In Jerusalem, the Israeli, PA final status teams hold their 4th round of talks, begin detailing their positions on issues that will be addressed in the framework agmt. on permanent status (FAPS)....
PA summons Palestinian construction workers to police stations, orders them to quit their jobs in Jewish settlements in Gaza to block the enclaves' expansion. (NYT 6/17; JP 6/25; NYT 7/2)
PA Planning M Nabil Shaath arrives in Amman on 4-day visit, holds talks with Jordanian FM Anani on economic cooperation, creation of free trade zone. (RJ 5/19 in WNC 5/23; RJ 5/22 in WNC 5/27)...
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-...
PLO Chmn. Arafat meets Secy of State Christopher in Gaza, appeals for economic assistance beyond $2.4 b. pledged by international donors to avert "starvation and the humiliation and frustration"...
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In Jerusalem, the Israeli, PA final status teams hold their 4th round of talks, begin detailing their positions on issues that will be addressed in the framework agmt. on permanent status (FAPS). The PA demands that Israel compensate Palestinians damages suffered due to yrs. of occupation, stresses that Oslo agmts. do not give Israel the right to unilaterally decide the FRDs. (AYM 11/19 in WNC 11/23; WJW 11/25)
On the sidelines of OSCE talks, Egyptian FM `Amr Musa discusses with U.S. Secy. of State Madeleine Albright, Israeli PM Barak, Israeli FM Levy the possibility of resuming Syrian-Israeli talks; complains that implementation of Wye II is moving too slowly. (MENA 11/18 in WNC 11/22; MENA 11/19 in WNC 11/23)
At the OSCE talks, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey sign several agmts. to build an oil pipeline fr. Baku to Ceyhan. The U.S. pressed hard for the agmt., which is economically inviable yet will not be financed by the U.S., because it provides a route to move Caspian oil to the West that bypasses Iran, Russia. (ATL, Interfax, ITAR-TASS 11/18 in WNC 11/22; NYT, WP 11/19; Turan [Baku] 11/19, Iran News, Rossiyskaya Gazeta [Moscow] 11/20, Interfax 11/22 in WNC 11/23; NYT 11/21; MM 11/24)
In Cairo, Egyptian, Turkish officials discuss promoting bilateral trade, establishing free trade zone. Egypt agrees in principle to export gas to Turkey. (MENA 11/18 in WNC 11/22)
PA summons Palestinian construction workers to police stations, orders them to quit their jobs in Jewish settlements in Gaza to block the enclaves' expansion. (NYT 6/17; JP 6/25; NYT 7/2)
DFLP, Fatah, FIDA, PFLP, PPP, PSF issue statement calling on the PA to implement the NGO law that was approved by the PC over a yr. ago, urging Palestinians to recognize the role of NGOs in combatting occupation and bolstering democracy. (AYM 6/17 in WNC 6/21) (see 6/8, 6/14)
In Amman, Jordanian-Tunisian Higher Comm. ends 5 days of talks on bilateral relations, regional issues. Comm. issues final statement calling for a greater Arab free trade zone, urging Israel to resume negotiations on all tracks quickly. (Petra-JNA 6/16 in WNC 6/17)
U.S. supports for the 1st time a British-Dutch proposal for partial suspension of sanctions against Iraq. China, France, Russia remain opposed, preferring removal of sanctions. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/17; WT 6/18)
PA Planning M Nabil Shaath arrives in Amman on 4-day visit, holds talks with Jordanian FM Anani on economic cooperation, creation of free trade zone. (RJ 5/19 in WNC 5/23; RJ 5/22 in WNC 5/27)
PA Elections Appeals Court cancels the Gaza by-election set for 5/29 to fill Haidar `Abd al-Shafi's seat on the Palestinian Council (PC). (PCHR 5/21; PR 5/29)
Israeli DM Yitzhak Mordechai discusses with Russian special envoy Viktor Posuvalyuk Israel's conditional withdrawal proposal for s. Lebanon, Russian military assistance to Iran. Posuvalyuk then heads to Amman for talks with Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan. (IDF Radio, QY, RJ 5/19 in WNC 5/21; JTV 5/19 in WNC 5/27)
The American Israel Public Affairs Comm. (AIPAC) holds rally on Capitol Hill to commemorate Israel's 50th anniversary. Speakers addressing the rally include Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS), Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA), House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-MO). (MM 5/20; Near East Report 6/1)
Kuwait releases last 3 of 13 Jordanian detainees pardoned 4/26. (JTV 5/19 in WNC 5/21) (see 5/13)
Jordanian court pardons opposition leader Laith Shubailat, sentenced 5/12 to 9 mos. in prison for inciting anti-U.S. riots in Ma'an in 2/98, pending withdrawal of his appeal. Shubailat is already free on appeal. (RJ 5/19, JT 5/20 in WNC 5/21)
Roadside bomb explodes in s. Lebanon, killing 2 civilians. SLA, Hizballah blame each other. (RL 5/19 in WNC 5/21)
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)
PLO Chmn. Arafat meets Secy of State Christopher in Gaza, appeals for economic assistance beyond $2.4 b. pledged by international donors to avert "starvation and the humiliation and frustration" of Palestinians, asserts Palestinian authority over Muslim holy places in Jerusalem. Christopher says U.S. feels a "special responsibility" for helping Palestinians, urges PLO to adopt modern accounting procedures. (NYT, TJT, WP, WSJ, WT 7/22)
Israeli-Jordanian talks conclude with discussion of free-trade zone, development of Wadi `Araba. Plans are to be presented to King Hussein, PM Rabin at 7/25 summit. U.S. officials say Jordan, Israel to announce state of nonbelligerency. (MM 7/21; RJ 7/21 in FBIS 7/22; WSJ, WT 7/22)
Israeli FM Peres visits Cairo to brief Egyptian Pres. Mubarak on Israel-Jordan talks. (MM 7/21; MENA 7/21 in FBIS 7/22)
Palestinian police apprehend suspects in 7/19 Rafah ambush of IDF patrol that killed 1 Israeli. (Qol Yisra'el 7/21 in FBIS 7/21)
Lebanese court convicts Namiq Ahmad Kamal of complicity in 1976 kidnapping, murder of U.S. Amb. Francis Meloy, sentences him to 4 yrs.' hard labor. Attack blamed on PFLP; assassin remains at large. (RL 7/21 in FBIS 7/22; WT 7/22)
