King Hussein initiates mtg. with David Levy in Paris, discusses peace process, says Levy has "an important role" to play on the Israeli political scene. (IDF Radio 7/4 in FBIS 7/5)
In Washington, Syria, Israel reopen negotiations with military advisers. Israel ask Syria to make several confidence-building gestures, but Syria rejects taking such measures before signing an...
Secy. of State Christopher meets with Arafat in Gaza; discusses Israeli security, redeployment; promises to push donors to fulfill aid pledges; announces gift of 200 military trucks; says teams fr...
FM Peres, Arafat hold positive mtg. at Erez; agree to open safe passages immediately, halt land confiscation and financing expansion of existing settlements, speed process at border crossings,...
NATO opens talks with 5 North African, Middle Eastern nations (incl. Israel, Egypt) in Bonn as part of its new focus on maintaining Mediterranean security in the face of rising Islamist movements...
At PISMC mtg. in Jerusalem, PA demands Israel withdraw immediately fr. Abu-Dis, Sawahirah villages nr. Jerusalem, both part of Bethlehem municipality under Oslo II. Israel says there was a mistake on the Oslo II maps, incorrectly placing the 2 villages in the withdrawal zone; it expects the PA to agree to the corrected maps that exclude them fr. the municipality. (QY 12/22 in FBIS 12/22)
Samiha Khalil, fmr. gen. secy. of the General Union of Palestinian Women and head of a respected West Bank charity, announces she will run against Arafat for the presidency as an independent in 1/20 elections. A PNC mbr., she says she will vote against amending the PLO covenant. (WT 12/28; CSM 1/4; WP 1/19)
PA, Hamas closed 4 days of their 1st formal, high-level reconciliation talks in Cairo, agree talks were positive but fail to reach accord. Hamas refuses to sign pledge to participate in Palestinian elections, cease attacks on Israeli targets, but agrees not to call for election boycott. (MM 12/18; MENA, VOP 12/18, MENA 12/19 in FBIS 12/19; CSM, WT 12/19; MENA, VOP 12/19 in FBIS 12/20; MM 12/20; MBC, RE, VOP 12/20, MENA, VOP 12/21 in FBIS 12/21; MENA, RMC, VOP 12/21, RE, SA 12/22 in FBIS 12/22; CSM, NYT 12/22; al-Quds 12/22 in FBIS 12/26; JP 12/30) (see 11/18)
Likud MK and fmr. DM Ariel Sharon announces that he will not run for PM, endorses party chmn. Benjamin Netanyahu. (QY 12/21, JP 12/22 in FBIS 12/22; JP 12/30)
Ahmad Tibi, Arafat adviser and head of the Israeli Islamic Movement, says his movement has created a party, the Arab Movement for Change, to participate in the 10/96 Knesset elections. (ITV 12/21 in FBIS 12/22) (see 9/10)
In s. Lebanon, IDF clashes with Amal, killing 3 Amal mbrs. (WT 12/26)
King Hussein initiates mtg. with David Levy in Paris, discusses peace process, says Levy has "an important role" to play on the Israeli political scene. (IDF Radio 7/4 in FBIS 7/5)
Knesset debates bill presented by Matza that would force PA to close 14 institutions operating in Jerusalem. Matza is only able to provide evidence of activity for 4. Of those, the PA agrees to close 3: the statistics, housing, and information bureaus. (JP 7/4 in FBIS 76) (see 2/10)
In Kfar Sava, 25,000 right-wing Israelis led by Likud's Netanyahu demonstrate against planned IDF redeployment. (MM 7/4)
In 2 clashes btwn. Hizballah, IDF in s. Lebanon, 2 IDF soldiers are killed, 5 wounded. IDF responds by shelling suspected Hizballah positions n. of self-declared security zone. (RL 7/3 in FBIS 7/3; MM, WP 7/4; JP 7/15)
In Washington, Syria, Israel reopen negotiations with military advisers. Israel ask Syria to make several confidence-building gestures, but Syria rejects taking such measures before signing an agmt. (FT, MM, WP, WT 6/28; SARR, 6/27, MA 6/28 in FBIS 6/28; WT 6/29; MEI 7/7; MEI 7/21)
In Cairo, PA, Israeli talks on transfer of authority reopen. Sides say Arafat has agreed to accept partial Israeli troop pullback in the West Bank, to be followed by elections and further withdrawal but is still calling for binding timetable. 1st pullout would be fr. Jenin, followed by Nablus, Tulkarm, Qalqiliyya by 11/15. Elections would be held within 22-35 days. 2d stage of withdrawal covering Ramallah, Bethlehem would take place 4-5/96. Areas of IDF, PA control would follow 6/17 zones proposal. No agmt. reached on size of proposed council. (JT, MENA 6/28 in FBIS 6/28; VOP 6/28, MENA, QY 6/29 in FBIS 6/30)
