After 2 weeks of denials, Israeli officials acknowledge that Shamir's caretaker gov't. was helping fund controversial occupation by Jewish nationalists of Hospice of St. John in Jerusalem's Christian quarter [NYT, WP, LAT, WT 4/23].
Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine frees American educator Robert Pohill after 39 months in captivity [NYT, WP, WT 4/23]; New York Times reports Iran gave weapons and financial assistance to Islamic Jihad to persuade group to release Pohill [NYT, LAT 4/23]; Pres. Bush tells reporters he does not plan any gestures to respond to release of Pohill, says release of all hostages is "bottom line" for any reciprocal "goodwill" action [WP 4/23].
Israeli officials insist that 4/19, 4/20 air force raids on PFLP-GC and Hizballah bases in Lebanon have no impact on fate of American hostages, and dismiss as rhetoric warning that such attacks could endanger future hostage releases [WP 4/ 23].
PLO officially requests extraordinary Arab summit to discuss Soviet Jewish emigration (cf. 4/24) [TDS 4/23 in FBIS 4/ 24].
Meeting for the 3d time in 15 days, Hakam Balawi and Robert Pelletreau discuss latest developments as part of U.S.-PLO dialogue [WAFA 4/24 in FBIS 4/25].