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  • January 20, 2024

    In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attack 3 Palestinian shepherds with sticks and steal some of their sheep in Rammun. Israeli settlers also assault a Palestinian man in Huwwara. Elsewhere,...

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  • March 17, 1999

    Refugee Working Group holds intersessional mtg. in Paris on family reunification. (Shaml Newsletter 2/99)

    3 Israeli judges unanimously find Aryeh Deri, leader of...

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  • November 24, 1997

    Israel leaks to the press a new FRD offer under which it would withdraw fr. 6-8% of the West Bank. (MM, WP, WT 11/25; ITV, JP, MA, QY 11/25 in WNC 11/27; CSM, NYT, WT 11/26; JP 12/6) (compare 11/...

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  • June 19, 1997

    Iranian pres. Rafsanjani sends Health M Ali Reza Mirandi to Iraq to invite Saddam Hussein to attend the 12/97 Organization of the Islamic Conference mtg. in Tehran. Mirandi also brings a message...

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  • April 15, 1997

    U.S. special envoy Ross arrives in the Middle East; holds talks in Gaza with Arafat, in Jerusalem with Netanyahu. (WP 4/15; CSM, WP 4/16)

    EU-Mediterranean business conference opens in Malta...

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  • January 12, 1997

    Jordan's King Hussein travels to Gaza, Israel to try to break deadlock in PA-Israeli talks. As a result, U.S. envoy Ross, who had planned to return to Washington today because no agmt. seemed...

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  • July 25, 1995

    Reversing his 7/16 decision, PM Rabin promises Rachel's tomb will remain under full Israeli control, Jews will have access to Machapela Cave (Hebron), Joseph's tomb (Nablus), comm. of MKs fr....

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In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attack 3 Palestinian shepherds with sticks and steal some of their sheep in Rammun. Israeli settlers also assault a Palestinian man in Huwwara. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers vandalize 3 homes in al-Ghazi and Susiya in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces raid the home of a former prisoner in al-Minya, vandalizing it and seizing his car. Israeli forces arrest 22 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Nablus, Tubas, Bethlehem, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities force a Palestinian family to demolish their own home in Silwan. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Jabalia refugee camp, Gaza City, Nuseirat refugee camp, Khan Yunis, Beit Lahiya, Rafah, and al-Bureij refugee camp, killing at least 165 people. Israeli forces drop leaflets in Rafah with photos of 69 captives, saying “Want to go home? Provide information if you recognize one of the hostages.” An Israeli soldier is killed in combat. In Lebanon, Israeli forces assassinate 2 Hezbollah members in a drone strike on Bazouriyeh and bomb a 3-story house in Houla. In Syria, Israeli forces attack Damascus, killing 5 Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps members. In Iraq, a missile attack on the U.S. al-Asad airbase lightly injures U.S. military service member. In Yemen, U.S. forces bomb an anti-ship missile they say was being prepared to be launched. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/20; AJ, AJ, HA, UNOCHA 1/21)

More than 24,927 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 10,600 children and 7,200 women, and around 62,388 have been injured since 10/7. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 362 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 91 children. More than 4,310 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 191 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,178 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 69,000 housing units have been destroyed and 290,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting over 60% of all housing units. 80 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza via the Rafah and Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossings. (UNOCHA 1/21)

Al-Baidar Organisation for Defending Bedouin Rights says Israeli forces and settlers committed 1,124 crimes against Palestinian Bedouin communities in the West Bank in 2023. (AJ 1/20)

The Popular Resistance Committees in Gaza’s al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades releases a video of an Israeli captive who says he fears for his life. (AJ, HA, HA 1/20)

Hamas political bureau member Musa Abu Marzouk says Hamas is not interested in keeping the Israeli captives held in Gaza, saying Israel will be forced to make a deal agreeing to a prisoner exchange. (AJ 1/20)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterates his opposition to a Palestinian state, saying he “will not compromise on full Israeli security control over the entire area west of Jordan.” In response, PA spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeinah says it is time for the U.S. to recognize the State of Palestine. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA 1/20; AJ, NYT 1/21)

The Non-Aligned Movement issues a statement calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the remaining captives and expresses support for the South African case against Israel at the ICJ after a summit held in Kampala, Uganda. In a speech to the Non-Aligned Movement members, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres says the “wholesale destruction of Gaza and the number of civilian casualties caused by the Israeli army in such a short period are totally unprecedented during my mandate,” calling on Israel to end its attacks. PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki addresses the summit, criticizing the international system for not ending the Israeli attacks on Gaza.  (AJ, AP 1/19; AJ, AP, WAFA, WAFA 1/20; WAFA 1/21)

Belgian minister of development cooperation Caroline Gennez says Belgium will “fully support” the ICJ if it “calls on Israel to cease its military campaign in Gaza.” (AJ, WAFA 1/20)

