On the 6th anniversary of the Oslo I signing, Israel, the PA hold ceremony at Erez crossing to mark official resumption of final status talks. PA chief negotiator Abbas, Israeli FM Levy host the...
PM Barak expands his cabinet to 23 mbrs., appoints MK Nawaf Masalha (One Israel) as 1st Arab dep. FM. Barak's One Israel party holds 12 of the 23 cabinet seats. (MM 8/5; MM, NYT 8/6; al-Riyad...
EU special envoy Moratinos arrives in Syria. (SANA 6/18 in WNC 6/19)
In Washington, U.S. cosmetics heir Ron Lauder holds confidential mtg. with Syrian Amb. Moualem to discuss ways of...
Read more
On the 6th anniversary of the Oslo I signing, Israel, the PA hold ceremony at Erez crossing to mark official resumption of final status talks. PA chief negotiator Abbas, Israeli FM Levy host the event. U.S. special envoy Dennis Ross, Russian FMin. dir. for the Middle East Alexander Saltanov, EU special envoy Miguel Moratinos attend. (MM 9/13; XIN 9/13 in WNC 9/14; NYT, WP, WT 9/14; ITAR-TASS, SA, al-Wafd 9/14 in WNC 9/15; VOA 9/15 in WNC 9/16; WJW 9/16; MEI 9/17; JP 9/24)
While the Erez ceremony is taking place, Barak convenes ministerial comm. on Jerusalem to discuss consolidating Israel sovereignty over Jerusalem "especially in this year of intensive discussions on the permanent status agreement." (MM 9/14)
PA Culture and Information M Yasir `Abid Rabbuh says that the PA will not unilaterally declare a Palestinian state before the end of the 1-yr. period allotted under Wye II for completion of a final status agmt. (AFP 9/14 in WNC 9/15; WT 9/15; VOA 9/15 in WNC 9/16)
King Abdallah of Jordan arrives in Lebanon for 2 days of talks, meets with PM Salim al-Huss. Abdallah focuses on expanding Jordan's economic and political relations with Lebanon and Syria, says the 3 countries have a "strategic interest" in coordinating their positions on the peace process, especially on refugees, water. (MM 9/13; RL 9/13 in WNC 9/14; JT, RL, VOL 9/14 in WNC 9/15; NYT 9/15)
Muslim Brotherhood head `Abd al-Majid Dhunaybat meets with Jordanian PM `Abd al-Rauf al-Rawabida to mediate a reconciliation btwn. Hamas, the Jordanian government. (MM 9/13; al-Istiqlal 9/16 in WNC 9/26; SA 9/21 in WNC 9/24; AFP 9/25 in WNC 9/27; WT 9/26) (see 9/4)
PM Barak expands his cabinet to 23 mbrs., appoints MK Nawaf Masalha (One Israel) as 1st Arab dep. FM. Barak's One Israel party holds 12 of the 23 cabinet seats. (MM 8/5; MM, NYT 8/6; al-Riyad 8/6 in WNC 8/10; WJW 8/12) (see 8/1)
Arafat orders the Palestinian press to stop printing pieces that insult Syria, particularly DM Mustafa Tlas, who has been attacked in the press for accusing Arafat (on 8/2) of selling out the Palestinian cause. (al-Wafd 8/5, MBC 8/7 in WNC 8/9; WT 8/6; MM 8/9)
In Gaza, PA police detain Palestinian human rights activist Eyad Sarraj for questioning regarding an article in which he criticized the PA's human rights record. Sarraj is released after 2 hrs. but is forbidden to travel abroad until further notice. (LAW 8/5, 8/7)
PKK says it will heed Ocalan's 8/2 call to abandon its 14-yr. insurgency for self-rule, pull out of Turkey by 9/1. Turkey dismisses PKK's announcement as an attempt to convince Turkey to stay Ocalan's execution, vows not to negotiate with the PKK. (CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/6; MM 8/9; WP 8/10)
EU special envoy Moratinos arrives in Syria. (SANA 6/18 in WNC 6/19)
In Washington, U.S. cosmetics heir Ron Lauder holds confidential mtg. with Syrian Amb. Moualem to discuss ways of restarting the Syrian-Israeli talks, then briefs Secy. of State Albright. Israel's Dir. of Policy Planning Bar-Ilan says that the mtg. was not authorized, but was welcome, by Israel. (MM 7/7)
Israeli finance M Dan Meridor, a Likud mbr., resigns, saying he has lost faith in Netanyahu's leadership, the PM deliberately sabotaged his agreement with the Bank of Israel for currency liberalization. (MM 6/18; Globes [Internet], ITV 6/18 in WNC 6/19; MM, NYT, WJW, WP, WT 6/19; YA 6/19 in WNC 6/20; Globes [Internet] 6/19 in WNC 6/23; ITV 6/19, MA 6/20 in WNC 6/23; Globes [Internet] 6/19 in WNC 6/24; CSM, MM 6/20; WP 6/26; MEI 6/27)
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Appropriations Subcomm. chmn., announces that the subcomm. will forward legislation to the full Appropriations Comm. without the annual $2.1 b. in foreign aid to Egypt; says Egypt is obstructing the peace process by refusing to attend multilateral talks, refusing Pres. Clinton's invitation to Washington 9/96, leading the effort to reimpose the Arab boycott, moving closer to Libya. State Dept. says that the administration stands behind its foreign aid request. (al-Wafd 6/20, al-Quds al-Arabi 6/23 in WNC 6/25; WT 6/21; MM 6/25; MM 8/14)
Syrian VP Khaddam arrives in Iran for talks with Pres. Rafsanjani on the peace process, Turkish intervention in n. Iraq, 6/10 House decision. (IRNA 6/18 in WNC 6/19; SA 6/19 in WNC 6/20)
After 11 mos. in office. Turkish PM Erbakan turns his resignation into Pres. Suleyman Demirel, says he is willing to enter a new coalition under Ciller. Legally it is Demirel who must ask Ciller to form a new government; he has not stated if he will abide by the new coalition arrangement. (AFP 6/18 in WNC 6/19; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/19; MEI 6/27) (see 6/13)
UN Secy. Gen. Annan accepts a U.S. deal (passed by the House 6/11, the Senate 6/17) under which the UN would agree to reduce U.S. dues to 20% of the total budget by 1999, reduce U.S. peacekeeping to 25% by 1999, tighten the UN budget, reduce staff in exchange fr. the U.S. paying off $819 m. of its $1.3-b. debt over 3 yrs. The draft legislation must now be approved by the full Congress. (WT 6/19)
In Hebron, IDF clashes with Palestinians for 5th straight day, wounding 5. (MM 5/18; NYT 6/19; MEI 6/27)
In s. Lebanon, 3 SLA soldiers, 1 civilian are killed, 2 civilians are wounded by a roadside bomb. Israel blames Hizballah; responds by making in incursion into Jazzin, far n. of the self-declared security zone, arresting a number of youths, including a Lebanese soldier; submits complaint to ILMG, accusing Hizballah of planting the bomb. (VOL 6/18 in WNC 6/19; MM 6/26; MEI, MM 6/27)
