February 1, 1997

After several days of mtgs. in Denmark, Egyptian, Israeli, Jordanian, PA delegations endorse the establishment of a "peace alliance" to recruit popular support for peace talks, issue declaration. (ITV 2/1 in WNC 2/4; MM 2/4; RJ 2/5 in WNC 2/7; SANA 2/13 in WNC 2/18; WP 3/1)

In Nablus, PA prisoner Yusif Isma'il Baba dies while in custody fr. injuries received during interrogation by PA security forces. Baba, the 11th to die in PA custody, was arrested on 1/3 for making an "improper property sale." (NYT, WP, WT 2/2; NYT 2/4; MM 2/5; PR 2/7) (see 12/3)