9 / 15549 Results
  • April 3, 2024

    In the West Bank, Israeli settlers steal 53 sheep in Tuqu’. Israeli forces shoot and injure a 13-year-old Palestinian girl and uproot streets and other infrastructure during a raid in Jenin....

    Read more
  • March 22, 2024

    In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalize a home and throw stones at vehicles in al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya. 1 Israeli soldier is shot and killed and 7 others are injured, including both settlers...

    Read more
  • September 6, 2023

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces fired flare grenades at agricultural lands near Burqa, causing fires. Israeli forces also issued 19 stop-work orders for homes, a landfill, an agricultural site,...

    Read more
  • August 25, 2013

    In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the afternoon and in 1 village each nr. Ramallah and Salfit at night, patrols in 2 villages nr....

    Read more
  • November 18, 1998

    Israeli FM Sharon, PA cheif negotiator Mahmud Abbas meet at the Israeli FMin. in Jerusalem to discuss final status talks, progress of the PA-Israeli comms. on the economy, Gaza port, FRDs. (MM,...

    Read more
  • August 10, 1998

    The Israeli daily Ma'ariv reports that PM Netanyahu, Labor Chmn Barak recently held (beginning 7/12) a series of detailed secret talks at a Mossad location in central Israel on possibility...

    Read more
  • March 8, 1998

    In London, PM Netanyahu ends unsuccessful 4-day EU tour to promote new peace initiative based on a Camp David-style summit with the PA, conditional s. Lebanon withdrawal. (MA 3/8, IDF...

    Read more
  • August 22, 1997

    Israel annouces plans to build a dam just inside the boundary of land claimed by Syria. U.S. criticizes the decision; Syria says that it proves that Israel does not want peace; Jordan says that it...

    Read more
  • December 28, 1994

    Arafat calls emergency mtg. of PA Ms to discuss Israeli settlement issues; cabinet issues appeal to EU, U.S., Russia, Egypt, Norway, UN to intervene to stop settlement construction. (VOP 12/28, 12...

    Read more

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers steal 53 sheep in Tuqu’. Israeli forces shoot and injure a 13-year-old Palestinian girl and uproot streets and other infrastructure during a raid in Jenin. Israeli forces also raid Dayr Sharaf, uprooting paved roads and water pipelines. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolish a house under construction in Umm al-Rihan. Israeli forces also seize a concrete pump in ‘Anin. Meanwhile, Israeli forces arrest 30 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Hizma, Husan, al-Arroub refugee camp, Halhul, Dura, Qalqilya, and Nablus. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Khan Yunis, Dayr al-Balah, and Gaza City, killing at least 59 people. 2 rockets are fired at Israel; no damage is reported. In Kochav Yair, Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian man, alleging that he rammed and injured 4 Israeli police officers. In the Red Sea, U.S. forces shoot down a missile and 2 drones launched from Yemen. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/3; AJ 4/4; UNOCHA 4/5)

More than 32,975 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 13,750 children and 8,900 women, and around 75,577 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 446 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 112 children. More than 4,760 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 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 255 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,549 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 70,000 housing units have been destroyed and 290,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7/2023, constituting over 60% of all housing units. 160 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. U.S. and Jordanian forces airdrop 38,000 meals over northern Gaza.  (AJ, HA, UNOCHA 4/3; UNOCHA 4/5)

UNOCHA says it has documented more than 700 settler attacks on Palestinians since 10/7/2023, killing 17 Palestinians and injuring more than 400 others. (UNOCHA 4/3)

6 Israeli intelligence officers tell +972 Magazine and Local Call that Israel is using an AI program called Lavender to mark Palestinians and their homes as bombing targets on the basis that they are suspected members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad. According to the sources, 37,000 Palestinians have been marked as suspected militants. The report says that human analysts would spend on average 20 seconds evaluating the targets picked by Lavender, to make sure the target is male, before giving authorization. The reporting also says that a different AI system called Where’s Daddy would track targets to make sure they were at the family residence before an airstrike is conducted and that Israel permits 15-20 civilians to be killed for every junior member of Hamas and Islamic Jihad killed, while it has given authorization for the killing of more than 100 civilians to kill a commander. In November, the 2 news outlets revealed that Israel’s military uses an AI program called Gospel to mark buildings that are then attacked. (+972, AJ, HA 4/3; AJ, REU 4/4)

