In Washington, Israel Trade M Sharansky meets with VP Gore, urges him to dissuade the U.S. fr. presenting its own FRD proposal, requests mtg. with Secy. Albright but is refused. (ITV...
In Cairo, Egyptian pres. Mubarak, Israeli PM Netanyahu hold tense, inconclusive talks, marked by disagreement over Israeli settlement plans. (MM 3/5; RE 3/5 in WNC 3/7; CSM, MM, NYT, WP 3/6; ITV 3...
In a pre-dawn raid, IDF declares al-Fawwar refugee camp nr. Hebron a closed military zone, rounds up 1,000 men 16-64 yrs. old, arrests 30, seals homes of 2 suicide bombers. IDF also raids the...
Syria's Amb. Mu`allim, Israeli Amb. Rabinovitch reopen negotiations in Washington without military advisors, focus on depth of demilitarization, with Syria still insisting demilitarized zone be on...
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Arafat, on visit to Amsterdam, tours Anne Frank House. (MENA 3/31 in WNC 4/2; IDF Radio 4/1 in WNC 4/3; WJW 4/9)
Lebanese FM Buwayz arrives in Rome for mtg. with the Pres. Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, PM Romano Prodi discusses Lebanon's demand for Israel's unconditional adherence to UN Res. 425. (RL 4/1 in WNC 4/3)
Nr. Nablus, IDF opens fire with rubber bullets on Palestinians protesting Israeli land confiscations, injuring 1. (WT 4/1)
Suspected Hizballah roadside bomb explodes in the Jazzin enclave in s. Lebanon, killing 6 civilians, wounding 1. IDF urgently contacts SLA to dissuade them fr. retaliating, which could spark fierce clashes similar to those that occurred in 8/97. (ITV 3/31 in WNC 4/1; MM, WP 4/1)
In Washington, Israel Trade M Sharansky meets with VP Gore, urges him to dissuade the U.S. fr. presenting its own FRD proposal, requests mtg. with Secy. Albright but is refused. (ITV 3/18, MA 3/19 in WNC 3/20; MM 3/19; NYT 3/23; PR 3/27)
In Washington, Netanyahu adviser Arad meets with Asst. Secy. of State Indyk to encourage him to dissuade the U.S. fr. presenting its 13.1% FRD plan. (MM 3/19)
In Beirut, Russian special envoy Viktor Posuvalyuk meets with Lebanese FM Faris Buwayz. (VOL 3/18 in WNC 3/20)
UK FM Cook meets with Syrian pres. Asad in Damascus, Lebanese PM Rafiq Hariri in Beirut. (MM 3/18; RL, SANA 3/18, Les Echos [Paris], RL 3/19 in WNC 3/20)
3 Israeli teenagers are detained, 2 American teenagers are questioned regarding an organized infiltration of Pentagon computer system; 100s of other government, corporate, university computers. (ITV 3/18 in WNC 3/20; NYT, WJW, WP 3/19; WP, WT 3/20; WP 3/21; MEI 3/27; JP 3/28)
In Cairo, Egyptian pres. Mubarak, Israeli PM Netanyahu hold tense, inconclusive talks, marked by disagreement over Israeli settlement plans. (MM 3/5; RE 3/5 in WNC 3/7; CSM, MM, NYT, WP 3/6; ITV 3/7 in WNC 3/13; WJW 3/13; MEI 3/21)
After New York, Arafat heads to Georgia to meet with fmr. Pres. Jimmy Carter and Houston to meet with fmr. Pres. George Bush, fmr. Secy. of State James Baker III before returning to Gaza. (MM, NYT 3/6; WT 3/7)
UNSC begins debate on Israel's Har Homa plan. (MM, WT 3/5; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/6; MEI 3/7; WJW 3/13)
After 4 days of talks in Tehran, Jordan, Iran sign memorandum of understanding on health issues, medicine, medical training. (IRNA, VIRI 3/2 in WNC 3/4)
In a pre-dawn raid, IDF declares al-Fawwar refugee camp nr. Hebron a closed military zone, rounds up 1,000 men 16-64 yrs. old, arrests 30, seals homes of 2 suicide bombers. IDF also raids the Islamic College in Abu-Dis, arrests 14 students; arrests 10s of Palestinians in Hebron, Ramallah and holds them for questioning by Shin Bet. (MM 3/4, QY 3/4 in FBIS 3/4; IDF Radio, QY 3/4, QY 3/5 in FBIS 3/5; MM, NYT, WP 3/5)
