PM Peres, Likud leader Netanyahu hold their only televised debate before the Israeli elections. Commentators generally feel Netanyahu has better on-camera skills, but Peres has more substance. Opinion polls say race is still too close to call. (ITV 5/26, HA, ITV, JP, MA, SATN 5/27 in FBIS 5/28; NYT, WP, WT 5/27; VOP 5/27 in FBIS 5/29; WP 5/28; PR 5/31)
IDF tightens closure on West Bank, Gaza, forbidding all Palestinians entry into Israel in advance of the 5/29 elections. (NYT 5/28) (see 5/23)
PA releases Sarraj fr. custody 3 days after his family releases a letter, bearing his signature, which disavows the comments attributed to him. (NYT, WP 5/27; PR 5/31; MEI 6/7; JP 6/8) (see 5/21)
In Damascus, Lebanese PM Hariri, Syrian VP `Abd al-Halim Khaddam discuss cease-fire monitoring group. (SARR 5/27 in FBIS 5/28) (see 5/21)