PA submits security work plan to the U.S. in keeping with the Wye timetable. PM Netanyahu, however, says he cannot implement the agmt. because it has not been ratified (see 10/27). The cabinet is...
Syrian pres. Asad goes to Sharm al-Shaykh for important discussion with Pres. Mubarak on Wye agmt. Joint press conference scheduled for after the mtg. is canceled. (MENA, SATN 11/1 in WNC 11/6; MM...
In Washington, Clinton meets with Arafat, encourages him to accept U.S. FRD proposal (see 1/20). Arafat refuses, saying that he expects Israel to hand over 91% of the est Bank before the final...
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PA submits security work plan to the U.S. in keeping with the Wye timetable. PM Netanyahu, however, says he cannot implement the agmt. because it has not been ratified (see 10/27). The cabinet is now set to debate ratification 11/3+n4, the Knesset 11/11+n12. (MM 11/2; AFP, ITV 11/2 in WNC 11/6; NYT, WP, WT 11/3; al-Ahram, MA 11/3 in WNC 11/6; NYT, WT 11/4)
PM Netanyahu's government survives no-confidence motion by one vote in the Knesset, due to support fr. Israeli Arab MKs. (NYT 11/3)
PA president's office issues order regulating accreditation, movement of press correspondents. PA Information Min. denounces the president's office for acting outside its jurisdiction, claims new measures are null and void. (PR 11/6; PCHR 11/8)
Israel increases the number of Palestinian workers allowed into Israel fr. 47,000 to 60,000. (WT 11/4)
In East Jerusalem, fights break out btwn. Israeli police, Palestinians protesting Jewish settlers' continued preparations for a new settlement in Ras al-Amud. (MM, WP, WT 11/3) (see 11/1)
A Jewish settler wanted for killing a Palestinian nr. Nablus 10/26 surrenders to Israeli police, who order him held for 6 days. (NYT 11/3; WT 11/4; JP 11/9)
Syrian pres. Asad goes to Sharm al-Shaykh for important discussion with Pres. Mubarak on Wye agmt. Joint press conference scheduled for after the mtg. is canceled. (MENA, SATN 11/1 in WNC 11/6; MM 11/2)
Hamas's Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades threatens to ignore orders against attacking the PSF if crackdown continues. PSF has arrested more than 130 alleged Hamas mbrs. since the Wye agmt. was signed. PA, Hamas officials meet on reducing tensions. Hamas agrees to avoid issuing "fiery" statements denouncing the PA. PA releases Gaza spokesman Mahmud Zahhar, arrested in recent sweeps, as good will gesture. (CSM, MM, WP, WT 11/2; MM 11/4; CSM, PR 11/6; JP 11/9; YA 11/12 in WNC 11/13)
PM Netanyahu approves construction of 200 housing units on 80 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Kiryat Arba. IDF says that settlers are setting up farms outside existing settlement boundaries to create facts on the ground before an FRD. Secy. Albright phones Netanyahu to discuss the matter. (ITV, MA 11/1 in WNC 11/6; MM, NYT 11/2; MM, WT 11/3; PR 11/6; MA 11/9 in WNC 11/12; LAW 11/11)
Jewish settlers erect barbed-wire fence around the area of Ras al-Amud in East Jerusalem, begin leveling land for new settlement. Settlers also place trailers on a hill nr. Ramallah. (AFP [Internet] 11/1; ITV 11/1, al-Quds 11/3 in WNC 11/6; NYT, WP 11/2; AFP 11/2, al-Ahram, ITAR-TASS 11/3 in WNC 11/6; MM 11/3; PR 11/6; JP 11/9) (see 8/27)
EU special envoy Moratinos discusses peace process with PA Local Government M Erakat. (al-Ra'i 2/5 in WNC 2/11)
Arafat arrives in Spain for 2-day visit, to be followed by trip to the Netherlands. (PALDEV Digest [Internet] 2/4)
In Cairo, Egypt, PA sign custom exemption agmt. (MENA 2/4 in WNC 2/6) (see Peace Monitor)
Netanyahu spokesman Bar-Ilan says that government will override Interior Min.'s 1/22 approval of "Jewish sector" construction plans for Ras al-Amud. (MM, NYT, WP 2/5)
Palestinians living nr. Efrat settlement protest Israeli plans to confiscate their land to build road for local settlers. (PR 2/13)
Jordan's Interior Min. announces it has approved establishment of new Jordan Labor Party, which advocates building relations btwn. Jordanian, Israeli peoples but opposes polices of current Likud government. (JT 2/4 in WNC 2/6; JT 2/10 in WNC 2/11)
Congress debates resolution allowing Pres. Clinton to launch attack on Iraq. White House prefers diplomatic solution with resort to targeted attack on military facilities, sites of suspected violations if there is no progress. Mbrs. of Joint Chiefs of Staff say list of targets belies lack of strategy, White House is only interested in "putting on a show"; recommend concentrated attacks on Republican Guard, facilities housing security details, mbrs. Saddam Hussein's inner circle. Conservative lawmakers--including Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS), Rep. Steven Solarz (D-NY)--say attack should aim to remove Saddam Hussein fr. power. (WT 2/4; NYT, WP, WT 2/5)
In Washington, Clinton meets with Arafat, encourages him to accept U.S. FRD proposal (see 1/20). Arafat refuses, saying that he expects Israel to hand over 91% of the est Bank before the final stages of the permanent status talks. Arafat agrees to renegotiate the 12/17 MOU on security, gives Clinton 2 letters: one, requested by the U.S., formalizing Palestinian recognition of Israel's right to exist, spelling out for the 1st time which of the 33 articles of the 1968 PLO charter were annulled in 1996; the other saying that a "time-out" on Israeli settlement construction should extend to every place on the West Bank that is not within 50 meters of an existing settlement structure. After mtg., Clinton says that he hopes that land for peace will prevail in the Middle East that "the Palestinians can realize their aspirations to live as a free people." (NYT, WP, WT 1/23; ITV, MENA 1/23, JT, RE 1/24 in WNC 1/27; MM, WT 1/26; MEI 1/30; MA 2/3 in WNC 2/4)
CIA Dir. George Tenet meets with Arafat at his hotel to discuss security issues, 12/17 MOU on security. (NYT, WP 1/23)
Israeli Interior Min. approves 2 building plans for the Palestinian neighborhood of Ras al-Amud in Jerusalem: "Arab sector" plan includes the construction of "additional public space," 1,020 housing units; "Jewish sector" plan includes 132 housing units. Construction permits are not issued automatically; Jewish, Arab landowners must apply to the local authority for permits. (IGPO 2/4; MM, NYT 2/5) (see 9/14/97)
U.S. orders deportation of Hani al-Sayigh, a Saudi Arabian suspected of involvement in the 6/96 bombing of the U.S. barracks at al-Khobar. Sayigh fled Saudi Arabia for Canada (3/97), which then extradited him to the U.S. (6/97) at Washington's request to provide testimony linking Iran with the bombing. Sayigh failed to provide such information, and the U.S. was forced to drop charges of collusion against him for lacked evidence. He faces possible execution if he is sent back to Saudi Arabia. (NYT, WP) (see 9/9)
IDF opens fire with rubber bullets, live ammunition, teargas, percussion grenades on Palestinians protesting bulldozing of land nr. Neve Dalim settlement, injuring 4. (PCHR 1/24) (see 1/21)
Israel launches Ofek-4 satellite to spy on Iran, Iraq, Syria, but it disintegrates before entering orbit. (ITV 1/23 in WNC 1/27; WT 1/24; MM 1/26; JP 2/7)
