Monday, July 23, 1990

The "Troika" foreign ministers of the EC (Italy, Ireland, and Luexembourg) arrive for overnight visit in Israel; say opening of Israeli-Palestinian dialogue is essential to peace. Italian F.M. Gianni De Michelis adds "the peace process is impossible without the Palestinians and without areal representative of the Palestinians" [MEM 7/23; WP 7/24]; Troika meets with Israeli F.M. David Levy; De Michelis hints EC is not likely to honor Israel's request for enhanced trade with integrated Europe in 1992 without peace progress (cf. 7/24) [JDS 7/23; MEM 7/24; MAA 7/24 in FBIS 7/24].

King Hussein meets Pres. Mubarak in Alexandria for "working visit" [MENA, ADS, 7/23 in FBIS 7/23].

PFLP spokesman denies that 4 persons killed by Jordanian troops on 7/21 belonged to his group [RMC 7/23 in FBIS 7/24].

Immigrant Absorption Minister Yitzhak Perez tells Knesset committee some 70,000 immigrants have arrived in Israel in 1990, 61,000 from USSR. He also says that beginning in August, 20,000 immigrants will arrive monthly UDS 7/23 in FBIS 7/24].

Arafat sends cable to Pres. Mubarak, reaffirming "strong fraternal ties" between Palestinians and Egyptians. Cable, 2d in 2 days, is seen as part of PLO efforts to diffuse tensions starting with Egyptian newspaper attacks on Arafat (cf. 7/19) [MEM 7/24].

Israeli and SLA artillery shell Iqlim al-Tuffah in S.Lebanon [BVL 7/24 in FBIS 7/24]; shelling wounds 5 Fateh soldiers [BVP 7/23 in FBIS 7/25].