Israeli Arab MK Bishara withdraws fr. race for PM, fearing his candidacy undermines attempts to unseat Netanyahu. However he does not endorse Barak. (NYT, WP, WT 5/16; al-Ahram 5/18 in WNC 5/19)
In Damascus, Iranian pres. Khatami meets with Lebanese political and religious leaders, including Hizballah spiritual leader Shaykh Fadlallah, Hizballah secy. gen. Hassan Nasrallah, Progressive Socialist party secy. gen. Walid Junblatt. Khatami then leaves for 5 day visit to Saudi Arabia to discuss rapprochement, economic cooperation, regional stability; inaugurates new Iranian consulate in Jiddah. (Iran News, IRIB Television, IRNA, SATN 5/15, IRNA 5/16 in WNC 5/17; NYT, WP, WT 5/16; GIU 5/20; MEI 5/21)
Hizballah clashes with the IDF, SLA in s. Lebanon, killing 1 IDF soldier, 1 SLA mbr., wounding 7 SLA mbrs. (VOL 5/15 in WNC 5/17; MEI 5/21)