Monday, September 2, 1996

In Tel Aviv, talks btwn. PA, Israeli officials reportedly make headway on issue of redeployment in Hebron, implementation of Oslo agmts., raising hopes that an agmt. on resuming negotiations, Arafat-Netanyahu mtg. will be reached soon. Later in the evening, however, the day's progress is reversed when Molho arrives at the mtg. to tell PA delegation head Erakat that Gold, head of the Israeli team, is not authorized by Netanyahu to make agmts. (MM 9/2; WP, WP 9/3; IDF Radio 9/4 in WNC 9/5; WJW 9/5; MEI 9/6; JP 9/7) (see 8/30, 9/1)

Syrian FM Faruq al-Shara` begins 2-day official visit to Paris; meets with Pres. Jacques Chirac. (RMC 9/2 in WNC 9/4; SATN 9/3 in WNC 9/5; WT 9/4)

Iraqi troops begin pullout fr. Irbil. Pres. Clinton dismisses the withdrawal as insignificant, prepares for airstrike against Iraqi military targets. (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 9/3) (see 9/1)