美國國務卿克林頓前往中東爭取化解以巴衝突

U.S. President Barack Obama is sending Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Israel, Ramallah and Cairo to meet with regional leaders as the cross border conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza enters its seventh day.

Clinton is leaving Tuesday to go to Jerusalem, where she will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She will also meet with Palestinian leaders and Egyptian officials on the trip, which the White House says will focus on U.S interest in a peaceful outcome to the conflict.

Diplomacy has so-far failed to stop the cross-border attacks, with the latest U.N. Security Council meeting on the situation ending late Monday without reaching an agreement.

Meanwhile, smoke is rising from Gaza City Tuesday as Israel pushed ahead with its air campaign against Hamas militants, who have been firing rockets toward Israeli communities.

Officials say the death toll has risen to more than 100 Palestinians and three Israelis.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Tuesday for an immediate cease-fire. He arrived in Cairo Monday to support mediation efforts.美國總統奧巴馬派遣國務卿希拉里·克林頓前往以色列、拉馬拉和開羅，在以色列與加沙地帶巴勒斯坦激進分子的越界衝突進入第七天之際會晤地區領導人。

克林頓星期二將啓程前往耶路撒冷，會晤以色列總理內塔尼亞胡。此外，克林頓此行期間還將會晤巴勒斯坦領導人和埃及官員。白宮說，克林頓這次中東之行的重點在於和平解決這場衝突符合美國的利益。

到目前爲止，外交活動沒有能夠制止以巴之間的越界襲擊。星期一晚間，聯合國安理會就有關局勢舉行了一次會議，但未能達成一致立場。

與此同時，加沙城內冒起濃煙，以色列繼續對哈馬斯激進分子發動空襲，激進分子則一直向以色列居民區發射火箭彈。

有關官員說，這場衝突已經造成100多名巴勒斯坦人和3名以色列人死亡。

聯合國祕書長潘基文星期二呼籲立即停火。潘基文星期一抵達開羅，爲調停努力提供支持。