World Central Kitchen (WCK) founder Jose Andres tells Reuters that the Israeli attack that killed 7 WCK aid workers on 4/1 was systematic and not an accident. Andres says WCK had clear communications with the Israeli military which knew of the aid workers’ movements, saying “[e]ven if we were not in coordination with the [Israeli military], no democratic country and no military can be targeting civilians and humanitarians.” (AJ, AX, HA, REU 4/3)

The Lebanese military says it was a landmine that wounded the 4 UNIFIL troops on 3/30. (AJ, NYT 4/3)

Qatari prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani says in a news conference that the main issue in the ceasefire negotiations is Israel allowing Palestinians to return to northern Gaza. (AJ, HA 4/3)

PA prime minister Mohammad Mustafa speaks with Bahraini foreign minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Italian foreign minister Antionio Tajani, and Jordanian prime minister Bisher Khasawneh in phone calls. PA president Mahmoud Abbas speaks with Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune in a phone call. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/3)

Fatah accuses Iran of trying to spread chaos in the West Bank. (REU 4/3)

Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz calls for early elections in September. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects the call. Israeli energy minister Eli Cohen says “[i]f the United States, our greatest friend which I value tremendously, doesn’t completely back Israel, it has nothing to do in the Middle East.” (AJ, AX, HA, REU 4/3; AJ 4/4)

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller says Palestinian statehood should be determined by “direct negotiations” and not at the UN in response to a PA push to have the UN Security Council vote on full UN membership for the State of Palestine. (HA, REU 4/3; AJ, AP 4/4)

At the UN Security council, the U.S., UK, and France oppose a Russian-drafted statement condemning Israel’s attack on the Iranian consulate building in Damascus on 4/1. UN General Assembly president Dennis Francis tweets that he is outraged by the Israeli killing of World Central Kitchen aid workers on 4/1 and expresses deep concern over the risk of an escalation after the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate. (AJ, REU 4/3; AJ 4/4

Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf writes a letter to UK prime minister Rishi Sunak, calling on him to immediately end the sale of arms to Israel. 600 UK legal professionals, including 3 former Supreme Court justices, call on the UK government to suspend arms sales to Israel, saying the UK could be complicit in genocide in Gaza.  (AJ, AP 4/3; AJ, AP, HA, NYT, REU, REU 4/4)

Polish deputy foreign minister Andrzej Szejna summons the Israeli ambassador, saying he wants “to talk to the ambassador about the new situation in Polish-Israeli relations and about the moral, political, and financial responsibility for the event that recently took place in the Gaza Strip,” referring to the killing of 7 aid workers on 4/1, including a Polish national. Israeli ambassador to Poland Yacov Livne said on 4/2 in response to reports that Israel deliberately killed the aid workers that “anti-Semites will always remain anti-Semites.” In a separate statement, the Polish foreign ministry says Israel does not have “the right to abuse force and illegal settlement” and that Poland recognizes the “right of Palestinians to establish a state.” (AJ, HA, REU 4/3; AJ 4/4; AP 4/5)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalize a home and throw stones at vehicles in al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya. 1 Israeli soldier is shot and killed and 7 others are injured, including both settlers and soldiers, near the Dolev settlement. Israeli forces subsequently kill the alleged Palestinian perpetrator near Deir Ibzi using missiles fired from a helicopter. In East Jerusalem, 120,000 worshipers pray at the Haram al-Sharif compound on the second Friday of Ramadan; Palestinians from the West Bank are largely prevented from entering East Jerusalem. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Rafah, Khan Yunis, Gaza City, Dayr al-Balah, Nuseirat refugee camp, Jabalia refugee camp, and Beit Lahiya, killing at least 82 people. Israeli forces also attack and besiege al-Shifa Hospital for the fifth day in a row. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Khaim, Ayta ash Shab, Kfar Kila, Hula, and Taybeh. Hezbollah forces attack an Israeli military building in Zarit and Israeli positions in Metulla and Kfarchouba. In Yemen, U.S. and UK forces carry out airstrikes on 6 sites in Sanaa. (AJ, HA, HA, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/22; AJ, AP, REU 3/23; UNOCHA 3/25)

