U.S. – Iran Ceasefire Expires as Kushner Arrives in Israel; USS Abraham Lincoln Crew Headed Home

JERUSALEM, Israel – An important day has begun in the Middle East as the 60-day U.S. ceasefire with Iran expires, and U.S. envoy Jared Kushner meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Kushner is in Israel hoping to persuade the prime minister that the Trump-commissioned Board of Peace has a good plan for Israel after holding rare talks in Egypt with a Hamas chief and regional mediators. Hamas claims it will disarm under the plan, but only if Israel commits to the agreement. Netanyahu insists that Israel will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas disarms. The dispute is also putting Israel at odds with regional partners. Foreign ministers from eight Muslim countries are accusing Netanyahu of obstructing the peace process. The prime minister is also under fire for recently calling Britain “the Islamic Republic of Britain.”