Pres. Bush arrives in Jeddah, meets with King Fahd and the Emir of Kuwait. Bush announces his intention to meet with Pres. Asad in Geneva; decision prompts "anger and hurt" in Israel [SPA, DDS 11/...
Iraq announces it will release all foreign hostages over 3 months starting Christmas Day "if nothing happens to disturb the atmosphere of peace." U.S. calls offer "cynical manipulation" [BADS 11/...
Iraq's deputy P.M. Ramadan says Iraq prefers war to capitulation and that any decision to pull out of Kuwait must be linked to Israeli withdrawal from O.T. [WP 10/5].
Pres. Bush accepts offer from Baghdad to speak on Iraqi television, says 10-15 minute speech would provide "real opportunity" to explain why he has sent U.S. troops to Saudi Arabia [LAT, WP 9/7...
Iraqi gov't says only state-run Iraqi Airways planes may land in Iraq; reaffirms that those people allowed to leave may do so only on these planes [LAT, WP 9/4; MET 9/11].
Iraq refuses...
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Pres. Bush arrives in Jeddah, meets with King Fahd and the Emir of Kuwait. Bush announces his intention to meet with Pres. Asad in Geneva; decision prompts "anger and hurt" in Israel [SPA, DDS 11/21, JPD 11/22 in FBIS 11/23; LAT, NYT, WT, MEM 11/21].
Media report Iraq has defaulted on at least $2.5 billion in loans guaranteed by U.S. gov't. and taxpayers will have to pick up Baghdad's debts [LAT, WT 11/22].
IDF announces it has set up 90 military outposts along roads in o.t. during past 6 months at cost of NIS 200,000 ($100,000) each [JDS 11/21 in FBIS 11/21].
PLO Exec. Committee issues statement criticizing Israeli P.M. Shamir's 11/18 remark [BVP 11/22 in FBIS 11/23]; Arab League also condemns Shamir statement [TDS 11/21 in FBIS 11/27]; PLO sends 2 memorandums to UN Sec.-Gen., one concerning Shamir's remark, the other regarding Ariel Sharon's 11/19 announcement on housing in E. Jerusalem [TDS 11/21 in FBIS 11/23].
B'Tselem report says Israeli military authorities are again stepping up punitive house demolitions in o.t. [MEM 11/22; MET 12/4].
Draft 1991 budget from Israeli Finance Ministry allocates $6.5 billion for resettling Soviet Jewish immigrants, nearly 4 times the 1990 allocation. Only $6.1 billion is earmarked for defense. Knesset is to begin budget debate on 11/25 [MEM 11/22].
Kuwaiti gov't.-in-exile sets up 35-member advisory council made up of Kuwaiti citizens; Kuwait becomes 3d GCC nation, after Saudi Arabia and Oman, this month to declare itself in favor of broadening popular participation in state affairs [MEM 11/22].
New York-based Middle East Watch issues 3d report on conditions in Kuwait since 8/2, accusing Iraqi forces of summary executions, torture, and collective punishment [MEM 11/22].
Iraqi F.M. Aziz makes surprise visit to Oman, 1st by Iraqi official to Gulf state since 8/2 [MEM 11/22].
Iraq announces it will release all foreign hostages over 3 months starting Christmas Day "if nothing happens to disturb the atmosphere of peace." U.S. calls offer "cynical manipulation" [BADS 11/18 in FBIS 11/19; LAT, NYT, WT, WP, MEM 11/19; CSM 11/20; MET 11/27].
In Rome for audience with Pope John Paul 11, Soviet Pres. Gorbachev says he is "convinced" Gulf crisis could be solved without war [NYT 11/19].
In Tel Aviv address, P.M. Shamir speaks of the need "to keep the land of Israel from the sea to the Jordan for the generations to come . . . " (cf. 11/19, 11/20, 11/21, 11/26) [JDS 11/18 in FBIS 11/19; WT, MEM 11/19; CSM 11/20; FJ 11/26].
After meeting with King Fahd in Jeddah, Soviet envoy Belonogov arrives in Damascus for unscheduled talks with Pres. Asad [TASS 11/18 in FBIS 11/19; AFP 11/18 in FBIS 11/20; WT 11/19; MET 11/27].
Following brief meeting in Germany on Gulf crisis with Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Pres. Bush arrives in Paris, discusses crisis with Pres. Mitterrand [WP, MEM 11/19].
Israeli cabinet announces establishment of interministerial committee for Jerusalem, to be headed by P.M. Shamir. The committee, which must be approved by full Knesset, will replace just-established interministerial panel on "Temple Mount," which was advocated by Zamir Commission inquiry into 10/8 killings [MEM 11/19].
Iraq's deputy P.M. Ramadan says Iraq prefers war to capitulation and that any decision to pull out of Kuwait must be linked to Israeli withdrawal from O.T. [WP 10/5].
Kuwaiti and Western officials report Kuwait's underground resistance movement is giving up much of its armed struggle after wave of executions by Iraqi troops that has left up to several hundred civilians dead [WP, LAT 10/5].
Soviet envoy Primakov arrives in Baghdad with message from Pres. Gorbachev, meets with F.M. Aziz and is to meet with Saddam (cf. 10/6) [INA 10/4 in FBIS 10/5; MEM 10/4; NYT, LAT, WT 10/5]; F.M. Shevardnadze meets Saudi F.M. Saud al-Faisal in New York [SPA 10/4 in FBIS 10/4].
