharpens its criticism of Hamas in its conflict with Israel. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool) (21 Jul 2014)

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