In the West Bank, al-Ibrahimi Mosque was closed to Muslim worshipers due to Israeli restrictions during the Jewish Sukkot holidays. Israeli settlers with military escort toured Solomon’s Pool...
In Oslo, Norway opens ceremonies honoring slain Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin, attended by PA's Arafat, Israeli PM Barak, U.S. Pres. Clinton, Russian PM Vladimir Putin. On the sidelines, Clinton meets...
As right-wing Jews stunned by Netanyahu-Arafat mtg. protest outside the PM's office, Netanyahu faces hecklers in the Knesset who also oppose the mtg.; tells MKs meeting Arafat "wasn't easy" but he...
In interview with Washington Post, Iraqi Deputy P.M. Tariq Aziz concedes that Saddam's regime has made "mistakes" because it has been in power so long, but adds that Baghdad is committed...
Forces loyal to Saddam Hussein have effectively crushed 3-week-old armed rebellion in southern Iraq; refugees reaching American lines say reprisals and executions are occurring now that Saddam's...
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In the West Bank, al-Ibrahimi Mosque was closed to Muslim worshipers due to Israeli restrictions during the Jewish Sukkot holidays. Israeli settlers with military escort toured Solomon’s Pool south of Bethlehem, closing the area for Palestinians. Elsewhere, near Nablus, Israeli settlers and military escort toured Joseph’s Tomb, leading to confrontations with Palestinians; 51 Palestinians were injured including 3 by live ammunition, 14 by rubber-coated bullets and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 1 Palestinian was shot after allegedly ramming his car into an undercover Israeli officer’s car in al-Am‘ari refugee camp. Israeli forces violently dispersed a protest in Turmus ‘Ayya, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. Israeli forces shot and injured 2 Palestinians trying to enter Israel for work near Jenin. 9 Palestinians were arrested, including 8 during raids in al-Am‘ari refugee camp, Jaba, ‘Azun, Anabta, and Bayt Awa; the Palestinian accused of ramming his car into the undercover Israeli officer’s car was also arrested. In East Jerusalem, hundreds of Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians and Palestinian-owned property in Issawiyya; Israeli forces arrested 7 of the perpetrators. Some 400 Israeli settlers also toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire and used water hoses on Palestinian fishermen 3 nautical miles northwest of Gaza City, causing damage but no injuries were reported. (WAFA 10/15; HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/17; PCHR 10/24)
The PA blocked access to some 50 websites to crack down on opposition voices and critique of PA president Mahmoud Abbas. (HA 10/22; MDW 10/23)
In Lebanon, thousands of protesters demonstrated against the Lebanese government’s plans to raise a new tax for WhatsApp calls and for the country’s economic crisis. (AJ, AJ 10/18)
The U.S. and Turkey agreed to a 5-day ceasefire in northern Syria to allow Kurdish fighters to leave the area. (HA 10/17)
In Oslo, Norway opens ceremonies honoring slain Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin, attended by PA's Arafat, Israeli PM Barak, U.S. Pres. Clinton, Russian PM Vladimir Putin. On the sidelines, Clinton meets separately with Arafat and Barak, with no aides present; urges them to move swiftly toward a final status agmt. Toward midnight, Arafat, Barak hold private mtg. (MM 11/1; AFP, ITAR-TASS, SA, XIN 11/1 in WNC 11/2; MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/2; AYM, al-Quds 11/2 in WNC 11/4; WJW 11/4)
In Oslo, Israeli negotiator Eran, PA negotiator `Abid Rabbuh, UN special envoy Larsen discuss final status talks, agree that 1st negotiating session to draft framework agmt. will be held on 11/8, not 11/7 as planned on 10/29. (MM 11/1)
2 of 4 Jewish settler families are evacuated fr. Mitzpe Hagit, 1 of 10 settlements ordered removed by Barak. (WP 11/3)
In a compromise agmt. btwn. Israel's Chief Rabinate (an umbrella group of municipal rabbis) and Israel's tourism industry, Christians celebrating millennial holidays in Israel will have to confine their festivities to closed-off hotel halls to preserve the Jewish character of public places, particularly in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv. The ban includes displaying Christmas trees, which the Chief Rabinate claims "defile Judaism and undermine Israel's Jewish character." (WT 11/3)
At the close of 4 days of mtgs. in New York, 300 INC delegates elect a 65-mbr. central council, 7-mbr. leadership team (including "independents," Kurds, an Islamist, and a monarchist). (MM 11/1; MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/2)
In s. Lebanon, 4 civilians are injured, 2 by IDF shelling, 2 by an IDF land mine. (RL 11/1 in WNC 11/2, 11/3)
As right-wing Jews stunned by Netanyahu-Arafat mtg. protest outside the PM's office, Netanyahu faces hecklers in the Knesset who also oppose the mtg.; tells MKs meeting Arafat "wasn't easy" but he will fire fr. his cabinet any M who can't accept it; also announces he has directed the Finance Ministry to permit the sale, occupation of 3,000 housing units in West Bank settlements kept vacant by the Labor government since 1992. (MM 9/5; ITV 9/5 in WNC 9/9, WNC 9/10; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/6; JT 9/8 in WNC 9/10; YA 9/8 in WNC 9/12; WJW 9/12; JP 9/14)
Jordanian government announces it will try 145 persons in connections with 8/96 bread riots. (NYT 9/6)
Turkey sends planes to bomb the Turkish separatist Kurdish Worker Party (PKK) in n. Iraq; announces plans to create a 10-km. wide "security zone" in the Kurdish enclave, similar to Israel's self-declared security zone in s. Lebanon. In Irbil, KDP forces attack PUK outposts to secure their hold in the city. In s. Iraq, U.S. begins to patrol expanded no-fly zone. France, which helps patrol the original no-fly zone, refuses to send planes above the 32d parallel (see 9/3). (MM 9/5; TDN 9/5 in WNC 9/6; al-Ra'i 9/5 in WNC 9/9; NYT, WP, WT 9/6; al-Dustur, VIRI 9/7 in WNC 9/10) (see 8/17, 9/4)
In interview with Washington Post, Iraqi Deputy P.M. Tariq Aziz concedes that Saddam's regime has made "mistakes" because it has been in power so long, but adds that Baghdad is committed to move towards democracy [WP 5/8].