More than 32,072 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 13,400 children and 8,900 women, and around 74,298 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 440 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 111 children. More than 4,665 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 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 250 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,489 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 70,000 housing units have been destroyed and 290,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7/2023, constituting over 60% of all housing units. 177 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. (UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA 3/22; UNOCHA 3/25)

Israel seizes 8,000 dunams (1,976) acres of land in the Jordan Valley for settlement expansion around the Yafit settlement near Fasayil and fast-track planning and construction of settler roads west of Ramallah. The seizure brings the total amount of seized land in the West Bank in 2024 to 10,640 (2,629 acres), more than the last 10 years combined. The PA calls the decision part of an “official policy racing against time to annex the West Bank and eliminate the possibility of creating a Palestinian state.” The Arab League condemns the decision. The EU calls on Israel to reverse the decision and says it “will not recognize changes to the 1967 borders unless agreed by the parties.”  (AJ, AJ, PCN, REU, WAFA, WAFA 3/22; AJ, WAFA 3/23; AJ 3/24; PCN 3/25)

CIA director Bill Burns and Mossad director David Barnea arrive in Doha for ceasefire negotiations. (AX 3/21)

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh speaks with Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, discussing the situation in Gaza. Amir-Abdollahian also speaks with Islamic Jihad secretary-general Ziyad al-Nakhalah. (AJ 3/22)

At the UN Security Council, Russia, China, and Algeria vote against a U.S. ceasefire resolution while Guyana abstains. Hamas thanks Russia, China, and Algeria for voting against the ceasefire that “gave [Israel] cover and legitimacy for the war of extermination.” PA ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour calls the U.S. resolution “one-sided.” Chinese ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun says the resolution “sets up conditions for a ceasefire, which is no different from giving a green light to continued killings.” French ambassador to the UN Nicolas de Riviere says the U.S. resolution is “not strong enough” as it does not as it does not call for an unconditional and immediate ceasefire and does not draw a “red line” for the potential Israeli invasion of Rafah. Guyanese ambassador to the UN Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett explains her country’s abstention in the vote, saying the resolution does not say directly address Israeli responsibility. French president Emmanuel Macron says he will work with Jordan and the UAE to draft a resolution that would gain support from all council members. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AX, HA, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA 3/22; AP 3/23)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken. Blinken warns Netanyahu that Israel is losing international support and reiterated U.S. opposition to a ground invasion of Rafah. Netanyahu says after the meeting that Israel “will do it on our own” if the U.S. opposes its Rafah plans. Blinken also participates in a war cabinet meeting and meets President Isaac Herzog. (AJ, AJ, AP, AX, HA, NYT, REU, REU, REU 3/22)

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, and the UAE call on Israel to open all crossings to Gaza to allow aid to enter. (AJ 3/22)

Ireland, Spain, Malta, and Slovenia agree to work toward recognizing the State of Palestine after a meeting between the countries’ prime ministers on the sidelines of the European Council meeting. (AJ, HA, REU, WAFA 3/22)

The U.S. House of Representatives passes a funding bill 286 votes to 135 to avoid a partial government shutdown, banning funding for UNRWA until March 2025. The Senate subsequently also passes the bill. Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) votes against the bill, saying the “Netanyahu government should not receive another penny from U.S. taxpayers.” 17 Democratic senators urge the Biden administration to reject Israel assurances that it is complying with international humanitarian law in Gaza. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) calls on the U.S. government to suspend arms transfers to Israel, calling Israeli actions in Gaza “genocide.” (HA 3/21; AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, NYT 3/22; HA, HA 3/23)

Finland resumes funding of UNRWA. (AJ, HA, REU 3/22)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces fired flare grenades at agricultural lands near Burqa, causing fires. Israeli forces also issued 19 stop-work orders for homes, a landfill, an agricultural site, and 2 roads in Qarawat Bani Hassan. 6 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jenin refugee camp, Surif, Sa’ir, Bayt Rima, and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian minor was arrested at the Bab el-Khalil in the Old City after allegedly stabbing and injuring 2 Israeli settlers. Israeli forces also demolished 2 homes, 10 commercial structures, and a barn in ‘Anata. 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jabel Mukaber. (AP, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/6; MDW, PCHR 9/7; UNOCHA 9/26)