CNN reports that it has found that Israeli forces systematically destroyed cemeteries in Gaza. (AJ 1/20)

The Times reports that Gadi Eisenkot, Benny Gantz, and Ayre Deri could leave Israel’s emergency government if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant continue to ignore their arguments for a ceasefire to bring back the remaining captives held in Gaza. (AJ, LT 1/20)

The Intercept reports that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) donated $95,000 to House of Representative speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) after he pushed through a $14 billion aid package to Israel. AIPAC donated $104,000 to Johnson in 2023. The aid package is still stuck in the Senate. (AJ 1/20)

Refugee Working Group holds intersessional mtg. in Paris on family reunification. (Shaml Newsletter 2/99)

3 Israeli judges unanimously find Aryeh Deri, leader of the ultra-Orthodox Sephardic Shas party, guilty of fraud, bribe-taking. Shas supporters protest verdict as tantamount to discrimination against Sephardim. Deri's lawyers appeal the verdict to the Israeli High Court. (MM, WP 3/17; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/18; JP 3/19; WJW 3/25; MEI 3/26; JP 4/2)

Israel announces plans to build 120 new housing units in Gilo settlement. (al-Ayyam 3/18 in WNC 3/23)

U.S. suspends nearly daily attacks on Iraq, directing its attention to the crisis in Yugoslavia. (WP 4/3) (see 3/6)

IDF shells targets in s. Lebanon, injuring 1 civilian. (VOL 3/17 in WNC 3/22)

Israel leaks to the press a new FRD offer under which it would withdraw fr. 6-8% of the West Bank. (MM, WP, WT 11/25; ITV, JP, MA, QY 11/25 in WNC 11/27; CSM, NYT, WT 11/26; JP 12/6) (compare 11/23)

French FM Hubert Vedrine arrives in Israel, meets with PM Netanyahu, FM David Levy, DM Mordechai, Labor chmn. Ehud Barak. (YA 11/24 in WNC 11/26; ITV 11/24, Les Echos [Paris], Liberation [Paris] 11/25 in WNC 11/27)

In Brussels, EU, Jordan sign long-awaited association agmt., giving Jordanian products preferential status. (RJ 11/24 in WNC 11/26)

Arafat adviser Mahmud Abbas meets with MK Meir Shitreet, the Shas leader MK Arye Deri to discuss holding regular mtgs. btwn. PA, Sephardic Jewish reps. Deri briefs PM Netanyahu on the mtg. (YA 11/27 in WNC 12/9)

In an Atlanta jail, Israeli MK Yuli Edelstein meets with convicted spy for Israel Jonathan Pollard, hands him letter fr. PM Netanyahu, saying that he "is committed to bringing about your release." (MA 11/24 in WNC 11/26)

4 Amal mbrs. are killed in clash with IDF in s. Lebanon. (RL, VOL 11/24 in WNC 11/26; WP 11/25; RL 11/25 in WNC 11/27)

Iranian pres. Rafsanjani sends Health M Ali Reza Mirandi to Iraq to invite Saddam Hussein to attend the 12/97 Organization of the Islamic Conference mtg. in Tehran. Mirandi also brings a message asking Hussein to make a good-will gesture by releasing some of the 5,000 Iranian POWs taken during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war. (MM 6/20)

In Amman, PM Majali receives Iraqi PM Tariq `Aziz for talks on bilateral relations. (RJ 6/19 in WNC 6/24)

Labor party leaders hold strategy session, decide not to form unity government with Likud "under any conditions," agree to maintain continuous contact with other Knesset factions so as to exploit the rift within the Likud. (ITV 6/19 in WNC 6/23)

U.S. investigators report that 2 Hasidic Jews fr. New York, suspected of laundering huge quantities of drug money for a Columbian drug cartel, recently purchased millions of dollars worth of land nr. the settlements of Mahseya, Zanoah in the Jerusalem corridor. The atty. who represented the Hasidim in the land deals is Shlomo Deri, brother of Shas's Arye Deri. (YA 6/19 in WNC 6/20)

Turkey pulls more troops out of n. Iraq, says military action against the PKK will continue. (MM 6/19) (see 6/14)

In s. Lebanon, residents of Jazzin appeal to the government, ILMG investigate the 6/18 explosion; ILMG says it will do so 6/23. Later, the SLA raids Jazzin, arresting civilians on charges of collaborating with Hizballah. (RL 6/19 in WNC 6/20; RL 6/20 in WNC 6/23; MM 6/26, 6/27)

10 Jordanian opposition parties, not incl. the Islamic Action Front (IAF), announce they are forming a united list for the 11/97 elections. (Star 6/12 in WNC 6/13)

U.S. special envoy Ross arrives in the Middle East; holds talks in Gaza with Arafat, in Jerusalem with Netanyahu. (WP 4/15; CSM, WP 4/16)