UN special envoy reports that Iraqi Kurds are returning home from border camps faster than expected - more than 4,000 a day - indicating that allied effort to establish security zone is working [WP 5/8].
Iraqi gov't. officials and Kurdish opposition begin new round of talks to hammer out details of agreement that would give Kurds autonomy [NYT 5/8; INA 5/7 in FBIS 5/8].
Housing Min. Ariel Sharon presents plan to MKs for additional Jewish housing in Jerusalem, Sharon wishes to establish contiguous territorial and demographic strip between Jerusalem and nearby settlements, according to Israeli media [JNT 5/7, YA 5/8 in FBIS 5/8]
Sec. Baker arrives in Kuwait City and presses Kuwaiti gov't. for greater democracy and more respect for human rights [WP, LAT, MEM 4/23; MET 4/30].
GCC committee for finance and economic cooperation opens meetings in Riyadh; ministers set up multi-billion dollar development fund [MEM 4/22, 4/23; SPA 4/22 in FBIS 4/23].
In Baghdad, autonomy talks between Kurdish leaders and Iraqi gov't. enter 3d day [NYT 4/23]; exiled Iraqi Shiite leaders denounce Baghdad talks [LAT 4/23].
Kurdish leaders again call for more international aid, ask that refugee camps be enlarged [WP 4/23].
IDF lifts ban on journalists freely entering o.t. that was imposed 1/17 at stalt of Gulf war, according to Israeli Defense Ministry [MEM 4/22].
Report by opposition members of Knesset, including Dedi Zucker, says Shamir gov't. is enticing Jews to o.t. with large, low-cost mortgages; settlers receive 50% more aid than other Israelis, report states [MEM 4/23].
Kuwait gov't. announces that registration of all non-Kuwaiti residents has begun. Expatriates are told they risk 6 months in prison if they do not bring papers to Interior Ministry for vetting [MEM 4/23].
Iraqi troops launch attack to force Kurdish rebels out of northern oil city of Kirkuk [LAT, WT 3/29; MET 4/9].
Rebels says food shortages are hurting their cause; appeal for international help [NYT, WP 3/29; AFP 3/28 in FBIS 3/29].
UN environmentalist compares Kuwait's burning oil wells with Chernobyl disaster, saying scientific world is still unable to measure the extent of the disaster in Kuwait [LAT, WP 3/29].
Israel bars o.t. Palestinians from entering Jewish state and E. Jerusalem from midnight 3/28 until midnight 3/30 to prevent violence during Passover and Land Day; IDF shoots dead 12-year-old Gaza youth during clash with stone throwers [LAT, WP 3/29; JDS 3/28 in FBIS 3/28; JDS 3/28, 3/29 in FBIS 3/29; MET 4/9]; 22-year-old Palestinian is also shot dead, and elderly Jew is stabbed and wounded in Jerusalem's Old City [NYT 3/29; JDS 3/28 in FBIS 3/28].
Forces loyal to Saddam Hussein have effectively crushed 3-week-old armed rebellion in southern Iraq; refugees reaching American lines say reprisals and executions are occurring now that Saddam's forces are back in control. Refugees also flee toward Turkish and Iranian borders. Anti-gov't. Kurdish rebels say they still control much of northern Iraq [LAT 3/25].
American officials say the number of Iraqi tanks and armored vehicles that survived Gulf war is much greater than originally thought, and many of the weapons have been used by Iraqi troops against insurgents [NYT 3/25].
Gen. Schwarzkopf says U.S. is near agreement on establishing permanent military headquarters in Bahrain [NYT, LAT 3/25].
Acting on request from U.S. officials, Israeli police arrest American-born Jewish couple, Robert and Rochelle Manning, for 1985 bombing that killed Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee director Alex Odeh. The Mannings, who emigrated to Israel in 1973, have ties with Kach party [LAT 3/25; NYT 3/26; MET 4/2].
Israel retaliates for wave of Arab knife attacks by issuing deportation notices to 4 Palestinians allegedly tied to Fateh; 4 Palestinians are wounded in clashes touched off in response to deportation orders (cf. 3/25, 3/27) [NYT, LAT, WP, WT, CSM 3/25; AVP, JDS 3/24, HAA 3/25 in FBIS 3/25; FJ 4/1; MET 4/2].
16-year-old Palestinian dies of head wound suffered on 3/22 when IDF opened fire on stone throwers in Gaza Strip [LAT 3/25].
Israeli soldiers kill 3 Arab guerrillas inside S. Lebanon "heading towards Israel" [NYT 3/25; JDS 3/24 in FBIS 3/25].