Sec. Baker tells NATO allies he expects Saddam Hussein to take dramatic step, such as partial pullout from Kuwait, just before UN resolution authorizing use of force goes into effect on 1/15. NATO...
In Brussels for international economic meetings, Sec. of State Baker rejects Soviet envoy Yevgeny Primakov's suggestion that solution to Gulf crisis be linked to Palestine question [LAT 11/17]....
Pres. Asad is quoted as saying a return to 1973 Geneva conference, which Syria did not attend, would provide "an adequate opportunity to achieve ajust peace in the Middle East" [MEM 7/2].
Responding to international criticism about secret gov't. funding of Jewish settlement in Jerusalem, Israeli foreign ministry issues statement: "It is the right of Jews to live everywhere, and to...
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Speaking to Likud members, P.M. Shamir responds to comments about increasing Soviet Jewish immigration, saying "big immigration requires...
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Sec. Baker tells NATO allies he expects Saddam Hussein to take dramatic step, such as partial pullout from Kuwait, just before UN resolution authorizing use of force goes into effect on 1/15. NATO ministers issue statement saying "there can be no partial solutions" [NYT, LAT, WT, WP 12/18; CSM 12/19].
Iraq asks European Community to go ahead with scheduled high-level meeting on 12/20 in Rome between European leaders and Iraqi F.M. Aziz [NYT, WP 12/18].
Fourteen former senior gov't. officials, including former NSC advisers Richard Allen and Robert McFarlane, urge Bush admin. to use military force shortly after 1/15 deadline if Iraq does not leave Kuwait [NYT 12/18].
After meeting with Algeria's Pres. Benjedid in Cairo on efforts to find Arab solution to Gulf crisis, Pres. Mubarak says "we have not yet found a way for a solution" [CDS 12/17 in FBIS 12/18; NYT 12/18]; Pres. Benjedid then travels to Libya, while Jordanian P.M. Mudar Badran goes to Syria in further diplomatic activity [APS, DDS 12/17 in FBIS 12/18; NYT 12/18].
Ishak Mousa Husseini, noted Palestinian writer and teacher who sought to explain Arab history to the West, dies in Jerusalem at age 86 [NYT 12/23; FJ 12/24].
Shmeul Goren, coordinator of gov't. activities in o.t., tells Knesset committee that Gulf crisis has cut in half annual aid of $140 million from Gulf Palestinians to o.t. Palestinians; that o.t. exports have been cut by 50%; and that citrus exports from Gaza have been reduced by 80% [IDF 12/17 in FBIS 12/20].
Senior Jordanian official says Amman has rejected proposal by Israel for bilateral negotiations on water and other territorial disputes, declaring Jordan would enter talks with Israel only in international peace conference on Middle East [MEM 12/18].
Israeli police bar thousands of Palestinians from entering Jerusalem and send hundreds of officers into the Old City to prevent clashes caused by heightened tensions [NYT, LAT, WT, WP, CSM 12/18; FJ 12/24; MET 12/25].
Jerusalem Post reports that the Jewish Agency about a month ago ordered all Agency and World Zionist Organization institutions to stop employing Palestinians from o.t. for "security considerations" [JPD 12/18 in FBIS 12/18; MEM 12/18].
In Brussels for international economic meetings, Sec. of State Baker rejects Soviet envoy Yevgeny Primakov's suggestion that solution to Gulf crisis be linked to Palestine question [LAT 11/17].
Soviet envoy Alexander Belonogov meets in Cairo with Pres. Mubarak to discuss Gulf crisis; Belonogov then leaves for Saudi Arabia [MENA 11/16, CDS 11/17 in FBIS 11/20].
Ultra-Orthodox Agudat Israel party joins P.M. Shamir's ruling coalition; belated agreement increases Likud majority from 62 Knesset seats out of 120, to 66 seats [JDS 11/16 in FBIS 11/16; NYT, LAT 11/17; CSM, MEM 11/19; JPI 11/24; MET 11/27].
Arab and nonaligned nations introduce Sec. Council resolution calling for UN observer force in occupied territories (o.t.) and for conference of 164 signators of Fourth Geneva Convention [LAT 11/17; MEM 11/19].
Iran and Iraq announce agreement on series of steps to end major disputes lingering from 8-year war; Iranian F.M. Velayati says he detects willingness by Iraq to end crisis by withdrawing from Kuwait [NYT 11/17].
700 members of U.S. Council of Jewish Federations pass without dissent resolution backing Bush admin. policy in Gulf, but say they will fight U.S. plans to sell weapons to Saudia Arabia [NYT 11/17].
IDF bars Gaza Strip and West Bank residents from Jerusalem as preventive measure against anticipated protests following prayers on Haram al-Sharif [FJ 11/19].
Israeli Immigration Minister Yitzhak Peretz ignites political row by calling for curbs on Soviet immigration, saying 4 of 10 newcomers are not Jewish [MEM 11/1].
