August 23, 1997

Arafat claims that his intelligence show that Israel is planning commando raids in area A as it threatened after the 7/30 suicide bombings. Netanyahu aide Bar-Ilan says no raids are imminent, but Israel retains the right to carry out such operations if the PA does not break the Islamists' infrastructure. (NYT 8/24)

In Bethlehem, Palestinians protesting the continued closure occasionally skirmish with IDF troops manning checkpoints around the city. (NYT 8/24)

Car bomb kills mid-level Amal mbr. Khalil al-Musawi in Beirut. (VOL 8/23 in WNC 8/26)