Palestinian Canadian real estate developer Khaled al-Sabawi filed a lawsuit against 6 Israeli settlers, the Israeli police, and Israeli military in the Tel Aviv District court seeking $5.2 million in damages over Israeli settler attacks on a planned residential site near Turmus ‘Ayya he has been developing. The site is located in Area B and has, according to the lawsuit, been raided 74 times between 2019 and 2022, with damage recorded 26 times and workers and clients physically assaulted on 19 occasions. (HA 9/6)

Irish foreign minister Micheál Martin met with PA president Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. Martin met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahyu on 9/5. (HA, WAFA 9/6)

Former Mossad director Tamir Pardo told AP that “[t]here is an apartheid state here [referring to the West Bank]. In a territory where two people are judged under two legal systems, that is an apartheid state.” Pardo further said “Israel needs to decide what it wants. A country that has no border has no boundaries.” (AJ, AP, GDN, MEE 9/6; MDW, MEE 9/7; WAFA 9/8)

23 U.S. based rights organizations called on U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken to override Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) and Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX)’s block on the State Department delivering $75 million in U.S. food assistance to Palestinians through UNRWA. (HA 9/6)

Israel and Russia signed an agreement for cooperation in the field of cinema. (HA 9/7)

Moroccan Senate chairperson Enaam Mayara said he had to postpone his visit to the Knesset 1 day before being scheduled to deliver a speech to the parliament, citing a medical emergency. (AP 9/6; ALM, HA 9/7)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the afternoon and in 1 village each nr. Ramallah and Salfit at night, patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin and 1 village each nr. Jericho, Ramallah and Tulkarm in the morning, in al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm and 1 village each nr. Jenin and Salfit at night. Israeli bulldozers level privately-owned Palestinian land nr. Nablus to enlarge an illegal settlement outpost. In Jerusalem, dozens of right-wing Jewish activists enter the al-Aqsa compound and held discussions on the possibility of building a Jewish temple there. (MNA 8/25, PCHR 8/29)

The Jerusalem Municipality approves a budget for a NIS 62.4 million extension of the Ramat Shlomo settlement, adding some 1,600 housing units. Other projects approved include a NIS 20 million budget for developing a national park at the settlerowned “City of David” project in the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan. Half of that latter budget will come from the prime minister’s office. Meanwhile, Israel’s Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel dedicates 2 new neighborhoods of 160 homes in the West Bank settlement Keddumim and says that a two-state solution will never happen. (AP, HA, JP 8/25)

Israel’s cabinet unanimously approves the appointment of Yossi Cohen as the new head of the National Security Council (NSC). Cohen, who spent 3 decades working for Mossad, replaces Yaakov Amidror. (YA 8/25)

Syria agrees to allow UN inspectors to visit the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack in Ghouta, a Damascus suburb. The U.S. State Dept. says that Secy. of State John Kerry told his counterparts in Britain, France, Russia, and Canada in a round of phone calls that there is “very little doubt” the Syrian govt. is responsible for gassing its own citizens. An unnamed administration official tells the media that despite this near certainty in Washington, the pres. still hasn’t decided how to respond. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alexander Lukashevich says that the U.S. and its allies should await the findings of the UN inspection team and avoid military action. (AP, REU, 8/25)

Three leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, including the organization’s Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie did not appear in court on the 1st day of their separate trials, apparently due to security reasons. The judge adjourns proceedings until 10/29. The charges are of inciting lethal violence during the events leading up to the military coup. (REU 8/25)

Israeli FM Sharon, PA cheif negotiator Mahmud Abbas meet at the Israeli FMin. in Jerusalem to discuss final status talks, progress of the PA-Israeli comms. on the economy, Gaza port, FRDs. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/19; ITV 11/20 in WNC 11/23)

Israel, the PA finalize procedures for Gaza airport. (ITV 11/19 in WNC 11/20; MM 11/24)

