Under new media law (see 7/18), PA closes Hamas's al-Watan and an Islamic Jihad's al-Istiqlal for criticizing Arafat, printing material "against the Palestinian Authority" that harms...
In Gaza, PA Planning M Shaath, U.S. Amb. to Israel Indyk sign agmt. whereby USAID will give the PA $11 m. for first stage of a 4-yr., $40-m. waste water project. (VOP 7/28 in FBIS 7/28; PR 8/4; JP...
PA signs contract with Islamic Waqf to lease the Allenby camp in west Jerusalem for 99 yrs. Israel already has leased the site to the U.S. for a future embassy. Palestinians claim the land is Waqf...
IDF sets 11/1 date for starting withdrawal fr. West Bank, clashing with PA plans to hold elections by late 9/95. PA rejects Israeli proposal to pull troops out of only six West Bank towns (...
At Israeli-PA economic comm. mtg., PA demands changes in Paris protocol given Israeli separation plan, closure; demands maintenance of free trade with Israel, based on free movement of goods btwn...
PM Rabin tells Knesset Foreign Affairs Comm. that Israel has retracted its demand Syria cut its standing army as part of a peace agmt.; Syria realizes Israel has special security needs, no longer...
Fatah Central Council meets in Tunis to assess peace process, discuss PA administration, economic problems, Fatah's role inside and outside o.t.; say there can be no progress without Israeli...
IDF soldiers shoot, kill 4 Palestinian policemen after crossing into Gaza nr. Erez checkpoint, searching for Palestinians who had fired on their patrol. (QY, VOP 1/3 in FBIS 1/3; MM, WP, WT 1/3;...
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Under new media law (see 7/18), PA closes Hamas's al-Watan and an Islamic Jihad's al-Istiqlal for criticizing Arafat, printing material "against the Palestinian Authority" that harms the PA's relations with Arab states, leaking photo of Arafat's baby to the French press. (AFP 8/6 in FBIS 8/7; MM, WT 8/7; PR 8/11)
In Gaza, Arafat receives Israeli Arab Front delegation, discusses peace process, future of Israeli settlements. Front voices support for Arafat, PA. (VOP 8/6 in FBIS 8/8)
PM Rabin, Police M Shahal, Justice M Liba'i, Atty. Gen. Ben-Ya'ir, reps of the police, IDF, Shin Bet meet, decide police only will be used to handle protesting settlers; IDF will be called in as needed. (MM 8/7; MA 8/7 in FBIS 8/7; MA 8/16 in FBIS 8/16)
Arab League passes resolution condemning Israel's 8/2 decision on Temple Mount/al-Aqsa mosque. (MENA 8/6 in FBIS 8/8)
In Ramallah, Fatah, Peace Now agree to wage joint media campaign to promote the peace process. (Davar 8/6 in FBIS 8/8)
Several mbrs of the House, headed by Rep. Nick Rahall, fly to Lebanon in effort to end U.S. travel ban. (WT 8/4)
In Gaza, PA Planning M Shaath, U.S. Amb. to Israel Indyk sign agmt. whereby USAID will give the PA $11 m. for first stage of a 4-yr., $40-m. waste water project. (VOP 7/28 in FBIS 7/28; PR 8/4; JP 8/5)
Fatah Central Comm. meets in Gaza, discusses PA negotiations with Israel, criticizes Arafat for trying to reclaim parts of Golan. (SA, VOP 7/27 in FBIS 7/28) (see 7/24)
In Nazareth, Israeli police raid office of Islamic Aid Comm., confiscate material allegedly showing comm. transfers money fr. U.S. to families of Hamas deportees. (QY 7/27 in FBIS 7/28; MM 7/28)
PA signs contract with Islamic Waqf to lease the Allenby camp in west Jerusalem for 99 yrs. Israel already has leased the site to the U.S. for a future embassy. Palestinians claim the land is Waqf land that was illegally confiscated by Israel. (HA 7/11 in FBIS 7/11)
Israeli Pres. Ezer Weizman visits SLA troops in s. Lebanon, promises Israel will not abandon them; says government is willing to withdraw to international border of Golan (see 4/18, 4/20) in exchange for peace, only sticking point on extent of withdrawal is over four small enclaves within 1967 Syrian border. (VOL 6/12 in FBIS 6/12; WP 6/13)
4 mbrs of Jordan's Liberal party arrive in Jerusalem for mtgs. with Pres. Weizman, FM Peres, Police M Shahal, other FMin. officials. (QY 6/12 in FBIS 6/13)
VP Gore swears in Harriet Zimmerman, AIPAC's VP, as board mbr. of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). USIP is an independent federal organization created and funded by Congress to promote international peace. (USIP News 6/12)
In advance of the probable renewal (6/30) of the waiver permitting U.S. aid to the PLO, Sen. Alfonse D'Amato (R-NY) introduces bill to amend MEPFA so as to halt direct aid to the PA, limit aid to humanitarian assistance channeled through federal agencies or volunteer groups. World Zionist Organization applauds bill; AIPAC denounces it. (WP 6/14; MM 6/19, 6/20; WJW 6/22; MEI 6/23)
Anti-Arafat Fatah mbrs allied with Khalid al-Shayib attempt to drive Arafat supporters out of `Ayn al-Hilwa r.c. in Lebanon. 2 Palestinians killed, 10 wounded in clashes. (VOL 6/12, AFP 6/13 in FBIS 6/13; MM 6/13)
