ben netanyahu needs military successes, but israelis remain skeptical. >> today, may be they will not fire. tomorrow may be not, but next week, next year, next month. it will come eventually. >> now that the fighting has stopped, both sides have agreed to meet and negotiate a long- term cease-fire. >> hopefully, hamas can find a solution for the crossings and for the goods to be imported without taxes, to open the port, to open the crossing with egypt and provide electricity. the siege must end and the people must live. >> an easing of the blockade would be a huge success for the people of gaza. i of hopes are not met, disappointment could quickly boilover into another round of violence -- if hopes are not met. >> for the latest, let's cross over to our correspondent in gaza city. the cease-fire appears to be holding. what are the people on the ground saying right now? >> there is a sense that -- people, of course, first of all are believed that the fighting for now at least is over. people are returning back to life, and schools will be opened they say on saturday. there were more fu

released clinton from their joint asia trip and sent her to jerusalem for an urgent meeting with ben ja man netanyahu. this morning clinton flew from jerusalem to the west bank to meet with mahmoud abbas, president of the palestinian authority, before returning to jerusalem with additional talks with netanyahu. secretary clinton is in cairo where she met with president mohamed morsi of egypt who's mediating the discussions. as secretary clinton carries the official white house message there is new attention being paid to the president's strategic options in the region. "the washington post" writes president obama's decision to send his top diplomat on an emergency middle east peace making mission tuesday marked an administration shift to a more active vist role in the region's affairs and offered clues to how he may use the political elbow room afforded by a second term. beyond a cease-fire agreement, the president could try to throw his political clout behind a larger, long-term solution here. so far, no deal has materialized between israel and gaza. also, a bus bombing in tel aviv could push both s

the president was up late last night talking to netanyahu and mohamed morrissey. this morning chuck asked ben rhodes whether clinton is going because talks are stuck or a diplomatic resolution is close at hand. >> she is going because we've been in discussions with these leaders and we want to carry those forward. and obviously the center of gravity for those discussions is in the region. i don't want to predict what the outcome of those discussions will be. we know how difficult the situation is, how charged the issue of gaza is. we've seen conflict there in the past. so this is a difficult challenge. but, again, it's worth the effort of leaders from the united states in the region and interfashionly. >> chuck joins us now from cambodia where he is traveling with the president. chuck, a lot of moving and fast moving parts here. what can you tell us? what's the latest? >> i can tell you what aides will say in answer it to that question off answer. certain things you can say on camera. i got a more blunt answer which is somewhere in between. they don't feel like talks are stuck but they aren't

if prime minister netanyahu gives them the order, they'll move in. >> yeah. they will. let's turn to anderson and ben in gaza. we've got a little montage here of pretty big explosions gone on today involving both of you. let's watch this first. >> i think it's pretty clear that we are moving in the direction of -- [ explosion ] >> whoa! >> both of those big explosions, anderson, and you've covered this territory for a long time. what is your gut feeling about what is going on on the ground? >> it's nice to see the reactions side by side. you see that ben is a lot tougher than i am because i duck a lot more than ben does, he's far more used to this than i. look, it is a very tense situation here. not only have we seen a number of explosions incoming rockets being fired into gaza city, we've seen rockets throughout the day being fired by forces here, hamas and perhaps others, into israel. so we've been seeing this back and forth all day. we also saw a very gruesome scene earlier, piers, of what i assume to be hamas members on motorcycles, about six or seven, dragging the body of an accused or convicted

netanyahu will be re-elected for another term. this is the connection many palestinians are making. >> this is a delicate situation, ben. obviously all over the region, particularly for the new government in egypt. i understand there will be big demonstrations in cairo today. what are the risks right mow of egypt being drawn in fourth this conflict? >> the chances are actually fairly small. egypt has enough problems with it is with fighting militants next to gaza. egypt says it still respects the camp david peace accord signed with israel back in the late 1970s. obviously, we can expect egyptian politicians and leaders to make as much political hay as possible over this gaza violence, but it's highly unlikely that egypt has really the wherewithal or desire to get sucked into that conflict. i know from speaking to many egyptians, they don't have an appetite for it. they may sympathize with the people of gaza, but that sympathy does not extend to an eagerness or willingness to engage or become involved militarily in that conflict. >> all right, ben. in jerusalem this morning. thanks. >>> coming up later, soledad will be s

netanyahu and in ramallah meeting with palestinian president abbas. everything about the meetings suggest that secretary clinton is working to a solution that ben 50s thesraeli and palestinian and keeps civilians on each side safe moving forward. >> in the days ahead, the united states will work with our partners here in israel and across the region for an out come that secretary for the people of israel, improved conditions for the people of gaza and move to a comprohencive peace for all people in the region. >> a potential cease fire according to a senior official of the european union foreign service interviewed by the ap, would have to enclude an end to rocket attacks on israel and air strikes from israel to gaza. and israeli prime minister netanyahu said he prefers a peaceful solution but will not hesitate to fight back against anything that threatens israeli interest. >> if there is a possibility of achieving a long-term solution to this problem through diplomatic means, we refer that. if not, i am sure you understand israel will have to take whatever action is necessary to defend its people. this is something i have to explain to americans, i kn