In Tel Aviv, U.S. special envoy Ross says that the U.S. plans to play a much less active role in final status negotiations, thinks "permanent status is not something that should be mediated." (...
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January 12, 1999
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May 9, 1997
U.S. special envoy Ross holds separate mtgs. with Israeli DM Mordechai, PA's Arafat; makes no progress. (AFP 5/9 in WNC 5/12; MEI 5/16)
PSF, Shin Bet, CIA representatives meet in Tel Aviv...
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March 21, 1997
In Tel Aviv, a suicide bomber detonates explosive device killing himself, 3 Israelis, wounding 47. An anonymous caller claims responsibility on behalf of Hamas's Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades,...
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May 16, 1996
In Bethlehem, 2-day Palestinian Council (PC) mtg. closes. (PBC, VOP 5/16 in FBIS 5/17; PR 5/24)
Israeli television reports that the PA's Yasir Arafat suffered a minor stroke earlier in the...
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August 18, 1995
U.S. Asst. Secy. of State Robert Pelletreau, National Security Council (NSC) adviser Mark Parris make 1-day trip to Jordan for consultations with Jordanian officials on recent Iraqi defections;...
In Tel Aviv, U.S. special envoy Ross says that the U.S. plans to play a much less active role in final status negotiations, thinks "permanent status is not something that should be mediated." (USIS Washington File 1/12; NYT, WP 1/13; PR 1/15)
After 4 yrs., Lebanon lifts travel restrictions on Palestinians, dropping requirement for Palestinians to obtain visas to return to Lebanon. (RL 1/12 in WNC 1/13; NYT 1/13; RL 1/16 in WNC 1/20)
Netanyahu's office warns the PA that Israel would bar Arafat, PA officials fr. leaving he autonomous enclaves should the PA unilaterally declare statehood. (MEI 1/15)
PM Netanyahu meets with U.S. millionaire Irving Moskovitz, who is in town to decided which right-wing candidate for PM he will support financially in the 5/17 elections. Netanyahu gives assurances that he will not halt Moskovitz's construction of 132 units in the Palestinian neighborhood of Ras al-Amud in East Jerusalem. Congressman Michael Forbes (R-NY) is accompanying Moskovitz. (MM, WP 1/14; MM 1/21; JP 1/22; PR 1/29)
In what police, FBI term a sophisticated operation, burglars break into offices of prominent Washington polling firm, Greenberg Quinlan Research, that is advising Israeli PM-candidate Barak. Firm says that its international work was targeted, but it is uncertain whether files on Barak were among those stolen. (MM, WP 1/13; YA 1/13 in WNC 1/14; WJW 1/14; MM 1/20)
Israeli Religious Affairs M Eli Suissa cuts the size of local religious councils to keep them all Orthodox. A recent High Court ruling ordered the powerful councils (which run marriage bureaus and burial societies, maintain synagogues and ritual baths, supervise kosher inspections for both religious and secular Jews) be expanded to include Reform, Conservative Jews. (WT 1/13)
IDF lifts closure on Hebron imposed 1/4. (MM 1/14, MEI 1/15)
Unidentified assailant stabs, wounds Palestinian in West Jerusalem. (MM 1/12; PR 1/15, JP 1/22)
IDF uproots Palestinian orchard nr. Jewish settlement in the West Bank. (AFP [Internet] 1/12)
In Cairo, FMs of Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen hold 2d mtg. to prepare agenda for 1/24 Arab League mtg. on Iraq. Jordan does not condemn mtg. but is upset at not being included, blames Syria, warns that "forming axes" only deepens Arab divisions. (MM 1/12; MENA, RE 1/12 in WNC 1/13; MM 1/13; al-Dustur, MENA 1/13 in WNC 1/14; MM 1/14; JT, MENA, RE 1/14 in WNC 1/16; MM 1/15) (see 1/3)
The U.S. secretly sends letters to Arab states urging them to support its position on Iraq at the 1/24 Arab League mtg. (MM 1/22)