EU-Mediterranean business conference opens in Malta. Arafat, Israeli FM Levy meet on the sidelines in the highest level contact since talks broke down in 3/97. (CSM, MM, WT 4/15; Radio France Internationale [Paris] 4/15 in WNC 4/16; CSM, MM 4/16; De Volkskrank [Amsterdam], SANA 4/16 in WNC 4/17; CSM, NYT, WP 4/17; MEI, PR 4/18)

On the sidelines of the Malta conference, Jordanian FM Tarawnah, Syrian FM Shara` discuss improving bilateral relations. (al-Dustur 4/23 in WNC 4/24)

In Surif, 3 critically ill Palestinians die when IDF troops enforcing curfew deny them access to medical treatment. (NYT 4/16)

Israeli police recommend felony indictments in the Bar-On affair be sought against Justice M Hanegbi, chief of staff Avigdor Lieberman, Netanyahu political ally and Shas head Arye Deri. (ITV 4/15 in WNC 4/16; MM, WP, WT 4/16; YA 4/16 in WNC 4/17) (see 2/28)

In Mina, Saudi Arabia, an estimated 210 Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani pilgrims participating in the Hajj are killed, 800 are injured when canisters of cooking fuel ignite tents. At least 70,000 tents are destroyed, leaving 100,000s of pilgrims temporarily without shelter. (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 4/16; MM 4/22, 4/24; MEI 5/2)

SLA releases 7 detainees fr. al-Khiyam prison in s. Lebanon to mark the end of Ramadan. (RL 4/15 in WNC 4/16)

Jordan's King Hussein travels to Gaza, Israel to try to break deadlock in PA-Israeli talks. As a result, U.S. envoy Ross, who had planned to return to Washington today because no agmt. seemed forthcoming, decides to stay. After an evening of talks, Arafat, Netanyahu agree to a compromise on further redeployment suggested by the king, opening the way for a Hebron deal to be signed. (IDF Radio, ITV, JTV, RJ, RMC 1/12, IDF Radio, QY, RJ 1/13 in WNC 1/14; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/13; CSM, MM 1/14; VOA 1/14 in WNC 1/15; WJW 1/16; JTV 1/16 in WNC 1/21; PR 1/17; al-Nahar 1/21 in WNC 1/24; MEI 1/24)

12 hrs. after assuming his post, Atty. Gen. Bar-On resigns amid rumors that he was appointed in exchange for a promise to arrange a plea bargain that would end the corruption trial of one of PM Netanyahu's allies, fmr. Interior M Arye Deri. (MM 1/13; NYT 1/24; JP 1/25; NYT 1/27; MEI 2/7) (see 1/10)

Syrian-Lebanese Joint Higher Council signs 3 agmts. on joint border offices and facilitating transportation btwn. the 2 countries, taxation, encouraging investment. (RMC 1/12 in WNC 1/14)

Reversing his 7/16 decision, PM Rabin promises Rachel's tomb will remain under full Israeli control, Jews will have access to Machapela Cave (Hebron), Joseph's tomb (Nablus), comm. of MKs fr. religious parties will be set up to advise Israeli negotiators on holy sites in West Bank. (MM 7/25; JP 7/25 in FBIS 7/25; MA, QY 7/26 in FBIS 7/26; JP 8/5)

U.S. Amb. to Israel Indyk holds prescheduled mtg. with MKs Arye Deri, David Levi, Moshe Qatzav, Nisim Zvili, Gedalya Gal. (MM 7/26; HA 7/28 in FBIS 7/30)

At Tulkarm checkpoint, Palestinian workers upset by delays in entering Israel despite their permits begin riot. IDF shoots, wounds 2. (PR 8/4)

PA police arrest 20 Hamas mbrs. in connection with 7/24 attack. (AFP 7/25 in FBIS 7/26)

Knesset approves establishment of 1-man breakaway faction fr. Moledet named Right of Israel. Party head MK Sha'ul Gutman will keep his seat, likely align with Kach. (JP 7/25 in FBIS 7/26) (see 7/19)

U.S. immigration (INS) officials detain, strip search Hamas mbr. Abu Marzuq, his wife, and 6 children on entry to the U.S. at Kennedy airport. While out of the country, Abu Marzuq, a permanent U.S. resident who has lived in Virginia for 14 yrs., was placed on the INS terrorism watch list on suspicion of being a Hamas decision maker, fund-raiser for Hamas. He may either be tried in the U.S., extradited to Israel (if requested), or deported to the UAE (his point of departure for the U.S.). (WP 7/27; NYT, WT 7/28; MEI 8/4) (see 5/31)

In s. Lebanon, 1 SLA mbr. killed, 3 wounded when Hizballah mbrs. detonate roadside bomb.