Likud head Binyamin Netanyahu submits to the Knesset what he claims to be a copy leaked to him of Israeli position paper on the Golan to be given to the Syrian delegation in talks in Washington. PM Rabin, FM Peres believe text to be a working paper drafted by the army, not given to Gen. Shahak. (MM 6/27; QY 6/27, 6/28 in FBIS 6/28; MM 6/28; ITV 6/28, QY 6/29 in FBIS 6/29; MM 6/29)
Secy. of State Christopher meets with Arafat in Gaza; discusses Israeli security, redeployment; promises to push donors to fulfill aid pledges; announces gift of 200 military trucks; says teams fr. Agricultural Dept., Pentagon will be sent to advise PA on medical, humanitarian, agricultural issues. Arafat promises to prosecute, punish "terrorists." (MM 3/10; VOP 3/10 in FBIS 3/13; WP, WT 3/11; MM 3/13; JP 3/18)
Likud leader Netanyahu meets with Secy. of State Christopher, says if he wins 1996 election he will not expand Palestinian self-rule, bargain with Syria for the Golan. (NYT 3/11)
UNRWA Commissioner-General Ilter Türkmen arrives in Gaza for 1-wk. visit, briefs Arafat on donor mtg. (UNRWA News 3/22)
Matti Peled, one of the 1st Israeli officials to call for talks with the PLO (1975), dies in Jerusalem. (JP 3/18)
FM Peres, Arafat hold positive mtg. at Erez; agree to open safe passages immediately, halt land confiscation and financing expansion of existing settlements, speed process at border crossings, increase number of Palestinian workers in Israel to 21,000, discuss releasing prisoners, hold regular mtgs. to exchange security information; announce agmt. to try to reach consensus on elections, Israeli withdrawal by 7/1. (MM 3/9; VOP 3/9 in FBIS 3/9; QY, VOP 3/9, VOP 3/10 in FBIS 3/10; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/10; VOP 3/10 in FBIS 3/13; WJW 3/16; MEI 3/17; JP 3/18; WT 3/19)
Secy. of State Christopher holds friendly mtg. with Pres. Mubarak in Cairo but fails to reach compromise on NPT issue, then heads to Israel, meets with PM Rabin, FM Peres to discuss Syrian track. Rabin gives Christopher "serious proposal" to hand Syrian Pres. al-Asad, reportedly offering to withdraw fr. all of Golan in stages if Syria begins normalizing relations. Rabin also blames Syria, Egypt for urging Gulf states to slow normalization. Christopher then meets with Likud leader Netanyahu to asses opposition's stance. (MM 3/9; MENA 3/9 in FBIS 3/9; IDF Radio, ITV 3/9, QY 3/10 in FBIS 3/10; FT, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/10; ITV, QY 3/10, HA, RMC 3/12 in FBIS 3/13; MA 3/12 in FBIS 3/14; HA 3/15 in FBIS 3/15; JP 3/18; MEI 3/31; NYT 4/1; MEI 4/14)
Task Force for Economic Development in the Middle East meets in Washington. U.S. presents proposal for regional bank with $5 b. base capital to do project lending only. EU gives counterproposal for "financial intermediation organization" without its own capital base to put together private sector deals, financing. 30 countries, organizations attend, incl. Egypt, Jordan, PA, Saudi Arabia, excl. Lebanon, Syria. (MM 3/10, 4/27)
FM Peres says Israel has lifted its naval blockade on s. Lebanon in honor of Secy. of State Christopher's visit, as a good will gesture. (HA, RL 3/10 in FBIS 3/10; VOL 3/10 in FBIS 3/13; NYT, WP 3/11; MEI 3/17; MEI 3/31)
PM Rabin, King Hussein meet in Aqaba, discuss difficulties on Syrian track. Rabin tells king he asked Secy. of State Christopher to forgive Jordan's debt. (JTV 3/9, QY, RJ 3/10 in FBIS 3/10; MM 3/10)
NATO opens talks with 5 North African, Middle Eastern nations (incl. Israel, Egypt) in Bonn as part of its new focus on maintaining Mediterranean security in the face of rising Islamist movements. (MM 2/20; CSM 2/24)
Lebanese Pres. Hrawi calls on U.S., Russia to pressure Israel stop naval blockade, shelling of s. Lebanon. (RL 2/24 in FBIS 2/27) (see 2/23)
Islamic Development Fund for Investment and Export Security of the Organization of Islamic Conference says it has earmarked $50 m. for agricultural development in autonomous areas. (VOP 2/24 in FBIS 2/28)
Frank Luntz, close advisor of House Speaker Newt Gingrich who masterminded Republican's 1994 victory, announces he will be advising Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu on his 1996 campaign for PM. (WT 2/24)
