Sunday, January 21, 1996

Ramadan begins. (NYT 1/22)

Independent observer, fmr. U.S. Pres. Jimmy Carter calls elections "free and fair," says irregularities were not on a scale that would have altered the outcome. Initial election results show Arafat winning the presidency with 88.1 percent of the vote, compared to Khalil's 9.3 percent; 2.6 percent were left blank, perhaps as a protest vote. (AFP, IDF Radio, VOP 1/21 in FBIS 1/22; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/22; CSM, WP, PWR 1/23; NYT, PR 1/24; MM 1/25; WJW 2/1; MEI 2/2; JP 2/3)

Labor party unanimously nominates PM Peres as its candidate for PM in the upcoming elections. (MM 1/22)

IDF lifts closure on West Bank, Gaza. (IDF Radio, QY 1/21 in FBIS 1/22)