U.S. planes fire on Iraqi missile battery in n. no-fly zone. Defense Dept. says that Iraq has sent planes into the no-fly zones 66 times in the past 2 wks., targeted U.S. and British planes 12 times, increased its number of missile sites fr. 9 to 17. (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 1/13)
U.S. special envoy Ross holds separate mtgs. with Israeli DM Mordechai, PA's Arafat; makes no progress. (AFP 5/9 in WNC 5/12; MEI 5/16)
PSF, Shin Bet, CIA representatives meet in Tel Aviv to discuss resuming Israeli-PA security cooperation. Shin Bet head Ami Aylon refuses to attend the mtg. in anger over PA claims that the Shin Bet was behind 2 suicide bombings 4/1 (see 5/4). (AFP, IDF Radio 5/9 in WNC 5/12; MM 5/13; NYT 5/17)
In Ramallah, Farid Bashiti, an East Jerusalem Palestinian accused of selling Arab homes and land to Jews, is found dead. Israeli police open an investigation. At Friday prayers at al-Aqsa, the PA-appointed mufti of Jerusalem, Ekrima Sabri, says Bashiti must not be prayed over or buried in a Muslim cemetery. (NYT, WP, WT 5/10; WT 5/11; IDF Radio 5/11 in WNC 5/13; WJW 5/15; MEI, PR 5/16; WJW 5/22) (see 5/5)
IDF destroys the foundations of a new UNRWA school in Abu-Dis, says the building permit was granted by mistake. The construction project is funded by donor countries. (PR 5/16)
In Amman, PM Majali, Iraqi dep. PM Aziz discuss bolstering bilateral relations, forming a united Arab stand on the peace process. (al-Dustur 5/10 in WNC 5/13)
In Beirut, a Lebanese court sentences Samir Ja`Ja` to life with hard labor for the attempted murder of Michel al-Murr in 3/91. 3 accomplices are each given 20 yrs. with hard labor. 2 others are acquitted. (RL 5/9 in WNC 5/13)
In Tel Aviv, a suicide bomber detonates explosive device killing himself, 3 Israelis, wounding 47. An anonymous caller claims responsibility on behalf of Hamas's Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades, though some Hamas leaders deny the claim. Netanyahu blames Arafat, criticizes the U.S. for ignoring his warnings, seals the West Bank and Gaza, hints he may suspend negotiations with the PA, denounces as "obnoxious and immoral" a reporter's question linking bombing and Har Homa. Arafat condemns the attack. (MM 3/21; IDF Radio, ITV, RJ, RE, SATN, VIRI 3/21 in WNC 3/24; AFP 3/21 in WNC 3/31; NYT, WP, WT 3/22; al-Ra'i, VOA 3/22, YA 3/23 in WNC 3/25; CSM 3/24; NYT 3/26; PR 3/28; JP 3/29)
IDF identifies the suicide bomber as Musa Ghanimat, a 28-yr.-old man fr. Surif village nr. Hebron (in area B); seals the village; places curfew on Hebron; arrests 13 people, including Ghanimat's 68-yr.-old father, other relatives; prepares to demolish family's house. Family mbrs. say that Ghanimat supported neither Hamas nor Fatah. (MM 3/21; IDF Radio 3/21 in WNC 3/24; WP 3/23; MA 3/25 in WNC 3/27; NYT 3/26; PR 3/28)
In Hebron, Palestinians protesting Israel's Har Homa, redeployment plans clash with armed settlers. IDF uses tear gas, rubber bullets on Palestinians to keep the two groups apart, injuring 30 Palestinians. (MM 3/21; IDF Radio 3/21 in WNC 3/24; YA 3/21 in WNC 3/24; NYT 3/22; PR 3/28)
Some 1,000 Palestinians in al-Baq'a r.c. in Jordan protest Israel's construction in East Jerusalem. (QPAR 3/21 in WNC 3/24)
U.S. vetoes a 2d UNSC resolution calling on Israel to halt construction at Har Homa. UNSC also issues statement expressing "revulsion" at today's bombing. (WP 3/21; RE 3/21 in WNC 3/24; NYT 3/22; WT 3/23; al-Dustur 3/23 in WNC 3/25; MM 3/24; al-Akhbar 3/24 in WNC 3/27; PR 3/28; MEI 4/18) (see 3/7)
King Hussein leaves for the U.S. for medical check-up, mtg. with Pres. Clinton. (RJ 3/21 in WNC 3/24; JT, RJ 3/23 in WNC 3/25)
In Baalbeck, Lebanon, a bomb explodes outside the home of a policeman, killing him, wounding 6 family mbrs. The bombers and their motive are unknown. (NYT 3/22)
In Bethlehem, 2-day Palestinian Council (PC) mtg. closes. (PBC, VOP 5/16 in FBIS 5/17; PR 5/24)
