In Washington, Arafat meets with Pres. Clinton to discuss the stalled negotiations with Israel. Arafat announces that during his 1/17 mtg. with Barak, the PM agreed to carry out the 3d stage of the 2d FRD within 2 wks. (WT 1/20; NYT, WP, WT 1/21; al-Quds 1/22, AYM 1/23 in WNC 1/27 WJW 1/27; MM 1/24; JP, MEI 1/28)
Israel's Atty. Gen. Elyakim Rubenstein orders police to open a criminal investigation of Pres. Weizman for accepting money fr. French textile magnate Saroussi. Weizman refuses to resign or take a leave of absence in the interim. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/21; NYT, WP 1/24; NYT 1/26; JP 1/21; MM 1/24; MEI 1/28; MM 1/31; MM 2/3; JP 2/4) (see 12/30)
The central bodies of U.S. Conservative and Orthodox Judaism condemn yesterday's petition by 316 U.S. rabbis (mostly representing Reform Judaism), emphasize Israel's right to decide its security matters. (WP 1/27)