Presidential elections are held in the U.S., but the race btwn. VP Al Gore (D) and Texas Gov. George W. Bush (R) is too close to call. The election rests on some 1,500 votes in Florida, where...
U.S. Secy. of State Albright endorses PM Netanyahu's plan for accelerated final status talks with the PA, stresses that no progress can be made until Israel is certain that the PA is making 100%...
Pres. Clinton, VP Al Gore, Secy. of State Christopher meet with FMs of Egypt, Jordan, Israel, PA Planning M Shaath in Washington, refuse to pressure Israel on closure. Israel, PA agree to set up...
PNA bans distribution of al-Nahar newspaper, Akhbar al-Bilad magazine, causing al-Nahar to cease publication. Both publications regarded as pro-Jordanian; PNA says al-...
IDF kills 1 Palestinian, wounds 80 in clashes in Gaza, worst violence since DoP signed 9/13. IDF cmdr. in Gaza Maj. Gen. Matan Vilnai meets 5 Fateh leaders to discuss cease-fire. Fateh sources say...
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Presidential elections are held in the U.S., but the race btwn. VP Al Gore (D) and Texas Gov. George W. Bush (R) is too close to call. The election rests on some 1,500 votes in Florida, where ballot errors could swing results. At the least, Florida absentee ballots must be tabulated and regular votes recounted, meaning it could be weeks before the new president is declared. (MM 11/7; NYT, WP, WT 11/8; al-Quds 11/8 in WNC 11/9; MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/9; AYM, al-Quds 11/9, HJ 11/10 in WNC 11/13; MM 11/10)
Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 1 Palestinian dead, 150 injured. A 2d Palestinian dies of wounds received earlier. Jewish settlers block roads, attack Palestinians, damage property in Hebron and nr. Nablus, Rafah, Tulkarm. Off Gaza, a fishing boat laden with explosives detonates nr. an Israeli patrol ship, killing the suicide bomber. The IDF shells areas of Bayt Jala in response to Palestinian sniping at Gilo settlement. IDF chief of staff Mofaz says the IDF is preparing contingencies for the evacuation of all 7,000 Jewish settlers in Gaza. Barak allows the Gaza airport, closed since 10/22, to reopen. (ADM, LAW 11/7; al-Quds 11/7 in WNC 11/9; NYT, WP 11/8)
In keeping with the 10/17 Sharm agmts., the White House names fmr. senator George Mitchell (D-ME) to lead an inquiry into the causes of the Israeli-Palestinian clashes. Also named to the panel are fmr. Turkish pres. Suleyman Demirel, Norwegian FM Thorbjoern Jagland, fmr. senator Warren B. Rudman (R-NH), EU foreign policy dir. Solana. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/8; AYM 11/9 in WNC 11/13; MEI 11/24)
U.S. Secy. of State Albright endorses PM Netanyahu's plan for accelerated final status talks with the PA, stresses that no progress can be made until Israel is certain that the PA is making 100% effort to fight "terrorism"; says that she will travel to the region at the end of the mo. (MM 8/6; ITV, QY 8/6 in WNC 8/7; NYT, WP, WT 8/7; IDF Radio, IGPO, ITV, MA, YA 8/7, Hatzofe 8/8 in WNC 8/8; MM, NYT 8/8; NYT 8/9; al-Thawra 8/9, IDF Radio 8/10 in WNC 8/12)
Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan, PM Majali meet with PM Netanyahu in Jerusalem. The crown prince terms the Israeli-Palestinian situation a "very dangerous crisis," recommends Israel adopt a softer line with the Palestinians, invites Netanyahu to visit Amman next wk. (MM, NYT 8/6; ITV, JTV, RJ, YA 8/6 in WNC 8/7; CSM 8/7; MA 8/7 in WNC 8/8; al-Ra'i 8/7 in WNC 8/11)
In Amman, King Hussein meets delegation fr. Israel's Histadrut Labor federation. (JTV 8/6 in WNC 8/8)
The U.S. group Builders for Peace, initiated by VP Al Gore to promote economic development in the territories, announces it is closing its doors, saying that "political conditions in the region . . . render the prospects of success for any given project remote." (Builders for Peace press release 8/6)
For the first day since the 7/30 bombings, Israel allows flour, vital goods, medical supplies to enter the West Bank, Gaza. (NYT 8/7; WT 8/8)
A delegation fr. the Syrian Chamber of Commerce travels to Iraq to discuss trade contracts under the UN oil-for-food agmt. (SA 8/7 in WNC 8/8; al-Quds al-Arabi 8/8 in WNC 8/11) (see 8/3)
IDF sends reinforcements to s. Lebanon. (RL 8/6 in WNC 8/7)
5 UNIFIL soldiers are killed when their helicopter crashes in s. Lebanon. UN suspects mechanical failure. (AFP, London Press Association 8/6, RL 8/7 in WNC 8/8; WP 8/7; JP 8/16)
In s. Lebanon, 1 SLA soldier is killed when Hizballah detonates a roadside bomb as his car passes. Hizballah also fires several katyushas toward n. Israel, but they land in s. Lebanon, causing no injuries. (MM 8/7; Voice of the South 8/7 in WNC 8/8; MM 8/8)
Lebanon files claim with ILMG regarding death of a civilian in s. Lebanon 8/5. (VOL 8/6 in WNC 8/7)