Pres. Asad is quoted as saying a return to 1973 Geneva conference, which Syria did not attend, would provide "an adequate opportunity to achieve ajust peace in the Middle East" [MEM 7/2].
P.M. Shamir appeals to Pres. Mubarak to work with Israel towards Middle East peace, and calls for meeting of Israeli, Egyptian, and U.S. foreign ministers [WT 7/3].
8 Palestinians were killed during June, the lowest total since intifada began; Palestinian and Israeli sources attribute tally in part to new policy of army restraint under D.M. Moshe Arens [NYT 7/3].
UN envoy Jean-Claude Amrie leaves Jerusalem for New York after having extended his visit "a number of days" for additional meetings [JPD 7/3 in FBIS 7/3].
D.M. Moshe Arens authorizes use of new punitive measure that permits "conditional deportation" of intifada leaders from their homes to supervised locations elsewhere in O.T. [HAA 7/2 in FBIS 7/ 3].
Arab poet Shafiq Habib is released from house arrest, where he was confined 2 weeks ago for inciting violence in his writings [JDS 7/2 in FBIS 7/3].
Israeli Arab and Communist Party member Tewfik Toubi resigns from his Knesset seat; he was Israel's longest-serving MK [MET 7/10].
Responding to international criticism about secret gov't. funding of Jewish settlement in Jerusalem, Israeli foreign ministry issues statement: "It is the right of Jews to live everywhere, and to purchase or rent property in all parts of the land of Israel, and especially in Jerusalem" [NYT 4/25].
UN spokesperson says Sec. Gen. Javier Perez de Cuellar is deeply concerned over presence of Jewish settlers in Christian quarter of Jerusalem, and disturbed over Israeli officials' financial involvement [WP 4/25].
Through an emissary to interim P.M. Shamir, AIPAC exec. dir. Thomas Dine questions timing of Jewish settlement in Christian quarter of Jerusalem, criticizes Israeli gov't.'s secret financing of move (cf. 4/25) [NYT, WT 4/25].
Gov't of Greece has shelved its plans to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel until all settlers are evacuated from Greek Orthodox St. John's Hospice in Jerusalem [JPD 4/24 in FBIS 4/25].
Peretz Kidron of Yesh Gvul organization says at least 108 IDF reservists have gone to prison for refusing to serve in O.T. [MET 5/8-14].
Group called Islamic Jihad-Jerusalem threatens to kill Americans worldwide unless U.S. Senate repeals 3/22 resolution calling Jerusalem the capital of Israel [NYT 4/25].
U.S. House of Representatives votes 378 to 34 in favor of a nonbinding resolution affirming support for united Jerusalem as capital of Israel. Resolution, identical to one passed by Senate on 3/22, conflicts with official U.S. policy [WP, WT 4/25; FJ 4/30].
Syria's first ambassador to Egypt in 13 years, Isa Darwish, presents his credentials to Pres. Mubarak [MET 5/8-14].
Eight Arab states, including the State of Palestine, have agreed to Arab summit in Baghdad in late May (cf. 5/1) [KUNA 4/24 in FBIS 4/25].
Officials from PLO and Japan meet within framework of agreement reached last October, PLO to ask for assistance in creating jobs in O.T. [AVP 4/24 in FBIS 4/25].
Czechoslovakia's Pres. Havel says his country can serve as transit station for emigrating Soviet Jews [JDS 4/24 in FBIS 4/25].
Amid rumors that Israel will release captives held in S. Lebanon as payoffor release of U.S. hostage, Israeli officials say Israeli prisoners in Lebanon must be released as part of any deal [LAT 4/25].
Social/Economic/Political
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Speaking to Likud members, P.M. Shamir responds to comments about increasing Soviet Jewish immigration, saying "big immigration requires Israel to be big as well" [FBIS 1/22, 1/30].
Maj. Shay Talmon, commander of IDF battalion in W. Bank, tells Jerusalem judge that some soldiers insert live bullets into magazines for plastic bullets. IDF spokesperson reports that between 20 July 1988 and 8 July 1990, 125 Palestinians were killed "by plastic bullets." [FBIS 1/26].
Arab World: Arafat returns to Cairo for second visit in less than a week to meet with Pres. Mubarak [FBIS 1/16].
Other Countries: Italy's ambassador to Israel, Alberto Bartoli, files protest on behalf of the European Community with Israeli Foreign Ministry over police handling of 12/30 Peace Now rally. [LAT 1/15].
Military Action
Occupied Palestine/Israel: 2 Israeli border policemen are suspended and ordered to stand trial for fatally shooting 18-year-old Palestinian on 12/28 after military authorities viewed ABC News videotape of shooting [LAT 1/15].
Israeli military demotes Lt. David Lior to sergeant and sentences him to 45 days in prison for mistreating a Palestinian prisoner [LAT 1/15].
IDF closes Jericho-area al-Buhturi secondary school on grounds that students threw rocks at soldiers; all UNRWA schools in Jalazun camp are closed for the same reason [FJ 1/22].
