White House formally announces sale of 24 jet fighters, 150 tanks, other hardware worth $2.2 billion to Saudi Arabia; sale causes concern among pro-Israel lobby and its congressional allies [MEM 8...
In speech marking 42nd anniversary of Israeli statehood Shamir says he will not "accept every proposal or idea of an American secretary of state." U.S. State Dep't. spokesperson Margaret Tutwiler...
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Bethlehem Mayor Elias Freij heads delegation to Jordan to observe Arafat-Hussein talks; says will urge Arafat to join peace process.
Phalange and Druze militia exchange artillery and rocket fire during night and morning in Shweifat, Baabda, Aley and Bhamdoun; lDF sets up checkpoints on Beirut-Damascus...
Read more
White House formally announces sale of 24 jet fighters, 150 tanks, other hardware worth $2.2 billion to Saudi Arabia; sale causes concern among pro-Israel lobby and its congressional allies [MEM 8/29; LAT, CSM 8/30; WT 8/31; MET 9/11].
On tour of Gulf states, British defense secretary Tom King says he's sending 4 additional warships - 3 mine-hunters and 1 destroyer - to the Gulf [LAT 8/30].
U.S. C-5 military transport aircraft carrying supplies to Gulf troops crashes shortly after takeoff in W. Germany, killing 12 soldiers [MEM 8/29; NYT, LAT, WT, CSM, WP 8/30].
10 of 13 OPEC nations, meeting in Vienna, endorse temporary production increase to make up for supplies lost because of Gulf crisis; Iran opposes agreement, Libya and Iraq are absent [AFP 8/29 in FBIS 8/29; NYT, WP 8/30; CSM 8/31].
21-member World Islamic Council denounces Saudi Arabia for inviting "anti-Islamic U.S. troops" into Middle East [INRA 8/29 in FBIS 8/30].
Speech read on behalf of Yasir Arafat to meeting of UN nongovernmental organizations in Geneva says PLO does not take sides in Gulf crisis, links Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait to other "occupied" lands-Lebanon, Golan, and Palestine [AVP 8/29 in FBIS 8/30].
Qatar has expelled 20 PLO officials since beginning of Gulf crisis, according to Yasir Abd Rabbo [AFP 8/29 in FBIS 8/30]; Abd Rabbo also states that breaking the economic blockade against Iraq is an Arab responsibility [RAY 8/30 in FBIS 8/31].
Hamas distributes leaflet in O.T. calling for Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait and Kuwaiti self-determination; UNLU also issues leaflet continuing its demand for withdrawal of foreign troops from Saudi Arabia and calls for strike on 9/26 "in solidarity with the Iraqi people" [JPD 8/30 in FBIS 8/30].
Japan unveils aid package to help finance international effort against Iraq, but package draws criticism from U.S. because of absence of tangible aid to military buildup. Japanese program offers loans to Egypt, Turkey, and Jordan; sending 100 doctors, refrigeration equipment, and water to region (cf. 8/31) [MEM 8/29; NYT, WT 8/30].
Bethlehem Mayor Elias Freij says he supports UN formula for unconditional Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait, believing it to be the only way to head off a new disaster for Palestinians [WP 8/301.
In speech marking 42nd anniversary of Israeli statehood Shamir says he will not "accept every proposal or idea of an American secretary of state." U.S. State Dep't. spokesperson Margaret Tutwiler responds: "saying yes to Sec. Baker's questions meant saying yes to the gov't. of Israel's plan" [WP, WT, LAT 5/1].
Plans to build road in Cairo through ancient Jewish cemetery has provoked outcry. Pres. Mubarak, eager to preserve relations with world Jewish community, agrees to study alternatives that would keep Al Basatin cemetery intact [WT 5/ 1].
Yasir Arafat arrives in Cairo to seek Pres. Mubarak's support for an Arab summit in May [MET 5/8-14].
U.S. hostage Frank Reed is freed in Beirut after 43 months of captivity [NYT, WP, WT, LAT 5/1].
Pres. Bush thanks Syria and Iran for help in securing freedom for 2 Americans in past 9 days. Robert Pohill delivers private message from his captors to Pres. Bush [WP, WT, LAT 5/1].
U.S. State Dep't. releases annual report "Pattern of Global Terrorism," which lists Syria and Iran as chief sponsors of state terrorism [WP, WT 5/1].
Bethlehem Mayor Elias Freij, visiting New York, says 4/11 occupation of St. John's Hospice by Jewish settlers was "not an isolated incident" but "the beginning of a premeditated effort" by Jewish settlers to obtain control of Christian properties [NYT 5/6].
SOCIAL/POLITICAL:
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Bethlehem Mayor Elias Freij heads delegation to Jordan to observe Arafat-Hussein talks; says will urge Arafat to join peace process.
Arab World: Chairman Arafat arrives from Tunis for talks with King Hussein on future of PLO-Jordan coordination.
Other Countries: Richard Arens, international human rights lawyer and board member of Search for Justice and Equality in Palestine/Israel, dies of heart failure in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
MILITARY ACTION:
Arab World: Marine contingent completes withdrawal to warships off coast of Beirut; Shi'ite militia and rebel Lebanese Army units take bunkers vacated near airport; within hour after last Marine retreat, USS Caron and New Jersey blast anti-government positions in hills over Beirut; Israeli jets bomb positions around Souq al-Gharb as Druze militia fights last LAF holdout there.
Military Action:
Phalange and Druze militia exchange artillery and rocket fire during night and morning in Shweifat, Baabda, Aley and Bhamdoun; lDF sets up checkpoints on Beirut-Damascus highway to divert traffic from areas of fighting.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Chief of Staff Eitan tells Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that 117 IDF were killed in western Lebanon, 8 in Beirut, that Begin denied Eitan's request during war for 2 more hours to cross Beirut-Damascus highway and destroy Syrian T-72 tank group, that critics such as Yossi Sarid and Shulamit Aloni harmed the war effort by talking about number of Palestinian homeless and refugees; Shamir and Kimche meet for 2'h4 hours with Habib and Draper; Sharon arrives in Zaire; 1DF spokeswoman confirms 10 Israeli Druze soldiers were jailed for defying orders in South Lebanon; Knesset votes 46-44 not to censure Kiryat Arba Council for destroying 4 of Hebron municipality's electricity pylons; Elias Freij and Rashad Shawa say they are willing to be members of a Palestinian-Jordanian delegation in peace talks with Israel.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: After 3 days of meetings in Damascus, PLO Executive Committee does not give Arafat support for alliance with Jordan; Lebanese Government insists end to state of war must be linked to complete Israeli withdrawal; Foreign Minister Elie Salem says another month or 2 of intensive discussion necessary to clear differences with Israel, he is confident Syrian and Palestinian forces will leave when Israelis leave, Lebanon is prepared to guarantee it will never again be base of operations against Israel, calls for multinational force and UNIFIL to double in size; Prime Minister Wazzan asks Justice Minister Roger Shikhani to investigate missing persons and to speed up interrogation of hundreds of detainees.
US and Other Countries: State Department says that Carter and Ford rightly focus on settlements as obstacle, but they are not the major obstacle to peace, and refuse to call settlements illegal; Weinberger and French Defense Minister Charles Hernu hold talks in Washington, Hernu says France will increase its contingent in Lebanon and take on more responsibility after the withdrawal of Syrian, Israeli and Palestinian forces, providing US and Italy do the same.
UN: Security Council votes to extend mandate of 5,800 UNIFIL troops for another 6 months; Israeli Ambassador Yehuda Blum says UNIFL has outlived its usefulness; US delegate says UNIFIL is a positive element in the negotiations.