Israeli television reports that the PA's Yasir Arafat suffered a minor stroke earlier in the wk., while in Cairo. PA says he collapsed fr. a severe case of the flu, exhaustion. (ITV 5/16 in FBIS 5/17; AFP 5/19 in FBIS 5/20; Rose al-Yusuf 5/20 in FBIS 5/30)
Israel asks the PA to extradite 4 Palestinians serving sentences in PA jails for attacks inside Israel. PA says that since the men have been tried, convicted, and are serving time for the crimes under PA custody, the PA has no legal obligation to turn them over to Israel. (QY 5/16)
IDF tightens closure on West Bank, Gaza. Only Palestinians working in the Erez industrial zone may go to their jobs. Goods, produce may go through Qarni, Sufa crossing points. 50 Palestinian reporters will be allowed in to cover the run-up to the 5/29 Israeli elections. (QY 5/16 in FBIS 5/16; MEI 5/24) (see 5/13)
IDF declares Ramallah a closed military zone for Arafat's visit, meaning no Israeli traffic may enter the city. An identical closed military zone order for Nablus is lifted (see 5/15). (IDF Radio 5/16 in FBIS 5/17)
In Washington, France, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, the U.S. end a wk. of talks on the Israeli-Lebanese cease-fire monitoring group; agree on draft for monitoring procedures, send it to their respective capitals for approval. (MM 5/16; RL, RMC, SARR 5/16, QY 5/17 in FBIS 5/17; MM 5/17; WP 5/18; VOL 5/17, RL 5/19 in FBIS 5/20; MEI 5/24) (see 5/15)
In Ankara, Jordanian King Hussein, Turkish Pres. Suleyman Demirel hold 1-day mtg. on bilateral issues, incl. water, Iraq. Demirel assures king that Turkey's military cooperation agmt. with Israel does not harm Jordan's security. King Hussein says talks are positive, sides agree on all issues. (al-Dustur, RJ 5/16 in FBIS 5/16; MM 5/17)
Israeli authorities release information on man involved in the 4/12 East Jerusalem hotel explosion. They say the man, Husayn Maqdad, is a Lebanese Hizballah operative who was plotting a plane hijacking; claim he spent time at the Iranian embassy in Beirut. Hizballah denies having contact with him. (MM 5/16; AFP, QY 5/16 in FBIS 5/16; IDF Radio 5/16, QY 5/17 in FBIS 5/17; MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/17; PR 5/24; JP 5/25) (see 4/14)
In Nazareth, Israeli PM Shimon Peres meets with Israeli Arab voters to build their support, weakened by the closure of the territories and Israel's 4/96 assault on Lebanon. (NYT 5/18)
Israel launches its 1st commercial satellite, AMOS-I. (MM 5/16; JP 5/25)
U.S. Asst. Secy. of State Robert Pelletreau, National Security Council (NSC) adviser Mark Parris make 1-day trip to Jordan for consultations with Jordanian officials on recent Iraqi defections; leaves for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait. PM Sharif Zaid Bin Shakir says U.S. is putting no pressure on Jordan to sever ties with Iraq. (Al-Dustur 8/19, Al-Ra`y in FBIS 8/21; RJ 8/18, AFP 8/22 in FBIS 8/22)
Israeli police continue to search Palestinian offices in East Jerusalem, searching for proof that they are official PA organs operating illegally in the city. 13 organization have been searched since 8/17. More checks are expected in coming days. (JP 8/18 in FBIS 8/18)
Arafat orders closure of Al-Quds newspaper for running a story in which his opponent Faruq al-Qaddumi criticized the PA. PSF men threaten editors. (QY 8/19 in FBIS 8/22; ITV, QY 8/20 in FBIS 8/23; MM 8/21, 8/29)
PA Preventative Security Force (PSF) mbrs detain 20 PFLP mbrs in Jericho, 3 DFLP mbrs in Gaza on suspicion of writing, circulating leaflets condemning the 8/11 agmt. (QY 8/18 in FBIS 8/18)
In Gaza City, PA police exchange gunfire with 3 Hamas mbrs (incl. Wa'il Nasir) wanted for planning suicide bombings; 8 Palestinians are injured. Angry Hamas supporters throw stones at police during the fight. After 5 hrs. the 3 surrender. IDF immediately lifts closure. (QY, VOP 8/18 in FBIS 8/21; WP 8/19; QY 8/19 in FBIS 8/22; MM 8/21; NYT, WP 8/22; NYT 8/25; JP 8/26) (see 8/17)