Israeli human-rights org. B'Tselem criticizes IDF action in wake of Hebron massacre, charging that in none of 12 cases in which Palestinians killed by IDF "were soldiers or police in life-...
Israeli Supreme Court upholds eviction order of 150 Jewish settlers from Hospice of St. John in Jerusalem, saying all but 20 settlers must leave by 5/1; the 20 may remain in hospice as guards...
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Syria rejects FM Peres's 4/18 proposal move negotiations forward, says problem lies in Israel's position not in structure of talks. (MM 4/19)
In New York, Lebanese FM Buwayz concludes 2 days of mtgs. with Secy. of State Christopher, Asst. Secy. of State Robert Pelletreau regarding Syrian-Israeli talks, future of Lebanese track, NPT, Arab boycott, U.S. travel ban. (RL 4/20 in FBIS 4/20)
Representatives of all Palestinian factions meet in Gaza, agree to set up joint comm. to discuss security in the self-rule areas. (IDF Radio 4/20 in FBIS 4/20)
Car bomb explodes at federal building in Oklahoma City, killing 31, leaving some 200 unaccounted for. Authorities begin search for 2 "Middle Eastern looking" men who left scene in pickup truck. Hizballah, Islamic Jihad, Hizballah, Lebanon's Higher Shi`ite Islamic Council condemn attack. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/20; QPAR, QY, RL 4/20 in FBIS 4/20; JTV, MENA, RE, RL, VOL 4/20, AFP 4/21 in FBIS 4/21; AFP 4/21 in FBIS 4/24)
Hebron settlers say they will erect building in city to house 10 new Jewish families, increasing settler population in Hebron by 25%. Plan has not been approved by Israeli government. IDF lifts daytime curfew on Palestinians, dusk-to-dawn curfew continues. (WP 4/20)
Yitzhak Magen, Israel's chief archaeologist for West Bank, announces plans to begin ripping up parts of 5th-century Byzantine church on Mount Gerizim to uncover 2,000-yr.-old replica of Jerusalem temple. (WT 4/19; JP 4/29)
Israeli human-rights org. B'Tselem criticizes IDF action in wake of Hebron massacre, charging that in none of 12 cases in which Palestinians killed by IDF "were soldiers or police in life-threatening circumstances." Group condemns "frequent use of live fire in situations that were not life-threatening." (WP 3/4)
PLO establishes investigative comm. into Hebron massacre. (MENA 3/3 in FBIS 3/4)
Israel releases another 400 Palestinian prisoners in gesture to restart peace talks. Palestinian negotiator Ghassan al-Khatib dismisses release as "a cosmetic measure," noting "900 or 600 new prisoners have been arrested since the massacre." (MM 3/3; Qol Yisra'el 3/3 in FBIS 3/3; NYT, WP, WT 3/4)
27 Palestinians in West Bank, 7 in Gaza Strip wounded by IDF gunfire during demonstrations. (AFP 3/3 in FBIS 3/4)
Alleged collaborator killed in Gaza. Fateh claims responsibility. (AFP 3/3 in FBIS 3/4)
PLO official Nabil Shaath holds talks in Washington with Asst. Secy. of State Robert Pelletreau, State Dept. Middle East talks coordinator Dennis Ross, and NSC Middle East director Martin Indyk on resumption of Israel-PLO negotiations in wake of Hebron massacre. Shaath says PLO wants further steps by Israel to restrain settlers, protect Palestinians, "we want the peace process to continue and succeed." (MM, NYT, WP 3/3; NYT 3/4)
Vatican and Jordan establish diplomatic relations. (RJ 3/3 in FBIS 3/4; NYT 3/4)
Israel releases 500 Palestinian prisoners in gesture to bring PLO back to negotiations. PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Samir Ghawsha calls action "cosmetic surgery." Exec. Comm., Palestinian negotiators continue consultations for 3d day. (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 3/2)
Israeli govt. says it will pay compensation to families of victims, but that final amount will be less than that paid to families of Israelis killed by Palestinians. Social security official Yosef Tamir says discrepancy due to lower standard of living in o.t. as compared to Israel. (NYT 3/2)
Israeli Police M Moshe Shahal says "less than 100" settlers targeted for disarming, administrative detention. (NYT, WP, WT 3/2)
IDF accidentally shoots dead Ariel settler nr. West Bank town of Bidya. (MM, NYT 3/2; CSM 3/4)
Secy. of State Warren Christopher, testifying to House Appropriations Comm. subcomm. on foreign operations, says PLO Chmn. Arafat "indispensable" to peace process, calls him "the flag and 'The Star-Spangled Banner' all wrapped up into 1 person" for Palestinians. Asst Secy. of State for Near Eastern Affairs Robert Pelletreau tells House Foreign Affairs Comm. subcomm. on Europe and Middle East Israel must go "beyond tokenism" in restraining militant settlers, terms settlements "a complicating factor," not "an obstacle to peace." (NYT, WP, WT 3/2)
PLO Chmn. Arafat meets Greek FM Karolos Papoulias, Russian Dep. FM Igor Ivanov to discuss international response to Hebron massacre. (MM, NYT 3/2)
Israeli Supreme Court upholds eviction order of 150 Jewish settlers from Hospice of St. John in Jerusalem, saying all but 20 settlers must leave by 5/1; the 20 may remain in hospice as guards while lower court hears testimony on Panamanian-owned company that sublet to settlers [WP, NYT, LAT 4/27].
Labor party leader Shimon Peres officially surrenders his mandate to form new Israeli gov't. after 5 weeks of bargaining [NYT, LAT 4/27; IDF 4/26 in FBIS 4/ 26].
In departure from usual custom, Israel declines to release Muslim prisoners in celebration of Muslim holiday of Id al-Fitr, apparently to avoid speculation it is involved in prisoner exchange [NYT 4/ 27].
U.S. State Dep't. statement strongly criticizes start of 2 new Israeli settlements in O.T. [WP 4/27].
PLO rep. Hakam Balawi meets with ambassador Robert Pelletreau to discuss situation in O.T. [TDS 4/27 in FBIS 4/ 27].
Israel's Knesset Finance Committee approves NIS 2.44 billion plan to build 32,500 housing units for new immigrants [JPD 4/27 in FBIS 4/27].