The PA runs text of the 5/98 Palestinian Weapons Control Law in Palestinian local newspapers. (MEI, PR 11/27)

In Amman, PC Speaker Ahmad Qurai` meets with Crown Prince Hassan to discuss final status negotiations. (Petra-JNA 11/18 in WNC 11/19, 11/20)

Israel complains that the U.S. is blocking its sale of Falcon air surveillance system, Arrow missiles to India. (ITV 11/18 in WNC 11/19)

Russia says that it is prepared to sell Syria hundreds of millions of dollars worth of military hardware; expects bilateral arms trade to be worth $5 b. over the next 5 yrs. (Interfax, ITAR-TASS 11/18 in WNC 11/19; al-Quds al-Arabi 12/2 in WNC 12/7; ITV 12/24 in WNC 12/28)

Israeli PM Netanyahu admits that 2 Israelis arrested in Cyprus 11/7 are Mossad agents but says that Israel was not spying on Cyprus or on Turkey's behalf. (ITV 11/18 in WNC 11/20)

IDF evicts settlers fr. hilltop nr. Keddumim, but takes no action against settlers who set up 6 mobile homes on hill nr. Halamish. (WT 11/19) (see 11/17)

The Israeli daily Ma'ariv reports that PM Netanyahu, Labor Chmn Barak recently held (beginning 7/12) a series of detailed secret talks at a Mossad location in central Israel on possibility of forming a unity government. (MM 8/10, 8/14)

In Tel Aviv, Israel, Russia open talks on establishing bilateral consular relations. (ITAR-TASS 8/10 in WNC 8/11; Vesti 8/13 in WNC 8/14; Interfax 8/28 in WNC 8/20) (see 8/8)

U.S. gives Jordan a $54.3-m. grant to help cover costs of Jordan's international debt, economic reform programs, employment generation. (RJ 8/10 in WNC 8/12)

In Tehran, Jordan, Iran discuss expanding technical, industrial cooperation. After mtgs., Jordanian FM Anani leaves for Bahrain. (IRNA, RMC 8/10 in WNC 8/11; JTV 8/11, VOA 8/12 in WNC 8/13) (see 8/9)

An IDF soldier, 1 Hizballah mbr. are injured during a clash in s. Lebanon. (RL 8/10 in WNC 8/11)

In London, PM Netanyahu ends unsuccessful 4-day EU tour to promote new peace initiative based on a Camp David-style summit with the PA, conditional s. Lebanon withdrawal. (MA 3/8, IDF Radio, MA, RJ 3/9 in WNC 3/10; CSM, MM, WP 3/9; MM 3/10) (see 2/23)

In Amman, Israeli Infrastructures M Sharon, Trade M Natan Sharansky meet with King Hussein to try to mend relations damaged after Mossad's attempt on Mishal, discuss economic issues. (Globes [Internet], JTV 3/8, IDF Radio 3/9 in WNC 3/10; NYT 3/9; RJ 3/9, JT 3/10 in WNC 3/11; JT 3/11 in WNC 3/12, JT 3/16 in WNC 3/17, JP 3/21) (see 2/24)

King Hussein makes brief trip to Cairo for talks on peace process with Pres. Mubarak. (JTV, MENA, RJ 3/8, RJ, VOA 3/9 in WNC 3/10)

Israel acknowledges that 18 mos. ago it began to make it harder for non-Jewish immigrants who have married Israelis to stay in the country by refusing to begin citizen proceedings or deporting them. Israel claims that cases of "convenience marriages" are on the rise, while critics claim it is a government policy of religious discrimination. (WP 3/9)

U.S. offers to lift restrictions on number of U.S. satellites it would hire Russia to launch if Moscow halts transfers of long-range missile technology to Iran. Russia denies transfers have taken place. (NYT 3/9; WT 3/10) (see 3/6)

UN Secy. Gen. Annan says that U.S. would need to consult with--but would not necessarily require authorization of--the UNSC before mounting a military strike on Iraq. (WP, WT 3/9; WT 3/12) (see 3/2)

PSF says that it recently uncovered a shop for making Uzi submachine guns in Gaza, does not know how many guns were made or sold. (QY, YA 3/8 in WNC 3/11)

