Israeli defense ministry announces Israel will control export of anti-ballistic missile technology in response to pressure from the U.S., which reportedly included threat to stop accepting Israeli...
In wake of PLO refusal to treat the Yasir 'Abd Rabbuh faction of the DFLP as a separate group with no affiliation with the DFLP, longtime DFLP leader Nayif Hawatma states his faction of the DFLP...
Pres. Bush tells U.S. congressional leaders that if they accept his request to postpone discussion of Israel's request for loan guarantees until January, he will not seek any additional delays in...
PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Sulayman al-Najjab indicates Syria, Egypt have agreed to hold a meeting of the five confrontation states to coordinate negotiating positions prior to peace conference [Jordan...
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Likud factions charge Peres at UN deviated from coalition agreement onwhich "national unity" govt. was based last year [WP, LAT 10/23...
Israeli defense ministry announces Israel will control export of anti-ballistic missile technology in response to pressure from the U.S., which reportedly included threat to stop accepting Israeli bids for U.S. defense contracts. U.S. is pushing for Israeli compliance with the Convention for the Limitation of the Spread of Missile Technology, adopted in 1987 by the U.S. and other industrialized nations. Israel has been pursuing a research program for developing the Arrow anti-ballistic missile. Most of the funding for the program has been provided by the U.S. (WP 10/4)
PLO delegation led by Exec. Comm. Mbrs. Mahmud 'Abbas, Yasir 'Abd Rabbuh, 'Abdullah al-Hawrani, and Sulayman al-Najjab arrives in Amman to brief Jordanian officials on decisions of PNC and discuss formation of a joint delegation. Jordanians participating in the talks include PM Tahir al-Masri, FM Kamil Abu Jaber, Royal Political Advisor 'Adnan Abu 'Awda. PLO is demanding right to name Palestinian delegates to the joint delegation, and is pushing for adoption of a joint negotiating point demanding end to Israeli settlement building in o.t. Jordan had previously indicated it would accept PLO appointment of Palestinians to joint delegation and that Palestinians could address their own issues at peace conference. (Radio Jordan 10/4 in FBIS 10/4; Jordan Times 10/5 in FBIS 10/9)
More than 100 American Jewish leaders, part of Project Nishma, call on Israel to stop settling Jews in o.t. (MEM 10/3, 10/4)
In wake of PLO refusal to treat the Yasir 'Abd Rabbuh faction of the DFLP as a separate group with no affiliation with the DFLP, longtime DFLP leader Nayif Hawatma states his faction of the DFLP will not attend PNC meeting unless PLO adopts "clear" positions on important matters. (Jordan Times 9/22 in FBIS 9/23)
Pres. Bush tells U.S. congressional leaders that if they accept his request to postpone discussion of Israel's request for loan guarantees until January, he will not seek any additional delays in responding to the request. Bush also sends six-point pledge to Congress promising to pay for any additional costs incurred by Israel as a result of the four-month delay. However, Bush refuses to give assurances that he will support the request when it is discussed in January. (NYT, WP, MEM 9/11)
PNSF leader Khalid al-Fahum confirms that Chmn. Arafat agreed to hold PLO-PNSF dialogue to discuss participation of PNSF groups in upcoming PNC meeting. (Radio Monte Carlo 9/10 in FBIS 9/11)
Hamas spokesman Ibrahim Grawsha states that PLO-Hamas talks in Khartoum failed [see 9/6], Hamas will not attend upcoming PNC meeting. Notes that, barring elections, Hamas members should constitute 40% of PNC members. (MENA 9/10 in FBIS 9/11)
PLO delegation headed by Nabil Sha'th meets with Jordanian officials in Amman to discuss possibility of joint Palestinian-Jordanian delegation to proposed peace conference. (Jordan Times 9/11 in FBIS 9/11)
European Parliament passes resolution calling on the European Commission to investigate "discriminatory" Israeli economic practices directed against Palestinians in the o.t., encourages increased trade between Europe and o.t. (MEM 9/10)
Lawyer for convicted American spy Jonathan Pollard tells U.S. court of appeals that Pollard should be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea, made in 1987, because federal prosecutors allegedly broke their promise not to ask the court for a life sentence. (WP 9/11)
PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Sulayman al-Najjab indicates Syria, Egypt have agreed to hold a meeting of the five confrontation states to coordinate negotiating positions prior to peace conference [Jordan had already agreed to proposal]. (Jordan Times 8/19 in FBIS 8/19)
Special Palestinian committee meeting in London [see 8/15] ends discussions. In addition to discussing what assurances Palestinians should seek from U.S., the committee also adopted 28 confidence-building measures it will forward to the Israeli government through the U.S. (al-Hayat 9/4 in FBIS 9/9)
Iranian Oil Minister Qaqzadeh-Kho'i presents King Fahd of Saudi Arabia with letter from Iranian Pres. Rafasanjani on protecting the rights of the Palestinian people. (see 8/17) (Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran 8/17 in FBIS 8/19)
Social/Economic/Political
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Likud factions charge Peres at UN deviated from coalition agreement onwhich "national unity" govt. was based last year [WP, LAT 10/23].
Arab World: Jordan Times reports Jordan has rejected Peres' call for direct talks and will not make a separate peace with Israel [LAT, CT 10/23].
Other Countries: Reagan admin. welcomes P.M. Peres' proposals to the UN as "statesmanlike, thoughtful and forwardlooking" [NYT 10/23]. 74 Senators, led by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. John Heinz (R-Pa.), introduce resolution to block proposed arms sale to Jordan until Hussein begins direct negotiations with Israel [WP, LAT 10/23]. U.S. Deputy Asst. Sec. of State John Whitehead, on visit to Tunis to heal diplomatic relations, criticizes Israeli bombing of PLO headquarters there. Whitehead's visit kept secret in the Tunisian press until his departure [NYT, WP 10/23].
