Meeting with Israeli leaders, Sec. Baker says Israel should consider series of fundamental compromises with Arabs if there is to be a peace conference; Baker gives P.M. Shamir list of possible...
U.S., Saudi, British, and Kuwaiti aircraft launch attack on Iraq bombing Baghdad and other military targets in Iraq and Kuwait with massive waves of air attacks and ship-launched missiles. "We...
In letter dated 5/29, Yitzhak Shamir appeals to Mikhail Gorbachev not to bow to Arab pressure and curtail Jewish emigration to Israel. Shamir adds that Israel does not have policy of "directing"...
Sec. of State James Baker says U.S. "would be prepared to discuss the question of a United Nations observer team" going to O.T. when UN Sec. Council meets in Geneva on 5/25 [NYT, WP, WT, LAT 5/24...
Militant rabbi Moshe Levinger pleads guilty to death by negligence charge after lawyers plea bargain to reduce original charge of manslaughter for shooting death of Arab salesman in Hebron....
Occupied Palestine/Israel: With Soviet Jewish immigrants arriving in Israel at rate of more than 1,000 per week, Israeli officials acknowledge they do not have...
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Transfer of Israeli premiership, scheduled for today, is delayed because of quarreling over cabinet appointment (NYT, WP 10/16).
...
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Meeting with Israeli leaders, Sec. Baker says Israel should consider series of fundamental compromises with Arabs if there is to be a peace conference; Baker gives P.M. Shamir list of possible concessions [NYT, LAT 4/20; IDF 4/19 in FBIS 4/19; MET 4/30].
Palestinian leaders hold news conference in Ramallah on questions of who will participate in talks with Sec. Baker [JTN 4/19 in FBIS 4/22].
Iraq makes public contents of 4/18 report given to UN: Baghdad says substantial arsenal of its chemical and ballistic weapons survived Gulf war, including 11,131 chemical warheads; Iraq also denies having nuclear arms, nuclear weapons-grade materials, or biological arns; U.S. says Iraq's inventory is incorrect [NYT, LAT 4/20; MET 4/30].
Blockade imposed on o.t. because of Sec. Baker's visit to Israel is lifted, allowing Palestinians to return to jobs over green line [JDS 4/19 in FBIS 4/19].
Lebanese media publishes results of public opinion poll conducted by Jerusalem's Arab Research Center: 55.34% of Palestinians now support confederation with Jordan, as opposed to 9.82% before Gulf war; 45.62% predict that PLO candidates would win majority of votes if elections were held in o.t. [MEM 4/19].
U.S., Saudi, British, and Kuwaiti aircraft launch attack on Iraq bombing Baghdad and other military targets in Iraq and Kuwait with massive waves of air attacks and ship-launched missiles. "We have no choice but to force Saddam from Kuwait" say Pres. Bush [NYT, LAT, WT, WP, MEM 1/17].
Hours before war erupts, French National Assembly overwhelmingly approves use of French forces for military operations; P.M. Rocard places country's 10,000 troops and 76 aircraft in Saudi Arabia under U.S. command [NYT, LAT, WP 1/17].
Israel declares nationwide state of emergency as war breaks out; schools are closed; curfew is placed on entire Gaza Strip [JDS 1/16 in FBIS 1/16; NYT, LAT, WT, WP 1/17].
Many Arab gov'ts., reportedly including Egypt, are not given advance notice of allied attack. Jordanian radio delays for 3 hours before broadcasting news that war has begun [LAT, WT 1/17].
Arab League and Gulf countries issue statements condemning 1/14 assassination of PLO's Abu lyad and others [MENA 1/16 in FBIS 1/16; WAKH, AES 1/16 in FBIS 1/17].
PLO calls for general mobilization of its forces in Lebanon; warns them to be ready to strike at U.S. interests [AFP 1/16 in FBIS 1/17].
Israeli gunboats shell inland Amal positions in S. Lebanon; no injuries are reported [BDS 1/16 in FBIS 1/17].
UN Sec.Council unanimously declares Iraq's annexation of Kuwait "null and void" [WP, NYT 8/10].
Arab leaders postpone Cairo summit for one day to reach solution to Iraqi delegate's refusal to participate in summit with Kuwaiti delegate, saying Kuwait is part of Iraq [CDS, MENA 8/9, BVL 8/10 in FBIS 8/10; LAT, WP, NYT 8/10].
Arafat meets in Baghdad with Saddam Hussein to discuss Gulf crisis [INA 8/9 in FBIS 8/10].
P.M. Shamir sends message to Pres. Bush in effort to upgrade U.S.-Israel contacts during Gulf crisis; Ma'ariv notes that Bush has not consulted with Shamir as he has with other leaders in the region [MAA 8/10 in FBIS 8/10].
Israel successfully test-launches Arrow missile designed to intercept incoming rockets; U.S. funds 80% of Arrow program as part of Washington's SDI initiative; Arrow will not be fully operational for 5 years [DS 8/9 in FBIS 8/13; LAT, NYT, WP, WT 8/10; JPI 8/18].
Palestinian injured on 8/7 dies; he was injured as Jewish mobs avenging deaths of 2 Israeli boys overturned his car [WP 8/10]. Amal movement reports its troops attacked Israeli positions in S.Lebanon, wounding 3 [BDS 8/9 in FBIS 8/13].
In letter dated 5/29, Yitzhak Shamir appeals to Mikhail Gorbachev not to bow to Arab pressure and curtail Jewish emigration to Israel. Shamir adds that Israel does not have policy of "directing" immigrants to O.T. [WP 6/26].
