In Washington, Pres. Clinton meets with Netanyahu and Arafat, who agree on essentials of a 13% FRD but differ on "parallel" Palestinian actions to ensure Israeli security. Announce plans for...
U.S special envoy Ross holds final unsuccessful mtg. with PM Netanyahu. State Dept. says that since no gaps were closed during Ross's tour, it is not considering a Washington summit;...
In Washington, Pres. Clinton meets with Netanyahu and Arafat, who agree on essentials of a 13% FRD but differ on "parallel" Palestinian actions to ensure Israeli security. Announce plans for another 3-way mtg. in the U.S. in mid-10/98 to finalize agmt. (MM 9/28; ITV 9/28 in WNC 9/29; HA [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/29; Les Echos 9/29 in WNC 9/30; CSM 9/30; al-Akhbar 9/30 in WNC 10/1; WJW 10/1; MEI, MM, PR 10/2; JP 10/3, 10/10)
Arafat returns to New York City to address the UNGA. Under pressure fr. the U.S., he does not mention declaring of a state in 5/99. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/29; CSM 9/30; MM 10/1; MEI, MM, PR 10/2; JP 10/10) (see 9/23)
Fmr. UNSCOM inspector Ritter reveals that for 4 yrs., Israel analyzed intelligence data on Iraq for UNSCOM. (MM 9/28; HA [Internet], WP 9/29; MM, WT 9/30; al-Thawra 9/30 in WNC 10/6; MM 10/1 WP 10/11, 10/12) (see 8/26)
In Umm al-Fahm, Israeli Arabs, Israeli security forces clash for 2d day, with some police firing live ammunition, leaving 11 residents wounded. Town observes general strike to protest police brutality. (MM 9/28; MM, WT 9/29; MEI, PR 10/2; MM 10/5; JP 10/10)
Israeli police free settler who killed a Palestinian boy 9/17. (MEI, PR 10/2) (see 9/19)
In New York, PM Netanyahu meets with UN Secy. Gen. Annan, restates plans to withdraw fr. s. Lebanon but gives no time frame. (NYT, WP, WT 5/16)
Jordanian PM Anani arrives in Cairo to give FM Musa a message fr. King Hussein to Pres. Mubarak regarding their next steps in the peace process. (VOA 5/13 in WNC 5/14) (al-Ahram 5/14 in WNC 5/15)
In Geneva, UN Committee Against Torture convenes to discuss Israel's use of torture against Palestinian detainees. (Human Rights Watch press release 5/15)
Responding to the 5/14 violence, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Mary Robinson calls on Israel to respect the Palestinians' right of peaceful assembly, avoid excessive use of military force. (WP, WT 5/16)
Reacting to 5/14 clashes, Palestinians leaving Friday prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque throw stones fr. the mosque compound at Jews at the Wailing Wall below, causing no injures. In Hebron, IDF troops open fire on stone-throwing Palestinians along the dividing line btwn. PA, Jewish sectors, wounding an Israeli newspaper photographer. Similar clashes occur in Nablus. In Gaza, 100s of Palestinians attend funeral for nurse killed 5/14 while trying to evacuate the injured. In the Galilee, Israeli Arabs hold peaceful march to mark al-Nakba (see 4/14). (MM 5/15; ITV 5/15 in WNC 5/18; NYT, WP, WT 5/16)
Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon observe general strike to commemorate al-Nakba. (RL 5/15 in WNC 5/18)
In Cairo, 800 Egyptians hold rally at al-Azhar Mosque to mark 50th anniversary of al-Nakba, protest Israeli policies toward the Palestinians. (AFP, MENA 5/15 in WNC 5/18)
Israel's Cabinet Secy. Dani Nave visits Pollard to inform him of Netanyahu's 5/11 decision to recognize him as an Israeli agent. (ITV 5/15 in WNC 5/18; WP 5/17)
U.S special envoy Ross holds final unsuccessful mtg. with PM Netanyahu. State Dept. says that since no gaps were closed during Ross's tour, it is not considering a Washington summit; says that "one option has always been for us to disengage from this kind of direct catalytic role." Ross goes to Sharm al-Shaykh to brief Egyptian pres. Mubarak. (MM 3/30; IDF Radio, MENA 3/30 in WNC 3/31; ITV, QY 3/30, al-Dustur, IDF Radio, ITV, JT, QY 3/31 in WNC 4/2; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/31; CSM, MM 4/1; SA 4/1 in WNC 4/3; WJW 4/2; MENA 4/2 in WNC 4/4; MM 4/3; MEI 4/10; JP 4/11)
