Appearing before Senate Armed Services Committee, 2 former chrmn. of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. William Crowe and Gen. David Jones, urge Bush admin. to postpone military action against Iraq...
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Ariel Sharon, minister of industry, states that Israel must "eliminate the heads of the terrorist organizations, first of all Arafat" [...
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Hanna Siniora, editor of al-Fajr, is charged with violating censorship laws related to a 1985 television interview and the 1986...
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Birzeit University administration and employees reach agreement, end strike (FJ 9/12). Poll in West Bank and Gaza conducted by ...
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Jerusalem Post reports nearly 2 dozen Nablus Palestinians have been detained, questioned for 2 weeks without charges on...
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Appearing before Senate Armed Services Committee, 2 former chrmn. of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. William Crowe and Gen. David Jones, urge Bush admin. to postpone military action against Iraq and to give sanctions a year or more to work [NYT, LAT, WT, WP 11/29; CSM 11/30].
Britain and Syria restore diplomatic relations, severed 4 years ago when Britain accused Syria of sponsoring terrorism. Communique from Damascus confirms resumption of ties, renounces terrorism, but adds "Syria does not consider resistance against Israeli occupation as terrorism" [MEM 11/28; NYT, WP 11/29].
UN Sec, Council passes res. 677 condemning Iraq's attempts to change Kuwait's demographic composition [MEM 11/29].
Israeli Cabinet votes to raise personal income taxes by 5% and to raise national sales tax from 16% to 18% in order to help pay for resettlement of Soviet Jewish immigrants. Measures take effect in 1991 pending Knesset approval (cf. 12/2) [MEM 11/28; NYT 11/29; MET 12/11].
Hard-line statement by King Fahd serves warning to Iraq that "no other solution will be accepted" than unconditional withdrawal from Kuwait [NYT 11/29].
Iraqi gov't. statement lashes out at U.S. for sponsoring UN resolution authorizing use of force, says it would ignore any deadline set by UN; in separate statement Saddam Hussein accuses UN of double standard in dealing with Middle East issues, particularly dealings with Israel [NYT, LAT 11/29].
Two IDF reservists who refuse to serve in o.t. are sentenced to 2 and 4 weeks in prison; since beginning of intifada 128 reservists have refused to serve in o.t. (cf. 12/1) [JDS 11/28 in FBIS 11/29].
Al-Fajr poll of 550 Nablus residents finds 34% believe war is inevitable and that 54% believe Iraq would triumph over coalition forces in the war [FJ 11/28].
Soviet F.M. Shevardnadze arrives in New York for UN Sec. Council meeting [TASS 11/28 in FBIS 11/29].
Social/Economic/Political
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Ariel Sharon, minister of industry, states that Israel must "eliminate the heads of the terrorist organizations, first of all Arafat" [WP 7/18]. Palestinians observe general strike throughout O.T. [FJ 7/24]. F. M. Arens states that it is impossible to hold free elections in O.T., while U.S. is holding talks with PLO [WP 7/18].
Military Action
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Soldiers demolish 2 Palestinian homes in Gaza City. At least 35 Palestinians are reported injured in O.T. [FJ 7/24]. Al-Fajr cites army sources as saying it costs Israel $500,000 per day to fight intifadah [FJ 7/17].
Arab World: SLA shells Palestinian positions near Sidon [FJ 7/24]. Israeli tanks fire on Sunni villages near Tyre, killing 1, wounding 10 [MET 7/25].
Social/Economic/Political
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Hanna Siniora, editor of al-Fajr, is charged with violating censorship laws related to a 1985 television interview and the 1986 al-Fajr diary [FJ 11/21].
Other Countries: W. German government states it will not break diplomatic relations with Syria despite evidence that Syria was involved in terrorist activity in Germany [WP 11/20]. U.S. Congress begins inquiries into the arms sales to Iran [BS 11/20]. U.S. Pres. Reagan says U.S. never condoned Israeli arms shipments to Iran but later states a third country was involved in the "secret project" [WP, NYT 11/20]. The Washington Post reports Israeli arms dealer Ya'acov Nimrodi arranged the U.S.-Iran arms sale [WP 11/19]. Turkey allows Syrian intelligence agent implicated in assassination of a Jordanian diplomat in Ankara to leave the country quietly [IN 11/22].
Military Action
Arab World: Rival PLO factions unite to defend the Burj al-Barajinah refugee camp against Shi'i forces. Eight are killed, 38 wounded in the fighting near Beirut. The Lebanese pound hits a record low against foreign currencies [WT, NYT 11/20].
Social/Economic/Political
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli authorities drop distribution of Arabic daily al-Fajr for seven days for censorship violations (JP, FBIS 10/2). Jerusalem Post reports occupation authorities in West Bank are blocking distribution of new Arabic evening paper for territories, al-Masa', wanting paper to take a pro-Jordanian editorial line. Publisher Mahmud Abu Zuluf says paper is independent (JP 10/1).
Other Countries: U.S. Sec. of State Shultz meets Syrian F.M. Faruq al-Shar' in New York to discuss Syrian help in releasing U.S. hostages in Lebanon; al-Shar' in UN speech reiterates Syrian denials of involvement in terrorism and declares readiness to assist international efforts against terrorism (WP 10/2).
Military Action
Arab World: Shi'i militiamen ad Palestinians continue fighting around Rashidiyyah camp near Tyre (CSM 10/2).
Social/Economic/Political
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Birzeit University administration and employees reach agreement, end strike (FJ 9/12). Poll in West Bank and Gaza conducted by Newsday (US), al-Fajr, and Australian Broadcasting Corp. shows 93 percent of Palestinians favor PLO, while 78 percent favor "acts of force" in pursuit of Palestinian cause (NYT 9/9; WP 9/9). Israeli military censor threatens action against al-Fajr for not submitting poll results for censorship (FJ 9/12).
Other Countries: Turkey upgrades rank of its envoy to Israel. New representative is now ambassador in Turkish Foreign Ministry. In Paris, bomb explodes in post office at city hall, kills one, and injures 19; "Committee of Solidarity with Arab and Middle Eastern Political Prisoners" claims responsibility. Group wants suspected terrorists released from French jails, including Georges Ibrahim 'Abdallah, under investigation for assassination of U.S. military attache in 1982 (WP 9/9).
Social/Economic/Political
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Jerusalem Post reports nearly 2 dozen Nablus Palestinians have been detained, questioned for 2 weeks without charges on suspicion of involvement in land fraud scandal [JP 1/10]. Al-Fajr reports Israel's Land Administration and Green Patrol uprooted 6,000 olive and almond trees near Qattaneh village in past week; villagers are appealing to High Court for compensation [FJ 1/10].
Other Countries: British P.M. Thatcher states retaliatory or preemptive strikes to punish or prevent terrorism are "against international law" and a policy which could lead to "much greater chaos" [WP, LAT 1/11]. Jewish Week reports Jerry Falwell's new group, the Liberty Federation, advocates strong support for Israel, moving U.S. embassy to Jerusalem [JW 1/10]. W. German Interior Minister Karl Blecha states 2 forged passports used in Rome and Vienna airport attacks were taken from Tunisian workers in Libya last year [MG 1/11].