Saana Voice of Palestine broadcasts text of letter written by UNLU to members of Arab League summit in Baghdad calling for League to fully support PLO [SVP 5/29 in FBIS 6/4].
Israeli troops in S.Lebanon "security zone" shoot, kill unidentified person [JDS 5/29 in FBIS 5/29].
Demonstrations in Jordan over the past week, particularly in Baaqa refugee camp, reflect growing frustration at stalled peace process and increasing popularity of return to military option [MET 5/29].
Sec. of State James Baker says U.S. "would be prepared to discuss the question of a United Nations observer team" going to O.T. when UN Sec. Council meets in Geneva on 5/25 [NYT, WP, WT, LAT 5/24; MEM 5/25].
European Community's exec. commission grants emergency aid of 500,000 ECU ($600,000) for Palestinian victims of violence in O.T. [MEM 5/24].
Israeli Maj. Gen. Matan Vilna'i, commander of Southern Command, orders stricter firing regulations in Gaza to reduce casualties; new orders give only senior commander of each sector authorization to allow firing of plastic or rubber bullets [MAA 5/24 in FBIS 5/25].
Mideast Mirror reports thousands of Palestinian workers have stayed away from their jobs since 5/20 killings, and renewal of communal tensions [MEM 5/ 23].
Pres. Bush telephones Pres. Mubarak to discuss recent events, especially Soviet Jewish emigration to Israel [MENA 5/ 23 in FBIS 5/24; MENA 5/25 in FBIS 5/ 25].
Ambassadors to Tunisia from France, Italy, and Ireland, and European Community meet with Arafat to discuss past week's violence in O.T. [KUNA 5/25 in FBIS 5/25].
General strike is observed in Lebanon; banks, other businesses, are closed in solidarity with Palestinians condemning 5/20 killings; demonstrations are held in Beirut [BDS 5/23 in FBIS 5/24].
Arab foreign ministers conclude presummit working session begun 5/22 in Baghdad, adopt agenda for 5/28 summit [INA 5/23 in FBIS 5/24].
Scattered anti-Israel demonstrations take place in and near Amman refugee camps; some 200 protestors are dispersed at Ministry of Interior [JTE 5/24, 5/25 in FBIS 5/25]; at least I person is killed, several injured [MEM 5/24].
Militant rabbi Moshe Levinger pleads guilty to death by negligence charge after lawyers plea bargain to reduce original charge of manslaughter for shooting death of Arab salesman in Hebron. Levinger is to be sentenced on 5/14 [WT 5/ 2].
Israeli officials offer to exchange Arab prisoners for 3 Israelis held in Lebanon, but indicate they would not make any deals for Western hostages [WT 5/2].
Israeli gov't. reports that for 16th consecutive month number of Soviet Jews arriving in Israel has increased. Officials say 10,500 Jews emigrated to Israel in April, compared to 7,300 in March [NYT 5/2].
All but 20 Jewish settlers leave St. John's Hospice in Christian quarter of Jerusalem in compliance with Supreme Court eviction order [IDF 5/1 in FBIS 5/ 1; NYT, WP, LAT 5/2].
Soviet ambassador to Syria Alexander Zotov says Arab-Israeli conflict and buildup of weapons in Middle East will be "top priority" at 30 May-3 June Bush-Gorbachev summit [WT 5/2]; Zotov criticizes U.S. for not showing enough "firmness" with Israel to reach peace settlement [WP 5/2].
Fifteen Arab states have agreed to attend Arab summit meeting in Baghdad in late May [KUNA 5/1 in FBIS 5/2].
Arafat and Saddam Hussein meet in Baghdad to discuss upcoming Arab summit [INA 5/1 in FBIS 5/3].
Social/Economic/Political
Occupied Palestine/Israel: With Soviet Jewish immigrants arriving in Israel at rate of more than 1,000 per week, Israeli officials acknowledge they do not have plan to handie the immigration, and new housing construction is months away [NYT 1/18].
Israeli political and military leaders react with alarm to Senator Robert Dole's suggestion that some U.S. aid to Israel be reapportioned to E. Europe [WP, LAT 1/ 18].
Arab World: In 2 interviews, Arafat expresses frustration over slowness of peace process. Arafat says to Cairo weekly Al Mussawar if peace efforts stop he will "immediately announce [his] resignation." Speaking in Baghdad, Arafat accuses Arabs of "impotence" vis-a-vis Israel, decries Arabs more concerned with events in Lebanon than in O.T., and criticizes Shamir's plan to resettle Soviet Jews in W. Bank [NYT 1/18].
Military Action
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli police announce that it has removed police officer from his post for "committing brutalities" during the 12/30 Peace Now rally in Jerusalem [FJ 1/29].
General strike called for by UNLU is observed in O.T. Leaflet attributed to Hamas sharply attacks Arafat for his willingness to recognize Israel [FBIS 1/171.
At least 2 Palestinians are wounded in clashes with IDF troops in O.T. [FBIS 1/ 18].
Social/Economic/Political
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Transfer of Israeli premiership, scheduled for today, is delayed because of quarreling over cabinet appointment (NYT, WP 10/16).
Arab World: PLO Executive Committee ends two-day meeting in Baghdad with a call to Arabs to end attacks on Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon and a condemnation of Israel's appointment of three mayors in West Bank (FJ 10/15).