Israel annouces plans to build a dam just inside the boundary of land claimed by Syria. U.S. criticizes the decision; Syria says that it proves that Israel does not want peace; Jordan says that it is "totally against the spirit" of the 1994 Jordan-Israeli peace treaty. (MM 8/22; AFP, RMC 8/24, RMC 8/25 in WNC 8/26; MM, NYT 8/26; al-Dustur, JT 8/26 in WNC 8/27; al-Dustur, al-Ra'i 8/27 in WNC 8/28; NYT 8/28; MM 10/28)

Netanyahu phones Secy. of State Albright to warn the U.S. that the peace process is in serious trouble, blames Arafat exclusively, claims PA is not abiding by understandings reached in mtgs. with U.S. special envoy Denis Ross 8/10+n13. (ITV 8/23 in WNC 8/26; WT 8/25)

PA Executive Authority (EA), PLO Exec. Comm. discuss report published in Jane's Foreign Report that Israeli military sources were considering setting up an ultrasecret special unit that would carry out "punitive actions" against Palestinian politicians. The report concludes that the group being considered might be similar to the Lakam unit of the 1970s--a unit that reported only to the PM, was unknown to the Shin Bet, Mosad. (NYT 8/24; WT 8/25)

Netanyahu's inner cabinet discusses Russian military aid to Iran. The cabinet proposes freezing economic cooperation projects with Russia if it continues to help Iran. (NYT 8/25) (see 8/21)

Hizballah detonates roadside bomb in s. Lebanon, killing 1 SLA mbr. (Voice of the South 8/22 in WNC 8/25; MEI 8/29)

Arafat calls emergency mtg. of PA Ms to discuss Israeli settlement issues; cabinet issues appeal to EU, U.S., Russia, Egypt, Norway, UN to intervene to stop settlement construction. (VOP 12/28, 12/29 in FBIS 12/29; MEI 1/6)

Arafat announces appointment of Fu'ad Hamdi Busaysu as governor of Palestinian Monetary Authority. The monetary authority will function as central bank, overseeing all banks in autonomous areas. (Al-Dustur 12/28 in FBIS 12/28) (see 12/20)

Palestinians present draft of local government law covering council elections to Arafat, PA, bar association. Law would divide territories into regions; each area with 1,000+ people would be a municipality; each municipality would have a council, headed by a mayor to coordinate btwn. town, central government. Municipal elections would be held every 4 yrs. following general elections. Until then, PA is negotiating with opposition to form 16 temporary municipal councils. (QY 12/28 in FBIS 12/28)

Jordanian-Israeli joint comms. on water, health, energy, telecommunications, economics meet. (RJ 12/27 in FBIS 12/28)

PM Rabin orders temporary halt to Efrat construction. (QY 12/28 in FBIS 12/28) (see 12/27)

Los Angeles Times reports Israel has given China information on U.S. military technology to help in joint Israeli-Chinese development of a fighter jet. (JP, QY 12/29 in FBIS 12/29)

Lebanese army says it has detailed information proving Israel is responsible for Beirut bombing 12/21; names Ahmad Hallaq--Lebanese recruited by Mossad, trained in explosives in Israel--as bomber; says 4 accomplices, incl. Hallaq's wife, have been arrested, confessed. (AFP 12/27 in FBIS 12/28; VOL 11/28 in FBIS 11/29; WP 12/29; RL 12/30 in FBIS 1/3; WT 1/11)

Israel says it is returning to Egypt 800 cartons of artifacts taken by the Israel Antiquity Authority during the 15-yr. occupation of the Sinai. These are the last of the artifacts Israeli promised to return under the 1979 peace accord. (NYT 12/29; MENA 12/30 in FBIS 1/6)

Al-Ahram poll of Egyptians shows that, after 15 yrs. of peace with Israel, 71% would not buy Israeli goods; 75% would disapprove of Israeli factories in Egypt; 63% would not visit Israel; 53% would not like Israelis to visit Egypt. (JP 1/7)

1 killed, 1 wounded in clashes btwn. Fateh, PFLP in `Ayn Hilwa camp in southern Lebanon. (RL 12/28 in FBIS 12/28; VOL 12/28 in FBIS 11/29)