Suicide bomber sets off explosion in Tel Aviv shopping district, killing 15, wounding 126. Bomber is identified as a man fr. Ramallah. A caller claiming to be fr. Hamas says Islamic Jihad is responsible. PM Peres vows to send IDF into self-rule areas to root out Hamas. U.S. Pres. Bill Clinton says he will allow the FBI, CIA to assist Peres in an antiterror campaign. (MM 3/4; IDF Radio, ITV, QPAR, VOP 3/4 in FBIS 3/4; QY 3/4 in FBIS 3/5; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/5; WJW 3/7; PR 3/8 MEI 3/15)
After an emergency cabinet session, PM Peres announces formation of a special antiterror war headquarters which is authorized to "act everywhere, using all means, without any limitation on regions," incl. house demolitions, deportations, entry of IDF forces into zone B. (QY 3/4, MA 3/5 in FBIS 3/5)
Israel recalls its negotiating team fr. Washington. (IDF Radio, SARR 3/4 in FBIS 3/5; NYT 3/5; MM 3/5; IDF Radio 3/6 in FBIS 3/6; SATN 3/6 in FBIS 3/7) (see 3/3)
Hamas political leaders, Mahmud Zahhar, Muhammad Sham'ah hold a news conference; deny political wing is responsible for recent bombings; call on Qassam Brigades, Yahya Ayyash Units to halt all military actions. PA says it believes both 2/27 leaflets fr. Qassam Brigades are real; think the one denying responsibility came fr. cadres inside West Bank, Gaza and the one claiming responsibility came from cadres abroad. (MM 3/5; Der Spiegel, ITV 3/5 in FBIS 3/5; VOP 3/5 in FBIS 3/6; PR 3/8)
In Gaza City, Fatah rallies 1,000s of supporters, some carrying signs in Hebrew reading "yes to peace, no to violence" and "terrorism is our enemy," to protest against recent bombings. (MM 3/4; QY, VOP 3/4 in FBIS 3/4; QY 3/4 in FBIS 3/5; WP, WT 3/5)
In Tel Aviv, over 1,000 Israelis hold violent protest outside the DMin. to denounce the Oslo agmts.; 100 rally outside PM Peres's home; some 200 protest at the site of the Tel Aviv bombing; 100 rally in Jerusalem. Israeli police detain 10s for questioning. (HA 3/5 in FBIS 3/5)
In s. Lebanon, Hizballah mbrs. ambush an IDF convoy, killing 4 IDF soldiers, wounding 9. In 1st attack, IDF shoots back, killing 2 Hizballah mbrs. In a separate incident, a little-known Palestinian group, Islamic Revolutionary Army, ambushes a 2d convoy, wounding 1 IDF soldier. Peres sends 100s of troops fr. n. Israel into s. Lebanon to reinforce the border. (MM 3/5; VOP 3/5 in FBIS 3/5; IDF Radio 3/5 in FBIS 3/6; WT 3/6; MM 3/7)
Syria's Amb. Mu`allim, Israeli Amb. Rabinovitch reopen negotiations in Washington without military advisors, focus on depth of demilitarization, with Syria still insisting demilitarized zone be on both sides of border. (al-Hayat 3/27 in FBIS 3/29; MM 3/30; MBC 3/30 in FBIS 3/31; MEI 3/31; JP 4/1; WJW 4/6)
King Hussein arrives in Washington, meets with Clinton on congressional decision to cut debt forgiveness, moving U.S. embassy in Israel. King then meets with House speaker Gingrich, Sen. Patrick Leahy fr. Senate Foreign Relations Comm. to discuss debt issue. (RJ 3/27 in FBIS 3/27; RJ 3/28 in FBIS 3/29; MM 3/29; CSM, MEI 3/31; FT 4/4)
Arafat, Israeli Labor Secy. Gen. Nissim Zvilli meet in Jericho, discuss closure, Israeli security, economic problems, impediments to negotiations. (IDF Radio, VOP 3/27 in FBIS 3/28; MM 3/29)
Morocco opens liaison offices in Tel Aviv, Gaza, making it 3d Arab country to establish ties with Israel. (ITV 3/27 in FBIS 3/28; JP 4/8)
Jenin prison closes. All prisoners are transferred to jails inside Green Line. Move thought to anticipate Israeli withdrawal fr. Jenin as part of "Jenin 1st" proposal. (PR 3/26) (see 2/19)
