A Gazan farmer is injured when he accidentally detonates a piece of unexploded Israeli ordnance nr. Dayr al-Balah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian youth allegedly planning...
In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Jericho, neighboring ‘Ayn al-Sultan r.c., and 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning; 2 villages nr. Jericho and Ramallah in the afternoon; and 2 villages nr....
After meeting in Washington with European leaders, Pres. Bush says U.S. and EC are in "total agreement' about the establishment of refugee shelters for Kurds in northern Iraq; Bush shies away from...
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A Gazan farmer is injured when he accidentally detonates a piece of unexploded Israeli ordnance nr. Dayr al-Balah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian youth allegedly planning to carry out a stabbing attack in Shu‘fat. They also arrest 6 Palestinians during raids in Silwan, Jabal Mukabir, al-Tur, and Issawiyya. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols nr. Ramallah, Hebron, Tulkarm, and Salfit. (MNA, WAFA 5/19; PCHR 5/27)
A day after offering him the defense portfolio, Israeli PM Netanyahu agrees to Yisrael Beytenu chair Lieberman’s main demand for bringing his party into the ruling coalition: support for new legislation lowering the bar for death penalty sentences for Palestinians found guilty of serious crimes in military courts, meaning it would only affect Palestinians living in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt). (HA, JP, TOI 5/19)
U.S. secy. of state Kerry confirms that he plans to attend the upcoming Paris peace summit, which the French have now rescheduled for 6/3 to accommodate his schedule. Russian FM Sergey Lavrov is also set to attend. (HA, JP 5/19)
In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Jericho, neighboring ‘Ayn al-Sultan r.c., and 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning; 2 villages nr. Jericho and Ramallah in the afternoon; and 2 villages nr. Jenin and 1 nr. Ramallah late at night. The IDF also conducts arrest raids, house searches, and interrogations in and around Qalqilya, and nr. Hebron, Jenin (arresting senior Islamic Jihad mbr. Usama Shalabi), and Tulkarm. Israeli municipal authorities in Jerusalem post notices signaling the planned implementation of a 9/2011 decision to confiscate 13 d. East Jerusalem property in Wadi al-Juz located between Hebrew University and the Palestine Archaeological Museum; the decision would displace 170 Palestinian stores employing some 700 workers. (OCHA, PCHR 1/5)
A bill proposed by MK Danny Danon passes in the Knesset requiring that any Palestinian prisoner granted early release by the president who commits another crime (misdemeanor or felony) be rearrested and made to serve the remainder of his or her original sentence. (JPI 1/13)
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)
After meeting in Washington with European leaders, Pres. Bush says U.S. and EC are in "total agreement' about the establishment of refugee shelters for Kurds in northern Iraq; Bush shies away from "enclaves" that could later be used as claim to statehood by Kurds [NYT, WP, LAT, MEM 4/12].
In Damascus, Sec. Baker reportedly tries to persuade Pres. Asad to agree in principle to U.S. proposal for regional peace conference between Israel and Arab nations; officialsay talks were "inconclusive" [NYT 4/12; MET 4/23].
P.M. Shamir and several members of his cabinet unite behind firm rejection of Sec. Baker's suggestions that Israel curtail expansion of Jewish settlements in o.t. as goodwill gesture for peace [WP, CSM 4/12; JDS, JTN 4/11 in FBIS 4/12].
Sec. Baker meets in Cairo with Saudi and Egyptian officials, reportedly discussing how Palestinians would be represented at peace conference [WP, CSM 4/12].
American officials admit that U.S., Saudi Arabia, and some other Arab countries are looking to groom new Palestinian leadership to replace PLO [LAT 4/1.2; APS 4/18 in FBIS 4/18].
Iraq extends amnesty for Kurds for additional week, as 4/5 offer of amnesty is due to expire. Kurds not suspected of felonies may return home without retribution (cf. 4/18) [INA 4/11 in FBIS 4/12].
