1st official Syrian-Israeli talks since suspension of negotiations 2/94 begin in Washington; are expanded to include military advisors fr. both sides in hopes of giving momentum to negotiations on...
UN survey of civilian damage caused by allied bombardment of Iraq calls the results "near apocalyptic," and recommends an immediate end to embargo on food and other essential supplies [NYT 3/22...
U.S. Air Force fighter shoots down 1 of 2 Iraqi fighter-bombers spotted above Tikrit, Iraq. Planes were flying in violation of temporary Gulf war cease-fire and in defiance of American warnings...
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EA, PLO Exec. Comm. mtg. is held in Ramallah. (VOP 7/6 in FBIS 7/8)
UNRWA opens new headquarters in Gaza. Headquarters Coordinator April Glaspie, Arafat sign agmt. regulating UNRWA's legal relationship with the PA. (UNRWA press release 8/20)
PM Netanyahu presents Sharon's portfolio to the cabinet for approval. Dep. Construction M Meir Porush, fr. UTJ, refuses to relinquish 2 agencies under his control--the Public Works Dept. ($200-m. budget) and the Rural Construction Administration ($40-m. budget for construction of kibbutzim, small settlements)--forcing a delay. (WT 7/6; MM, NYT 7/8)
1st official Syrian-Israeli talks since suspension of negotiations 2/94 begin in Washington; are expanded to include military advisors fr. both sides in hopes of giving momentum to negotiations on the Golan. Israel sends military secy. Maj. Gen. Dani Yatom, IDF Chief of Staff Baraq; Syria sends Lt. Gen Hikmat al-Shishabi. (Ma'ariv 12/21, QY 12/22 in FBIS 12/22; QY 12/22, Ma'ariv 12/23 in FBIS 12/23; WP 12/23; NYT 12/24; WT 12/25; SARR 12/25 in FBIS 12/27; WT 12/26; NYT 12/31; MEI 1/6) (see 12/19)
Arafat cancels Fateh Central Comm. mtg. in Tunis at last minute, reportedly after learning he might be presented with a demand by the comm.'s majority to waive some of his powers, incorporate opposition into PA. (ITV 12/22 in FBIS 12/23; PR 12/24; MEI 1/20)
Arne Christianson, AIPAC legislative director and top Congressional lobbyist, announces he will leave AIPAC to become senior policy adviser to incoming House speaker Newt Gingrich. He will deal with budget, appropriations issues. Brad Gordon, current director of the House subcommittee on international operations, will replace Christianson at AIPAC. (WT 12/23: WJW 12/29)
2 IDF soldiers killed, 7 wounded when Hizballah attacks IDF post in southern Lebanon in retaliation for car bombing 12/21. (NYT, WP, WT 12/24; JP 12/31)
Palestinians, Israeli Peace Now activists begin sit-in to protest construction of 500 apartments in Efrat settlement in West Bank, nr. Jerusalem. (QY 12/22 in FBIS 12/22; PR 12/24; WT 12/31)
Hamas mbr. dies in West Bank, sparking Palestinian protests, clashes with IDF. IDF says man died when bomb he was making exploded; family says IDF killed him. (QY, VOP 12/22 in FBIS 12/22)
PM Rabin denies Israel is responsible for car bomb detonated in Beirut 12/21. (ITV 12/22 in FBIS 12/23)
UNRWA announces frmr. U.S. Amb. to Iraq April Glaspie will become agency's head of operations in o.t. (JP 12/23 in FBIS 12/23)
UN survey of civilian damage caused by allied bombardment of Iraq calls the results "near apocalyptic," and recommends an immediate end to embargo on food and other essential supplies [NYT 3/22].
Bush admin., moving to counter impression that it had scapegoated Ambassador to Iraq April Glaspie on Kuwait invasion, says it knew Iraqi transcript of Glaspie-Saddam meeting was inaccurate but did not wish to divert attention from coalition by correcting the record [NYT, WT 3/22].
U.S. military says thousands of Iraqi civilians have poured into villages and communities in Iraqi territory controlled by allied forces; many are refugees from civil unrest gripping much of Iraq [NYT 3/22]; heavy fighting occurs in northern Iraq [WP 3/22].
Speaker of the House Thomas Foley (D-Wash.) says he supports Pres. Bush's opposition to measure passed by Senate that cuts off aid to Jordan. White House threatens to veto bill unless aid provision is removed [NYT 3/22].
Palestinian paramedics says Palestinian and Iraqi torture victims are being kept in secret hospital wards accessible only to Kuwaiti doctors, and that at least 2 casualties were beaten while still in hospital's emergency room [WP 3/22].
In report to Congress, State Dep't. says Soviet Jewish emigrants are settling in o.t. at higher rate than Israeli gov't. claims; report adds Jewish population in o.t. is growing by as much as 10% annually [WP, WT 3/22].
Speaking on NBC television, King Hussein says that Jordan would not agree to substitute for PLO in any negotiations, but if PLO asked him to be part of joint delegation, he would consider doing so [MEM 4/3].
U.S. Air Force fighter shoots down 1 of 2 Iraqi fighter-bombers spotted above Tikrit, Iraq. Planes were flying in violation of temporary Gulf war cease-fire and in defiance of American warnings that Iraqi combat planes in the air would be fired upon [NYT, LAT, WP, WT 3/21; DUS 3/21 in FBIS 3/22; MET 4/2].
Appearing before Senate Foreign Relations Committee, U.S. ambassador to Iraq April Glaspie says she warned Saddam Hussein that U.S. would come to defense of Arab allies in Gulf, and that Saddam "clearly" assured her that Iraq would not seize Kuwait [NYT, LAT, WP, WT 3/21].
Kuwaiti cabinet resigns in effort to defuse growing public anger at apparent gov't. paralysis and increasing demands for democracy [LAT, NYT, WP, WT 3/21; KUNA 3/20 in FBIS 3/20; MET 4/2].
In measure attached to Gulf war spending bill, Senate votes 92-8 to officially halt the $57.2 million in economic and military aid to Jordan this year in retaliation for Jordan's support of Iraq (cf. 3/21, 3/22) [NYT, LAT, WP, WT 3/21].
Iranian embassy officially opens in Amman as Iran and Jordan restore diplomatic relations, putting into effect agreement reached last January [JTE 3/21 in FBIS 3/21; MET 4/2].
