Monday, January 15, 2001

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue. In Khan Yunis, Jewish settlers continue to vandalize Palestinian property in retaliation for the killing of a settler discovered on 1/14. The IDF bulldozes the Palestinian orchards where the murdered settler was found, and settlers set up an encampment there as a "Zionist response" to the killing. The IDF also conducts arrest sweeps in Dahiyat Barid, al-Ram. Jewish settlers overturn Palestinian stalls in the Hebron market. (MM, YA 1/16; WP 1/17; al-Quds 1/17 in WNC 1/19; HP, LAW, WJW 1/18; MEI 1/26)

PA senior negotiator Qurai` meets with Israeli FM Ben-Ami to prepare for the resumption of Israeli-PA talks on 1/16. Arafat meets with Israeli negotiator Shahak to discuss the refugee issue. (AP 1/15; AYM 1/15 in WNC 1/18; IsRN 1/16; SA 1/17 in WNC 1/19; MENA 1/18 in WNC 1/20)

The PA offers amnesty to any Palestinian collaborators who turn themselves in within the next 45 days. (AP 1/15; YA 1/16; al-Quds 1/18 in WNC 1/20)

Jordanian PM Abu Raghib meets with reps. of political parties and professional associations for talks on impact of the al-Aqsa intifada on Jordan; urges them not to take actions "harmful to the kingdom's economy and national unity," such as fighting normalization with Israel. (JT 1/17 in WNC 1/19; JT 1/26, QA 1/27 in WNC 1/29) (see 11/19)