PA Planning M Nabil Shaath arrives in Amman on 4-day visit, holds talks with Jordanian FM Anani on economic cooperation, creation of free trade zone. (RJ 5/19 in WNC 5/23; RJ 5/22 in WNC 5/27)...
In hastily scheduled address to the National Press Club, Secy. Albright gives long-planned speech, urging Israel to accept U.S. terms for renewing accelerated final status talks that...
PM Netanyahu sends media adviser David Bar-Ilan to Washington to call on Jewish-American leaders, Christian Right, allies in Congress to fend off expected U.S. government initiative...
UN Secy. Gen. Annan reaches agmt. (signed 2/23) with Iraq on resuming unrestricted inspections under which UN Special Committee (UNSCOM) teams of technical experts will be accompanied...
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PA Planning M Nabil Shaath arrives in Amman on 4-day visit, holds talks with Jordanian FM Anani on economic cooperation, creation of free trade zone. (RJ 5/19 in WNC 5/23; RJ 5/22 in WNC 5/27)
PA Elections Appeals Court cancels the Gaza by-election set for 5/29 to fill Haidar `Abd al-Shafi's seat on the Palestinian Council (PC). (PCHR 5/21; PR 5/29)
Israeli DM Yitzhak Mordechai discusses with Russian special envoy Viktor Posuvalyuk Israel's conditional withdrawal proposal for s. Lebanon, Russian military assistance to Iran. Posuvalyuk then heads to Amman for talks with Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan. (IDF Radio, QY, RJ 5/19 in WNC 5/21; JTV 5/19 in WNC 5/27)
The American Israel Public Affairs Comm. (AIPAC) holds rally on Capitol Hill to commemorate Israel's 50th anniversary. Speakers addressing the rally include Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS), Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA), House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-MO). (MM 5/20; Near East Report 6/1)
Kuwait releases last 3 of 13 Jordanian detainees pardoned 4/26. (JTV 5/19 in WNC 5/21) (see 5/13)
Jordanian court pardons opposition leader Laith Shubailat, sentenced 5/12 to 9 mos. in prison for inciting anti-U.S. riots in Ma'an in 2/98, pending withdrawal of his appeal. Shubailat is already free on appeal. (RJ 5/19, JT 5/20 in WNC 5/21)
Roadside bomb explodes in s. Lebanon, killing 2 civilians. SLA, Hizballah blame each other. (RL 5/19 in WNC 5/21)
In hastily scheduled address to the National Press Club, Secy. Albright gives long-planned speech, urging Israel to accept U.S. terms for renewing accelerated final status talks that she calls "balanced, flexible, practical, and reasonable." Albright then heads to Capitol Hill for closed session with congressmen. She also holds hr.-long mtg. with small group of Jewish leaders. (ITV 5/12 in WNC 5/13; MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/13; WJW 5/14)
In Amman, Arafat adviser Abbas briefs PM Majali on peace process given failure to convene 5/11 Washington summit. (RJ 5/12 in WNC 5/13)
Israel for the 1st time names an Arab judge, `Abd al-Rahman Zuabi, to the High Court. (WP 5/13)
Croatian delegation arrives in Israel on 1st official Croatian visit, opens talks on expanding bilateral relations. (HINA [Zagreb] 5/12 in WNC 5/13; HINA 5/13 in WNC 5/14)
UAE announces plans to buy 80 F-16s fr. Lockheed Martin in a deal valued at $7 b. (WP 5/13)
Jordanian military court sentences opposition leader Shubailat to 9 mos. in prison for inciting anti-U.S. riots in Ma'an in 2/98. (RJ 5/12 in WNC 5/13; WP 5/13) (see 4/15)
Hizballah attacks IDF unit in s. Lebanon, wounding 2 soldiers. (WT 5/14)
In Cairo, Syria's Pres. Asad briefs Pres. Mubarak on results of 4/13 Syrian-Lebanese summit in Latakia, discusses holding mini-Arab summit. (ESC Television [Cairo], MENA, RMC, SANA, SATN 4/15 in WNC 4/16; MENA 4/15 in WNC 4/17; MM 4/16; al-Thawra, Tishrin 4/16 in WNC 4/21)
King Hussein sends letter to PM Majali, asking him to prevent media criticism of Arafat, the PA, the peace process; to draft new press law that will "safeguard the interests of the kingdom." (JTV 4/15 in WNC 4/16; al-Ra'i 4/21 in WNC 4/28) (see 1/26)
In Amman, Jordan, Iran discuss expanding cultural, religious relations. (IRNA 4/16 in WNC 4/17)
Israel releases administrative detainees Ahmad Qattamesh (held 5 yrs., 8 mos.), Hassan Fatafteh (held 4 yrs.). Both men are Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine activists. (MM 4/16; PR 4/17; JP 4/25)
Jordan releases opposition leader Shubailat, arrested 2/20 during Ma'an riots. (JT 4/15 in WNC 4/16; MEI 4/24)
PM Netanyahu sends media adviser David Bar-Ilan to Washington to call on Jewish-American leaders, Christian Right, allies in Congress to fend off expected U.S. government initiative to press Israel for an FRD. (MM 3/3; WT 3/4; WJW 3/12)
Alerted by Jordanian security, IDF intercepts 2 boatloads of arms being smuggled to the West Bank via the Dead Sea, detains 1 Palestinian, claims the arms were intended for the PA. PA denies charge. (WT 3/1; WT 3/2; PR 3/6; JP 3/7)
Jordan lifts curfew on Ma'an. (WT 3/1) (see 2/22)
1 Hizballah mbr. is killed in an attack on an SLA post in s. Lebanon. (RL 2/28 in WNC 3/5)
UN Secy. Gen. Annan reaches agmt. (signed 2/23) with Iraq on resuming unrestricted inspections under which UN Special Committee (UNSCOM) teams of technical experts will be accompanied by senior diplomats appointed by Annan to act as observers. The UNSC must approve the agmt. U.S. expresses cautious optimism. (RJ 2/22, ITV, MENA, RJ 2/23, al-Ahram, al-Ra'i, RL 2/24 in WNC 2/26; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/23; Le Soir [Brussels] 2/25 in WNC 3/3; MEI, PR 2/27)
Violent clashes continue in Ma'an, Jordan, for 3d straight day. (JTV, MBC, RJ 2/22, JT, JTV, RJ 2/23 in WNC 2/26; MM, WP, WT 2/23; WP 2/26; MEI 2/27) (see 2/21)
In Cairo, 15,000 students fr. `Ayn Shams, Cairo university demonstrate against U.S. policy toward Iraq. (MENA, RMC 2/22 in WNC 2/26)
3 Palestinians are injured when IDF breaks up "pro-Iraq" demonstration in Birzeit. Another protest is held at al-Najah University in Nablus. (ITV 2/22 in WNC 2/26; PR 2/27)
Jordan arrests 3 Jordanians for plotting attacks on Israeli targets, possession of explosives. (SA 2/23 in WNC 2/26)
