May 7, 1990

Statement by Avi Pazner, of interim P.M. Shamir's office, rejects U.S. assumptions that Israel is holding "hostages," but rather, Israel is holding "terrorists" and "therefore there is no room for any comparison between them" and Western hostages held in Lebanon [WP, LAT 5/ 8].

Syria announces it will not attend the Arab summit meeting in Baghdad because of animosity between Pres. Asad and Pres. Saddam Hussein (cf. 5/9) [WP 5/8].