Pres. Clinton, VP Al Gore, Secy. of State Christopher meet with FMs of Egypt, Jordan, Israel, PA Planning M Shaath in Washington, refuse to pressure Israel on closure. Israel, PA agree to set up industrial zones in West Bank, Gaza to provide more jobs for Palestinians; to restart negotiations on redeployment, elections quickly. Clinton says he will ask Congress to make industrial zones duty free to spur investment. Egypt, Israel make vague agmt. to "pursue a mutually verifiable" zone, free of weapons of mass destruction. (CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/13; RE, VOP 2/13 in FBIS 2/14; MM 2/14; Al-Hayat 2/13 in FBIS 2/15; WJW 2/16; MEI 2/17; PR 2/20)
Secy. of State Christopher holds separate mtg. with PA M Shaath, FM Peres; they issue statement, promising to adhere to DOP, stressing need for PA to halt attacks fr. Gaza, to assure Israeli security before process can move forward, closure can be lifted. (MM, WT 2/13; MM 2/14; Ma'ariv 2/14 in FBIS 2/14; WT 2/15; WJW 2/16; MEI 2/17)
Israeli cabinet extends closure of West Bank, Gaza for 1 wk. (WP, WT 2/13; WT 2/15; MEI 2/17; PR 2/20)
Human Rights Watch, New York, issues 50-page report on PA. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/13)
PNA bans distribution of al-Nahar newspaper, Akhbar al-Bilad magazine, causing al-Nahar to cease publication. Both publications regarded as pro-Jordanian; PNA says al-Nahar advocates "line that contradicts the national interests of the Palestinian people." Pretext for banning al-Nahar is that it had not renewed circulation permit. Akhbar al-Bilad publisher Nasr al-Din Nashashibi, calls PNA move "intellectual terrorism." (Qol Yisra'el 7/28 in FBIS 7/29; CSM, WP, WT 7/29; NYT, WT 7/30; JP 8/6)
PLO, Israeli negotiators reach draft agreements to give PLO control of education, health, and taxation in West Bank. PLO negotiator Nabil Shaath denies reports that Janin will be next self-rule area, saying "it's all the West Bank." (Qol Yisra'el, MENA 7/28 in FBIS 7/29; CSM 7/29)
Gaza municipal council holds 1st mtg. Municipality head Awn Shawa says main task is preparing for municipal elections. (Algiers VOP 7/28 in FBIS 7/29; TJT 7/29)
Secy of State Christopher, testifying to House FA Comm., criticizes PLO Chmn. Arafat's admin. of Gaza, saying he feels "frustration" with him and that Arafat failed to comply with international donors' requirements. (WT 7/29)
U.S. announces VP Al Gore will visit Israel, Jordan 9/94 to promote Syria-Israel talks. (MM 7/28)
Syrian govt. newspaper al-Ba`th criticizes Jordan for signing Washington Declaration, calling pact a "surprise" and a "violation" of Arab position in peace process. (NYT 7/29)
Jordanian M of State Jawad Anani, speaking to Washington Institute for Near East Policy, says Amman favors Dead Sea-Red Sea canal project with Israel, Aqaba-Eilat free-trade zone. (WT 7/31)
Lebanese PM Hariri orders military to prepare for possible Israeli strikes in retaliation for 7/18 bombing in Argentina blamed on Hizballah. Civilians in southern Lebanon flee north in anticipation of Israeli incursion. (NYT, WSJ 7/29)
WJC Pres. Edgar Bronfman says Argentina warned UK of potential bombings in London; UK denies advance warning. Argentine govt. official says Iranian diplomats suspects in 7/18 bombing. (NYT, WP, WT 7/29; JP 8/6)
Israeli intelligence agencies reach agreement with unspecified other countries on counterterrorism cooperation. (Ha'Aretz 7/29 in FBIS 7/29)
IDF kills 1 Palestinian, wounds 80 in clashes in Gaza, worst violence since DoP signed 9/13. IDF cmdr. in Gaza Maj. Gen. Matan Vilnai meets 5 Fateh leaders to discuss cease-fire. Fateh sources say Vilnai agreed to end IDF searches for PLO militants, but IDF sources say only that Israel will reduce troop levels and ease some restrictions. Jacques Neriah, aide to PM Rabin, flies to Tunis for talks with PLO Chmn. Arafat. Arafat provides Neriah with i.d. tag of IDF soldier missing during 1982 war in Lebanon. (MM 11/30, 12/1; NYT, WP, WT 12/1)
Jordanian and Israeli officials meet in Washington for talks on economic cooperation. Working group also includes U.S., hosted by special coordinator Dennis Ross. (MM 11/30, 12/1)
VP Al Gore announces formation of "Builders for Peace," a task force to coordinate U.S. private investment in o.t. Group's co-presidents are James Zogby of Arab American Institute and frmr. U.S. Rep. Mel Levine. (WP 12/1)
U.S. and Russia introduce UNGA resolution drafted by Israel and PLO supporting DoP, Israel-Jordan common agenda. (MM 12/1)
U.S. Undersecy. of Defense Frank Wisner arrives in Jordan fr. Israel to discuss joint security cooperation. Tour also includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Gulf states. (MM 11/30)
CIA Director Adm. James Woolsey, appearing on CNN's "Larry King Live," acknowledges that "Israel is generally regarded as having some kind of nuclear capability" in 1st public U.S. recognition of Israeli nuclear weapons. (MM 12/1)
$7 m. wind turbine farm to supply electricity to Israel opened on Golan Heights. (MM 12/1)
