At a time when Likud's PM Benjamin Netanyahu is presenting himself as a "mainstream" candidate for PM, Likud's Ariel Sharon writes a strongly-worded article for JP outlining Likud's hard-line...
4000 soldiers of Lebanese Army take control of East Beirut without incident as Phalange removes its heavy weapons to hills; Haddad, accompanied by Israeli officers, places...
Read more
At a time when Likud's PM Benjamin Netanyahu is presenting himself as a "mainstream" candidate for PM, Likud's Ariel Sharon writes a strongly-worded article for JP outlining Likud's hard-line views. He says Israel should not accept Oslo; IDF should be allowed to operate anywhere in the West Bank, Gaza; negotiations with Syria should be postponed until Pres. Hafiz al-Asad is out of power; Golan should never be returned. (NYT 5/25)
In an interview published simultaneously in Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, PM Peres calls on Gulf states to join forces with Israel against Iran. (MM 5/17)
IDF shoots, wounds most-wanted Hamas mbr., Hassan Salameh, as he flees fr. a vehicle inspection point nr. Hebron; later captures him at the Hebron hospital; also arrests passenger in Salameh's car, Raziq Rajub, a relative of PA Preventive Security Forces (PSF) head Jibril Rajub. Salameh is suspected of ordering, planning 3 of the 4 2+n3/96 suicide bombings. (QY, VOP 5/18 in FBIS 5/20; NYT, WT 5/19; PR 5/24; JP 5/25)
Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades issue leaflet, calling for national unity dialogue with the PA. (JMCC 5/17 in FBIS 5/20)
3,000 Palestinians attend National Islamic Salvation Party (NISP) rally in Gaza in support of Hamas political leader Musa Abu Marzuq, currently detained in the U.S. Speaking at the rally, Hamas leader Mahmud Zahhar calls on Qassam Brigades not to take any violent actions before the Israeli elections 5/29, calls on leaders abroad to be sensitive to conditions in the territories. (VOP 5/17, AFP, QY, RMC, VOP 5/18 in FBIS 5/20) (see 11/18/95, 3/7)
Arab Parliamentary Union Council closes its 27th session in Qana, Lebanon; issues statement condemning Israel's attack on Lebanon, refusal to sign Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, occupation of s. Lebanon. (RL 5/17 in FBIS 5/20)
Israeli cabinet votes to approve "Gaza-Jericho lst" agreement with PLO. Int. Min. Arye Deri, Econ. Min. Shimon Shitreet abstain. 4,000 right-wing protesters demonstrate against accord outside PM's office. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/31; Qol Yisra'el 8/30 in FBIS 8/31)
Dahaf poll shows 53% of Israeli Jews support accord with PLO. (Yediot Aharanot 8/30 in FBIS 8/31)
Norwegian FM Johan Jorgen Holst says Norway hosted 14 rounds of talks btwn. Israel and PLO leading to agreement. (MM 8/31; NYT 9/1)
MK Hanan Porat of National Religious Party, supported by Likud MKs, occupies synagogue in Jericho, declares he is opening settlement. (MM 8/31)
PLO Chmn. Arafat denies Jordan and Syria displeased with PLO-Israel accord; flies to Yemen, then Egypt to rally Arab support for PLO-Israel agreement. (Yemeni Republic Radio, MENA 8/30 in FBIS 8/31; MM, WP 8/31)
PFLP-GC chief Ahmad Jibril threatens in statemento kill Arafat, says Arafat will "pay the price" for Gaza-Jericho accord, warns agreement would "trigger a civil war in Palestine" and "liquidate the intifada." Spokesman for Jibril later argues statement not a threat but a prediction. (AFP 8/30 in FBIS 8/30, 8/31; MM, NYT 8/31)
Palestinian negotiator Haydar 'Abd alShafi denies knowledge of Israeli-PLO contacts (Jerusalem al-Nahar 7/14 in FBIS 7/15)
Test flight of Israeli-made Arrow missile fails, jeopardizing U.S. support for ABM weapon. (WT 7/16; IDF Radio 7/14 in FBIS 7/15)
Guerrillas attack SLA position near al- 'Ayshiyah in southern Lebanon with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. IDF and SLA return fire. IDF troop and artillery movements reported near Hula and al-Majidiyah, including reinforcement of 10 armored cars and 100 troops, with mechanized company at Hula. Hizballah claims katyusha attack on SLA positions at 'Ali al-Tahir, Sujud. IDF shells Kafr Tibnit and other villages in lqlim al-Tuffah. (Qol Yisra'el, Voice of the Mountain 7/15 in FBIS 7/15)
Lebanese govt. orders PFLP-GC head Ahmadjibril to leave Lebanon. Jibril's presence had become an embarrassment after 7/8 ambush of IDF in southern Lebanon and Jibril press conference afterward. (MM 7/15)
Israeli police stop attempt to establish new settlement in Golan Heights. (Qol Yisra'el 7/14 in FBIS 7/15; JP 7/15 in MM 7/15)
Opposition Knesset factions (Likud, NRP, Tsomet, and Molodet) enter no-confidence motions, citing civil-service strike, kosher laws, and alleged Israeli-PLO dialogue. (Qol Yisra'el 7/14 in FBIS 7/15)
CSM reports that 10 U.S. state govts. hold Israeli bonds, 8% of $650m annual U.S. market. Poll commissioned by Arab American Institute shows 71.9% oppose buying Israeli bonds with tax money. (CSM 7/14)
Military Action:
4000 soldiers of Lebanese Army take control of East Beirut without incident as Phalange removes its heavy weapons to hills; Haddad, accompanied by Israeli officers, places garrison in Nabatiyeh and parades tanks and armored vehicles.
Casualties:
IDF kills 3 men attacking roadblock 5km east of Beirut; about 100 prisoners reportedly released from Ansar.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Habib meets Foreign Minister Shamir to report on talks with Lebanese; public opinion poll shows Likud bloc winning ten more seats than it presently holds if elections held now; members of National Committee for the Protection of Arab Land and Arab local authority heads meet in Sakhnin to discuss Israeli Interior Ministry plan to assign 100,000 dunums of Palestinian land to new regional council of Misgav; grenade and automatic rifle ambush of Israeli vehicles near West Bank village of al-Khader; Army permits convoy of 100 Jewish settlers to drive through Dahariya refugee camp to warn that Jewish blood would not go unavenged after death of IDF welfare officer hit by rock near Dahariya; curfew kept on old Nablus market; Dheisheh refugee camp placed under curfew; 100 foreign faculty members at West Bank universities considering compromise wording on work permit applications regarding support for PLO.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: At PNC meeting, Arafat reportedly clashes with PFLP-GC's Jibril, who does not attend plenary session; PNC votes to expand size of body from 360 to 400.
Arab Governments: Mubarak urges Palestinians meeting in Algiers to unify their position with King Hussein to search for settlement based on Reagan plan.
US and Other Countries: State Dept. says it will hold Israel responsible for safety of Palestinians and other inhabitants of South Lebanon; Shultz tells Senate Foreign Relations Committee that large scale aid to Lebanon from Saudi Arabia and other Arab states is dependent on US efforts to get withdrawal of foreign forces; US expenditure for humanitarian purposes in Lebanon since Israeli invasion totals $112 million, with $150 million in supplemental aid requested for current fiscal year; London Times Middle East correspondent Robert Fisk receives award as "Foreign Correspondent of the Year" for coverage of Israeli invasion of Lebanon; Israeli Embassy in London refuses to accept petition signed by 3,000 British academics protesting deportations of foreign lecturers from West Bank universities.