IDF sets 11/1 date for starting withdrawal fr. West Bank, clashing with PA plans to hold elections by late 9/95. PA rejects Israeli proposal to pull troops out of only six West Bank towns (Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus, Qalqiliyya, Ramallah, Tulkarm). (MM 6/1; CSM 6/3) (see 3/28, 5/6)
State Dept. issues semiannual compliance report evaluating PA performance as required by the Middle East Peace Facilitation Act (MEPFA). (WJW 6/8; JP 6/10; WP 6/14)
In Tunis, Fatah Central Comm., chaired by Arafat, approves continued PA negotiations with Israel in light of 7/1 deadline. Arafat then briefs PLO Exec. Comm. on talks, economy, relations among Palestinian factions. PPP boycotts. (al-Quds 5/31, ITV, VOP 6/1 in FBIS 6/2; MENA, QY 6/2 in FBIS 6/5; WT 6/3)
At Israeli-PA economic comm. mtg., PA demands changes in Paris protocol given Israeli separation plan, closure; demands maintenance of free trade with Israel, based on free movement of goods btwn. Israel, self-rule areas without security or technical hindrances, gradual dissolution of united tax system with Israel. (QY 5/21 in FBIS 5/22; PR 5/28; JP 6/15 in FBIS 6/16)
Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the PA, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the UAE announce minisummit on Jerusalem to be held in Morocco 5/27. PLO Political Dept. head Faruq al-Qaddumi heads to Damascus to coordinate position with Syrian FMin. Fatah urges Arafat to suspend talks with Israel in light of veto on UN land confiscation resolution 5/17. (AFP, RMC, SATN 5/21 in FBIS 5/22; CSM, MM, WT 5/22; SARR 5/22 in FBIS 5/23; JP 5/27)
Bashar al-Asad (son of the Syrian pres.), Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Safi (cmdr. of Syrian forces in Lebanon), Brig. Ghazi Kanaan (head of Syrian Intelligence) meet with Lebanese Pres. Hrawi in Beirut. After mtg., Hrawi reappoints Hariri as PM, asks him to form new cabinet. (RL, VOL 5/21 in FBIS 5/22; MM, WT 5/22; MM 5/23, 5/24; MEI 5/26) (see 5/19)
PM Rabin tells Knesset Foreign Affairs Comm. that Israel has retracted its demand Syria cut its standing army as part of a peace agmt.; Syria realizes Israel has special security needs, no longer demands geographical "symmetry" in security arrangements, instead emphasizes overall "equality"; sides are deadlocked on principles underlying security arrangements. (MM 4/4; JP 4/4 in FBIS 4/4) (see 2/28)
Egypt's Pres. Mubarak has preliminary mtg. with Secy. of State Christopher to discuss NPT, peace process, bilateral relations. Christopher gives Mubarak report on Israel's nuclear program. (RE 4/3 in FBIS 4/4)
In response to queries by Senate Intelligence Comm., CIA reports that presently there is no clear successor to Arafat should he be removed, no evidence PA is involved in anti-Israeli attacks, little danger of Israel being attacked by outside power. (MM 5/4)
Israeli Amb. to the UN Gad Ya'aqobi says he has requested the UN remove its Truce Supervision Organization observer force fr. the Jordan-Israel border now that a treaty has been signed. (HA 4/3 in FBIS 4/5; WJW 4/13)
Fatah issues statement condemning Hamas for 4/2 explosion in Gaza, obstructing peace, dividing Palestinians. (al-Aqsa 4/4 in FBIS 4/7)
Despite PA ban on unapproved demonstrations, some 10,000 Hamas supporters rally in Gaza, claiming Israel, PA are behind 4/2 explosion. (NYT, WT 4/4; QY 4/5 in FBIS 4/6)
Fatah Central Council meets in Tunis to assess peace process, discuss PA administration, economic problems, Fatah's role inside and outside o.t.; say there can be no progress without Israeli withdrawal from o.t. (VOP 3/16 in FBIS 3/16; AN 3/17; AFP, VOL 3/17 in FBIS 3/17; VOP 3/19 in FBIS 3/20)
Senate votes to limit Jordan's debt forgiveness to $50 m. for 1995 but promises remaining $225 m. for 1996, declining to overturn House decision (3/3) despite Pres. Clinton's wishes. Differing bills mean House, Senate must negotiate final version. Jordan welcomes decision. (JT, RJ 3/18 in FBIS 3/20; WP 3/22, Near East Report 3/27; WT 3/30; MEI 3/31)
Israeli Tourism M approves construction of youth hostel, restaurant in Golan Heights. (QY 3/16 in FBIS 3/17)
IDF soldiers shoot, kill 4 Palestinian policemen after crossing into Gaza nr. Erez checkpoint, searching for Palestinians who had fired on their patrol. (QY, VOP 1/3 in FBIS 1/3; MM, WP, WT 1/3; FT, WP 1/4; CSM, MEI 1/6; JP 1/14)
PM Rabin halts construction at Efrat but allows settlers to build 500 units at site closer to center of Efrat. PA denounces decision. (QY, Yedi'ot Aharonot 1/1, ITV, QY, VOP 1/2, QY 1/3 in FBIS 1/3; MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/3; CSM 1/4; WJW 1/5; CSM 1/6; JP 1/14) (see 12/31)
Hamas, West Bank Fateh Higher Comm. call on PA to suspend negotiations with Israel as protest over Israeli settlement activity. (Al-Manar, Al-Quds 1/2 in FBIS 1/5)
Israeli military court convicts Muhammad Salah, Arab American arrested by Israelis 1/31/93, of channeling funds to Hamas, sentences him to 5 yrs. in prison. (QY 1/3 in FBIS 1/3; WP 1/4)
IDF kills 3 Palestinians, wounds 1 in 2 clashes in West Bank; accuses victims of being pro-Hamas. (WP, WT 1/3; NYT 1/5)