Japanese P.M. Kaifu meets in Amman with Iraq's deputy P.M. Ramadan, then with King Hussein and offers Jordan $250 million in development loans [MEM 10/4; NYT, LAT, WT 10/5].
Pres. Mitterrand meets King Fahd in Jeddah, assures Saudis of French solidarity against Iraq NYT, LAT, MEM 10/5].
Aircraft carrier USS Independence leaves the Gulf after 3 days [LAT, NYT, WT 10/5].
British F.M. Hurd and Italian F.M. de Michelis say in separate interviews that Israel must move quickly to make peace with Palestinians as soon as Gulf crisis is over. "Algeria has told us: 'Within one minute of the end of the crisis, we Arabs, including the moderate, will demand that the UN impose exactly the same sanctions on Israel as on Iraq.' They have a right to do so and plenty of reasons.... Israel must open up on this" says de Michelis [WT, MEM 10/5].
Pres. Bush accepts offer from Baghdad to speak on Iraqi television, says 10-15 minute speech would provide "real opportunity" to explain why he has sent U.S. troops to Saudi Arabia [LAT, WP 9/7].
Iraq acquiesces to U.S. demand that U.S. consular be given access to American wounded by Iraqi gunfire in Kuwait [LAT, WP 9/7].
Jewish and Roman Catholic leaders, meeting in Prague, agree to forge closer relationship and combat anti-Semitism in E. Europe [LAT 9/7].
UN acknowledges shortcomings in its relief efforts for tens of thousands of refugees who fled Kuwait and Iraq for Jordan [LAT 9/7].
Saudi Arabia announces it will cover virtually all of the hundreds of millions of dollars in monthly operating costs of U.S. forces; Saudis will also contribute several billion dollars in aid to Middle East nations that have joined the coalition against Iraq [NYT, WP 9/7; MET 9/18].
Several nations, including China, India, and Tunisia, say they are considering sending emergency food and medicine to Iraq despite embargo [NYT 9/7].
Britain announces it will send additional forces to the Gulf region, and will provide about $4 million in aid to refugee relief organizations [NYT, WP 9/7].
Pres. Bush telephones Pres. Asad to discuss Gulf crisis; Asad also meets with delegation from European Parliament [DDS 9/6 in FBIS 9/7].
Qatar deports 15 additional Palestinians; this is 3d group of deportees [RAY 9/9 in FBIS 9/10].
Sec. Baker meets in Jeddah with King Fahd to discuss Gulf crisis [WP 9/7; RTS 9/7 in FBIS 9/10].
Ending 2-day meeting in Saudi Arabia to discuss crisis, foreign ministers of 6-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) demand immediate Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait [SPA, RIDS 9/5 in FBIS 9/6; MET 9/18].
General strike called by Hamas is observed in Gaza Strip; commercial strike is observed in parts of W. Bank [FJ 9/10].
Iraqi gov't says only state-run Iraqi Airways planes may land in Iraq; reaffirms that those people allowed to leave may do so only on these planes [LAT, WP 9/4; MET 9/11].
Iraq refuses landing rights to British, Swiss, and French charter flights that were to have brought women, children out of Iraq and Kuwait [LAT 9/1, 9/2; NYT 9/4].
Iraqi F.M. Aziz urges nations with many citizens in Iraq and Kuwait to supply food to Iraq, saying it could not be responsible for what happened to them as a result of shortages [LAT 9/4].
Chedli Klibi, longtime Sec.-Gen. of Arab League, abruptly resigns, giving no reason, but it was widely reported he was upbraided by Saudi and Syrian officials for not putting sufficient pressure on Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait [AFP 9/3 in FBIS 9/4; WT, MEM 9/4; NYT 9/5; CSM 9/6; MET 9/11].
U.S. official reports American combat aircraft have been deployed in Oman, Qatar, UAE, and Bahrain for first time [NYT, MEM 9/4].
Pres. Mubarak meets with U.S. delegation including 15 senators led by Claiborne Pell (D-RI) and 22 representatives headed by Richard Gephardt (D-MO) [MENA 9/3 in FBIS 9/5].
As part of Gulf tour, British foreign sec. Douglas Hurd arrives in Jeddah for 2-day working visit, meets with Saudi officials, including King Fahd [SPA 9/3 in FBIS 9/6].
In speech marking 1,000th day of intifada, Arafat says Palestinians can only take sides against "Zionism and its imperialist allies," confirms the PLO Gulf peace initiative calling for "withdrawal of occupation forces from Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, and the Golan," and that occupation forces should be replaced by UN [MEM 9/3].
Over 10,000 people gather at rally in Amman to celebrate 1,000th day of intifada and show support of Iraq [MEM 9/4]; in W. Bank, stores usually closed remain open in celebration [WT 9/5; LAT 9/6; FJ 9/10].
Sec. of Economic Development Group in E. Jerusalem says lack of funds coming from Gulf states and lost jobs of Palestinians could harm "tens of thousands of families" in O.T.; adds drying up of funds could hurt "the future of a Palestinian state" [LAT 9/4]; other officials agree [CSM 9/6].
Jerusalem Post reports 18,800 immigrants arrived in Israel in August, including 17,500 from USSR-more than in any one month since 1951 [MEM 9/3].
Israel's gov't-run television and radio ban the use of Arabic names for Palestinian villages and towns, ordering journalists and broadcasters to use the biblical Hebrew names [NYT 9/5; FJ 9/10].
