PLO Chmn. Arafat and Israeli PM Rabin selected, along with South African leaders F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela, as Time magazine's "Men of the Year." (WP, WT 12/26)
Sec. of State James Baker tells reporters there can be no dialogue between Israel and Palestinians from O.T. without "acquiescence" of PLO, as evidenced by Israel's vain attempts to find PLO...
Likud leader Yitzhak Shamir wins his party's near-unanimous approval to form new gov't., which he will present for Knesset vote on 6/11 [JDS 6/10 in FBIS 6/11; WP, LAT, WT 6/11].
Poland becomes 3d Warsaw Pact nation to renew full diplomatic ties with Israel, ending 23-year break [NYT 2/28].
D.M. Rabin says Israel is asking U.S. for compensation for U.S. supplying...
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In Gaza, the EA, PLO Exec. Comm., PC ratify the Hebron protocol. (NYT, WP, WT 1/16; PR 1/24)
Israeli cabinet begins debate on Hebron protocol. (ITV 1/15 in WNC 1/17)
PA police begin entering Hebron. Redeployment should be completed by 1/17. (NYT 1/15, 1/16)
Syria terms the new Hebron agmt. an "enslavement of [the] Palestinians." (WP 1/16)
Netanyahu policy adviser Bar Ilan says that he believes that, under the new Hebron agmt., Israel could stay in control of 50% of the West Bank after the 3d stage of further redeployment. (WT 1/16)
Jordanian delegation arrives in Baghdad for talks with Iraq on an economic agmt. encompassing an oil deal, trade protocol. (RJ 1/15 in WNC 1/17)
The U.S. warns Pres. Nelson Mandela that it might withdraw millions of dollars in aid to South Africa if Mandela approves a $641-m. arms sale to Syria. Mandela angrily rejects the warning, noting that 3 EU states are trying to sell Syria the same equipment, and the U.S. has not issued warnings to them. Israel summons the South African amb. to express its "deep concern" over the sale. (South Africa Radio [Johannesburg] 1/15 in WNC 1/15; IGPO 1/15 in WNC 1/17; al-Safir 1/15, SANA in WNC 1/21; MM, NYT, WT 1/16)
PLO Chmn. Arafat and Israeli PM Rabin selected, along with South African leaders F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela, as Time magazine's "Men of the Year." (WP, WT 12/26)
Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem attended by 20,000, largest attendance since start of intifada. In nearby Bayt Sahur, 1,000 Israelis and Palestinians hold torchlight parade for peace, call for release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. (WP 12/26)
Sec. of State James Baker tells reporters there can be no dialogue between Israel and Palestinians from O.T. without "acquiescence" of PLO, as evidenced by Israel's vain attempts to find PLO alternative for 22 years [MEM 6/22].
Arab League issues statement saying suspension of U.S.-PLO dialogue was not in best interests of Middle East peace, adds that U.S. will be held responsible for deterioration of situation inside O.T. [KUNA 6/21 in FBIS 6/22].
Jean-Claude Amie, UN special envoy, arrives in Israel to begin fact-finding mission [MEM 6/21; JDS 6/22 in FBIS 6/ 25; MET 7/3].
In television interview, Nelson Mandela describes Yasir Arafat as "a comrade in arms" and says it would be "a grave mistake" to change his view of Arafat "on the basis of the interests of the Jewish community" [WP 6/22].
PLO Exec. Committee, meeting in Baghdad, issues statement saying U.S. decision to end dialogue constitutes "a challenge" to Arab League, calls on Arab states to implement resolutions adopted at Baghdad summit in May [WP, LAT 6/22; BVP 6/21, DUS 6/22 in FBIS 6/22]; further Arab reaction is mixed [NYT, LAT 6/22].
French Pres. Francois Mitterrand tells reporters that U.S. should display same firmness with Israel as it has with PLO: "One must be able to speak to Israel and the PLO at the same time. . .If steps were taken that would permit speaking to Israel with the same firmness, that would be a good thing" [WP 6/22].
Senate Foreign Relations Committe unanimously approves commendation of Pres. Bush for suspending U.S.-PLO dialogue; entire Senate is expected to approve commendation soon [WP, WT 6/ 22].
New York Times reports of emergence of "tent towns" in Israel; mass immigration has driven up rent prices and housing is in such short supply that rents are beyond reach of young Israeli families, who are forced to live in tents. Soviet immigrants receive gov't. subsidies and are more able to afford higher rents [NYT 6/22].
Likud leader Yitzhak Shamir wins his party's near-unanimous approval to form new gov't., which he will present for Knesset vote on 6/11 [JDS 6/10 in FBIS 6/11; WP, LAT, WT 6/11].
U.S. Jewish delegation, concerned about anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela's statements supporting PLO, meets him in Geneva for reassurances, reports Mandela says African National Congress "accepts unequivocally the existence of the State of Israel, not only de facto but also its legal right to exist. . .within secure borders." Satisfied, delegation gives approval for warm welcome for Mandela on his arrival to U.S. on 6/20, a welcome that had been in doubt until meeting [WP, LAT, WT 6/ 11].
Arafat receives message from Mikhail Gorbachev detailing outcome of U.S.- Soviet summit, reaffirming Soviet support for Palestinians [BVP 6/10 in FBIS 6/12].
Israeli police discover 80 desecrated graves in American section of Mount of Olives cemetery in Jerusalem; Mayor Teddy Kollek warns incident may further disrupt Arab-Jewish relations in the city [LAT 6/11].
SLA forces in S.Lebanon report capturing 3 Fateh soldiers inside "security zone" (cf. 6/11) [AFP 6/11 in FBIS 6/12]
Poland becomes 3d Warsaw Pact nation to renew full diplomatic ties with Israel, ending 23-year break [NYT 2/28].
D.M. Rabin says Israel is asking U.S. for compensation for U.S. supplying Egypt with surplus M-60 tanks [JDS 2/27 in FBIS 2/28].
Radan Abu-'Ayyash, head of E. Jerusalem Journalists Association, tells reporters that "according to new PLO strategy, the Palestinian right of return will be confined to the borders of the Palestinian state - the West Bank and Gaza Strip" [HAM 2/27 in FBIS 2/28].
PFLP in Damascus announces use of arms in O.T. has now become necessary [RMC 2/27 in FBIS 2/28].
Israeli military extends by 3 months closure order for 7 O.T. universities, now closed until end of May [WP 2/28; JDS 2/ 27 in FBIS 2/28; MET 3/13-19]; prompts student sit-ins throughout O.T. [NYT 2/ 28; HAA 2/28 in FBIS 3/1].
In a speech in Lusaka, Zambia, Nelson Mandela says that Yasir Arafat, who is in attendance, is fighting "a unique form of colonialism and we wish him success in his struggle" [NYT, LAT 2/28].
