BriefingRoom BlogRoll

Sunday preview: Gaza takes center stage

The escalating crisis in Gaza and last-ditch efforts by Congress to solve the border crisis before leaving for August recess are set to dominate Sunday shows.

Israel tried to extend an initial 12-hour truce as the death toll topped 1,000 on Saturday, after 19 days of fighting. But Hamas officials said they would reject the proposal to extend a cease-fire for four hours.

{mosads}Political, economic and security issues have fueled three weeks of ongoing violence, which began after the kidnappings and murder of four teenagers, a Palestinian and three Israelis. Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday that “serious progress” was being made to extend a cease-fire.

Before leaving town for August recess, Congress may try to tackle formidable legislation on the border crisis, but it may be too little too late.

House GOP held a private meeting Friday on slimmed-down legislation that would provide President Obama with less than $1 billion to deal with the surge of unaccompanied children from Central America entering the U.S. illegally.

Here’s the lineup:

ABC’s “This Week”: Anchor George Stephanopoulos will report the latest on the crisis in the Middle East. Key players in the last-minute effort to pass legislation on the border crisis, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) will discuss the chances of it passing before the summer break. A roundtable including Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and former Labor Secretary under President Bill Clinton, Robert Reich, will discuss the week’s political events.

NBC’s “Meet the Press”: In an exclusive, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) will talk about the border crisis and action the House plans to take before leaving for August break. Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee will also discuss his property proposal, and the latest on what the recent House leadership changes mean for the Republican party. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will discuss the latest on the increasing conflict in Gaza.

CBS’ “Face the Nation”: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will talk about the fighting between Israel and Hamas. Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will talk about the situation in Ukraine and Gaza. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin will discuss the resignation of Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

Fox News Sunday: Rep. Stever Scalise (R-La.) will answer questions about immigration and the future of the GOP in the first TV interview since being elected House Majority. Netanyahu will discuss the violence in Gaza and talks of extending the truce.

CNN’s State of the Union: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) will weigh in on the escalating chaos from Gaza to Ukraine. Russia has ramped up attacks on Ukrainian troops and is preparing to move heavier weaponry across the border to aide the rebels. Russia fired back at the European Union for a new round of sanctions imposed on Friday, claiming they would jeopardize the fight against international terrorism.