Israel opens Shuhada Street, which runs along the border of a Jewish settlement in Hebron, to Palestinian taxis. According to Wye II, the route should have been opened to all traffic by yesterday...
PM Netanyahu angers Jordan by giving a speech warning Israelis that Jordan could form an alliance with Iraq if Baghdad attacked Israel. (WT 2/28; JP, PR 3/5; MEI 3/12)
Limiting constitutional rights of illegal immigrants, the U.S. Supreme Court rules (6-3) that the government can deport a group of 8 Palestinians, 1 Kenyan simply because of their...
Arafat meets with Secy. Albright. In press conference afterward, he says that he cannot discuss the issue of declaring a Palestinian state. (MM, NYT, WT 2/4)
In his 1st policy address, Israeli PM candidate Shahak stakes out a left-of-center line, favoring resumption of negotiations with the PA, Syria. He says that a Palestinian state is inevitable, but...
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Israel opens Shuhada Street, which runs along the border of a Jewish settlement in Hebron, to Palestinian taxis. According to Wye II, the route should have been opened to all traffic by yesterday. (WP 11/1)
Israel blames a computer problem for the apparent "disappearance" of 17 Palestinians using the safe-passage corridor, who were recorded entering the route but not leaving. (AFP 10/31 in WNC 11/2)
Mauritania recalls its amb. to Iraq and bans the pro-Iraqi Ba`thist party in Mauritania, al-Tali'a, after Baghdad criticizes Nouakchott for establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, threatens retaliation. (AFP 10/31 in WNC 11/2; AFP 11/1 in WNC 11/3; AFP 11/3 in WNC 11/4; NYT 11/4; AFP 11/4 in WNC 11/5; MEI 11/12)
Israel seals its borders with the occupied territories, citing warnings of attacks by Hamas during the Jewish holiday of Purim. (WT 2/28; JP 3/5)
Netanyahu retracts 2/26 statement that Jordan might ally itself with Iraq if Baghdad attacked Israel. (WT 2/28)
Iran begins 9-day naval maneuvers in the Gulf, nr. the islands of Abu Musa, Greater and Lesser Tunb, which are claimed by both Iran, the UAE. (WT 3/3; MM 3/4, 3/5)
PM Netanyahu angers Jordan by giving a speech warning Israelis that Jordan could form an alliance with Iraq if Baghdad attacked Israel. (WT 2/28; JP, PR 3/5; MEI 3/12)
PA executes PSF officer condemned to death 2/25. (NYT, WP, WT 2/27; JP, PR 3/5; MEI 3/12)
Iran holds 1st local elections since 1979. More than 280,000 candidates run for 200,000 seats nationwide. So many people turn out to vote that some polling stations run out of ballots, hrs. for voting are extended. (NYT, WP 2/26; NYT, WP 2/27; WP 2/28; CSM, MM 3/1; MM 3/2)
To protest Israel's annexation of Arnun on 2/18, 2,000 Lebanese students, residents of nearby villages break through an IDF military cordon, cut through barbed wire, cross suspected minefield, enter the village. IDF fires warning shots fr. outside Arnun, but does not try to expel protesters. Students leave at nightfall; IDF does not attempt to reenter the village. (NYT, WT 2/27; RMC 2/28 in WNC 3/1; MEI 3/12)
Limiting constitutional rights of illegal immigrants, the U.S. Supreme Court rules (6-3) that the government can deport a group of 8 Palestinians, 1 Kenyan simply because of their controversial political views in support of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. (WP, WT 2/25; MM 2/26; PR 3/5)
Israeli Trade Min. announces that it has allocated new lands to build moderate-, small-scale factories in several West Bank, Gaza settlements, including Keddumim, Efraim, Erez. (PR 3/5)
U.S. planes fire on 2 Iraqi missile sites s. of Baghdad, killing, injuring a number of civilians according to the Iraqi government. There have been nearly daily attacks on Iraq since the U.S. adopted (see 1/25) its policy of sustaining low-level strikes against security targets in effort to contain Saddam Hussein. (NYT, WP, WT 2/25) (see 2/11)
Arafat meets with Secy. Albright. In press conference afterward, he says that he cannot discuss the issue of declaring a Palestinian state. (MM, NYT, WT 2/4)
U.S. denounces Israeli media campaign begun 1/17 to portray Arafat as coddling "terrorists" by claiming that he released Palestinian prisoners who killed Americans. U.S. says Israel's claims are baseless; thinks media campaign is an attempt to detract fr. Arafat's visit to Washington and fr. the positive publicity Arafat earned during Clinton's 12/14 trip to Gaza. (al-Quds 2/3 in WNC 2/8; WJW, WP 2/4; MM 2/8; JP 2/12)
66 congressmen introduce legislation calling on Pres. Clinton to oppose recognition to any unilaterally declared Palestinian state. (MM 2/8)
Israeli pres. Ezer Weizman reduces the sentences of 8 Israelis convicted of killing or plotting to kill Palestinians, 5 Palestinians, 2 of whom were convicted of killing Palestinian collaborators. (MM, NYT, WP 2/4; al-Dustur 2/4 in WNC 2/8; WJW 2/11; JP 2/12)
Syrian delegation arrives in Russia for 11 days of talks on military-technical cooperation, acquisition of hardware. (Interfax 2/3 in WNC 2/4; al-Quds al-Arabi 2/3, Interfax, ITAR-TASS 2/5 in WNC 2/8; see also MM 1/26) (see 11/18)
UN says it will no longer allow Americans, Britons to work in its humanitarian program in Iraq because Baghdad refuses to ensure their safety. (NYT, WP, WT 2/4)
In his 1st policy address, Israeli PM candidate Shahak stakes out a left-of-center line, favoring resumption of negotiations with the PA, Syria. He says that a Palestinian state is inevitable, but Jerusalem should never be divided; Netanyahu is "dangerous for Israel." Polls show decline in Shahak's popularity after the address. (MM 1/6; IDF Radio 1/6 in WNC 1/7; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/7; YA 1/7 in WNC 1/8; JP 1/15)
Tensions over Hebron closure continue, with IDF shooting, killing 1 Palestinian protester. (NYT 1/7) (see 1/4)
Confirming long-standing Iraqi accusations, U.S. officials admit that for 3 yrs., U.S. spies using diplomatic cover/false identities worked undercover on UNSCOM teams but denies that the U.S. directed UNSCOM intelligence efforts. Officials say eavesdropping devices ("bugs") supplied to UNSCOM inspectors by Washington provided the U.S. with information used to undermine Saddam Hussein; the idea of using bugs was 1st suggested by fmr. UNSCOM cheif inspector Ritter in talks with Israeli intelligence. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/7; MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/8; al-Dustur 1/9, YA 1/10 in WNC 1/12; MM 1/13; MEI 1/15, 1/29) (see 1/5)
UNICEF, World Food Program releases the 1st independent report on the effect of U.S.-led attack on Iraq 12/16-19, showing that at least 12 schools and hospitals, a Bagdad water system supplying 300,000 persons, storehouse containing 2,600 tons of rice were hit. (NYT 1/7; WP 1/8)
In the 7th wk. of government crisis, PM-designate Erez gives up his bid to form a coalition after failing to form a government excluding Islamist parties. Ecevit will try again. (ATL 1/6 in WNC 1/7; CSM, WP 1/7) (see 12/23)
