January 30, 1997

Syrian VP Khaddam, FM Shara visit Qatar. (SANA 1/31 in WNC 2/3)

Roadside bomb planted by Hizballah detonates in s. Lebanon, killing 3 IDF soldiers, wounding 1. (MM 1/30; MM, NYT 1/31; al-Safir 2/1 in WNC 2/6)

Families of Kuwaitis abducted by, taken to Iraq during the Gulf War send an envoy to Israel to ask for intelligence assistance in locating, identifying their lost relatives. In exchange, they offer to send a high-ranking Kuwaiti officer to Hizballah to get information on Israeli MIAs, POWs; to finance a prisoner exchange if possible. Kuwait has no diplomatic ties with Israel. (ITV 1/30 in WNC 2/3)