In Riyadh, Egyptian FM Musa, Syrian FM Shara`, Saudi Arabian FM Prince Sa'ud al-Faisal open surprise 2-day mtg. to discuss peace process, possibly convening larger Arab summit. (RE 3/30 in WNC 3/31; MM 3/31; MENA, RE 3/31 in WNC 4/2; MM 4/1; al-Ittihad [Abu Dhabi] 4/2 in WNC 4/3)
Iranian FM Kharrazi arrives in Lebanon for 3-day visit, meets with Pres. Hrawi. (IRNA, RL, VOL 3/30 in WNC 3/31; IRNA 3/30, IRNA, RL 3/31 in WNC 4/2; IRNA, RL, VIRI 4/1 in WNC 4/3; al-Ahd [Beirut] 4/3 in WNC 4/13)
Jordan, Israel hold 1-day naval exercise in the Gulf of Aqaba. This is the 1st such joint exercise. (RJ 3/30, JT 3/31 in WNC 4/2)
Jordan receives last 3 F-16s fr. the U.S. (al-Ra'i 3/31 in WNC 4/2; JT 4/4 in WNC 4/7)
Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza mark Land Day, the anniversary of the 1976 incident in which the IDF opened fire on Palestinians protesting Israeli land confiscations, killing 6. Clashes with IDF are reported in Bethlehem, al-Bireh, Hebron, Jinin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Ramallah; 17 Palestinians are injured. Israeli Arab leaders order general strike. (NYT 3/29; MM 3/30; al-Dustur 3/31 in WNC 4/2; MA 4/6 in WNC 4/7; JP 4/11)
Israeli High Court rejects appeal to prevent demolition of mosque in Jordan Valley, school and home nr. Nablus, home nr. Tulkarm. (LAW 3/31)
50 Christian evangelical groups make unprecedented promise not to carry out missionary activity in Israel, saying that they "rejoice in the presence of the Jewish people in this country of their ancestors" and they will avoid "activities which . . . alienate them from their tradition and community." (WT 3/31)
Saudi Arabia ends its inquiry into the 6/96 Khobar barracks bombing, says bombers cannot be positively identified. U.S., which suspects Iranian involvement and has complained that Saudi Arabia has not been forthcoming with information, says its investigation is still open. (NYT 3/31; WT 4/1)
Netanyahu deploys 6,000 police throughout Israel, 4,000 in East Jerusalem. After morning prayers at al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, several youths throw stones at IDF troops and police surrounding the site. IDF storms the compound, fires on Palestinians, killing 3, wounding 50. Fewer clashes take place than on 9/26, but fighting, particularly in Rafah and Tulkarm, where IDF helicopters fire on Palestinian crowds, continues. In Balata, Erez, Jenin, Ramallah, PA police, officials form cordons to prevent Palestinians fr. attacking Israeli targets. Israeli Arabs observe a general strike in support of the Palestinians. A total of 52 Palestinians, 14 Israelis have been killed over the past 3 days. The tunnel opened 9/24 is closed for the Jewish holiday. (MM 9/27; IDF Radio, RE, RL 9/27 in WNC 9/30; ITV, TJT 9/27 in WNC 10/1; RE 9/27 in WNC 10/2; NYT, WP, WT 9/28; CSM, MM 9/30; MEI, PR 10/4; JP 10/5)
PM Netanyahu rejects his security chiefs' assessment that clashes are a result of Palestinian frustration, Arafat is unable to control them; calls recent violence a "deliberate incitement" by Arafat; vows to "take every measure available to us to protect our troops." (NYT, WT 9/28)
In New York, Secy. of State Christopher says talks are still underway to secure an Arafat-Netanyahu mtg.; Netanyahu has told special envoy Ross that he believes concessions to the PA at this time would encourage the Palestinians to commit further violence, cause his government to fall because of defections fr. hard-line coalition mbrs.; Netanyahu has refused suggestions that Christopher or Ross make a trip to the region. (NYT, WP 9/28; CSM 9/30)
Despite U.S., Israeli protests, the UN Security Council (UNSC) begins debate of a possible resolution that would criticize Israel severely, demand closing of the 9/24 tunnel. (NYT, WP, WT 9/28; MEI 10/4)
In Tel Aviv, 1,000s of Israelis led by Meretz MKs protest Netanyahu, call for his resignation. (IDF Radio 9/27 in WNC 9/30)
1,000s of Palestinian refugees in s. Lebanon camps continue anti-Israeli demonstrations. Israel continues to reinforce troops in s. Lebanon. (RL 9/27 in WNC 10/1) (see 9/26)
