In a first sign of advancement since the cease-fire agreement with Hamas, Israel partially reopened yesterday the Erez and the Kerem Shalom crossing points into the Gaza Strip. Up until Monday, the two crossing points were completely closed, but yesterday Israel enabled UN agencies to bring in to the Strip humanitarian medical aid. It also enabled aid workers and foreign reporters to enter.
In another positive development, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived this morning at the Ben Gurion airport. His first step in a regional tour that includes Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Egypt. According to an unnamed senior at the State Department, the goals of the three-day trip are to ensure that the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas holds while also pushing steps that will improve the quality of life for both sides (Israeli and Palestinians) in the absence of immediate peace talks.
