U.S. Asst. Secy. Indyk briefs ambs. of Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the UAE on the Wye agmt. (al-Akhbar, al-Ba'th, al-Jumhuriyya...
PA-Israeli talks resume btwn. Netanyahu atty. Molho, PA Local Government M Erakat. Despite the lack of new ideas, the PA does not call a halt to talks. (CSM, MM 8/3; RE 8/3, AFP 8/4 in WNC 8/7;...
Syria's Pres. Asad arrives in France for 2 days of talks with Pres. Chirac on the peace process, the French-Egyptian proposal for an international summit (see 5/18). This is Asad's 1st trip to a...
In Washington, Secy. Albright meets with PM Netanyahu but fails to overcome differences keeping Israel fr. reaching an FRD agmt., resuming talks with the PA. Netanyahu again raises...
After mtg. with Arafat late 5/2, VP Gore holds unscheduled 2-a.m. mtg. with Netanyahu to discuss peace process; then heads to Cairo for pre-dawn mtg. with Pres. Mubarak regarding...
Israel 2-day official celebration of its 50th anniversary (by the Jewish calendar) begins. Jubilee officials have banned any reference to the Oslo process during official programs;...
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U.S. Asst. Secy. Indyk briefs ambs. of Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the UAE on the Wye agmt. (al-Akhbar, al-Ba'th, al-Jumhuriyya, MENA, RL 10/26, AFP 10/27 in WNC 10/28; MM, NYT, WP 10/27; MM 10/28; al-Ba'th 10/28 in WNC 11/2; al-Quds 10/28, SA 10/30, al-Ahram 11/2 in WNC 11/6; MM 10/29, 10/30; MM 11/2; WP 11/6)
In the Knesset, PM Netanyahu survives no-confidence motion, but Knesset Law Comm. agrees (9-7) to hear 1st reading of bill calling for the dissolution of parliament, new elections in 100 days. MKs criticize Netanyahu for linking Pollard with the peace process. (CSM, WP, WT 10/27)
In Gaza, the Arab Liberation Front, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Islamic National Salvation Party, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) issue statement denouncing the Wye agmt. (MENA 10/26 in WNC 10/27; PR 10/30)
200 Jewish settlers hold rally outside PM Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem, protesting the Wye agmt. At least 24 are detained by Israeli police. (ITV 10/26 in WNC 10/27; WP 10/27; YA 10/27 in WNC 10/28; MM 10/28)
Jordan, Israel begin long-delayed $1.65-m. joint project to build the `Adasiyya diversion wall to diver Yarmuk River water. (JT, RJ 10/27 in WNC 10/28; JP 211/9)
An Israeli settler is killed in Israeli-controlled Hebron in an apparent attack by Palestinians. IDF places curfew on Palestinians in Hebron's Israeli-controlled zone. Later, the body of a Palestinian is found outside Itamar settlement nr. Nablus. An anonymous caller claims Palestinian was killed to avenge the settler's death. (IDF Radio, ITV 10/26 in WNC 10/27; ITV 10/26 in WNC 10/28; CSM, LAW, MM, NYT, WP 10/27; MM 10/28; WJW 10/29; PR 10/30)
In Ramallah, Palestinians observe general strike, 100s of Fatah mbrs. march to protest 10/25 events, call on Arafat to punish security services. (NYT, WP 10/27; PR 10/30)
International experts submit final report Iraqi missile fragments to the UNSC, say results are inconclusive. Tests by Switzerland show no traces of VX; 1 sample in the 3d test by France shows traces of nerve agent that could be VX. French, Swiss, U.S. tests all show traces of unknown compound that could mask biological agents. (NYT, WP 10/27; MEI 10/30) (6/22)
U.S. says that a UN proposal to try the Pan Am bombing suspects in the Hague under Scottish law, tentatively agreed to by all parties, is in jeopardy because of Libyan demands that the 2 suspects not be imprisoned in Scotland if found guilty. (WP 10/27; WT 10/28) (see 9/29)
PA-Israeli talks resume btwn. Netanyahu atty. Molho, PA Local Government M Erakat. Despite the lack of new ideas, the PA does not call a halt to talks. (CSM, MM 8/3; RE 8/3, AFP 8/4 in WNC 8/7; IGPO, MM, NYT 8/4)
In Amman, Crown Prince Hassan receives Israeli MK Yossi Sarid for talks on the peace process. (Petra-JNA 8/4 in WNC 8/6)
In Washington, Labor Chmn. Barak, MKs Yossi Beilin, Shlomo Ben-Ami, Ephraim Sneh (who are on a 5-day U.S. tour) meet with 12 AIPAC officials. The 4 men criticize AIPAC's recent lobbying efforts, such as the letter signed by 81 senators to Pres. Clinton, saying that AIPAC is "looking for battles at the expense of Israeli security." Netanyahu calls the U.S. trip "subversive." (CSM, MM 8/3; IGPO, MM 8/4; WJW 8/6, 8/13; JP 8/15)
Palestinian archaeologists working on the 1st dig in the PA self-rule areas uncover remains of Canaanite homes they believe date fr. around 3000 B.C.. (WT 8/5)
IDF demolishes reconstructed section Palestinian home in Anata that was 1st knocked down 7/9. (LAW 8/3)
Off the coast of Tyre, Israeli naval forces seize a Lebanese fishing boat, arrest 2 fishermen. (RL 8/3 in WNC 8/7)
Syria's Pres. Asad arrives in France for 2 days of talks with Pres. Chirac on the peace process, the French-Egyptian proposal for an international summit (see 5/18). This is Asad's 1st trip to a Western nation in 22 yrs. (MM 7/16; AFP 7/16 in WNC 7/20; MEI, MM, WT 7/17; AFP 7/17 in WNC 7/20; NYT 7/18; SANA, SATN, VOA 7/18 MA 7/19, Les Echos 7/20 in WNC 7/21; WT 7/21; Tishrin 7/21 in WNC 7/24; MM 7/23; al-Watan al-Arabi 7/24 in WNC 7/28; MM 7/27; MEI 7/31)
In Gaza, PA Local Government M Erakat, Egyptian Amb. to Israel Muhammad Basyuni discuss peace process, upcoming resumption of PA-Israel talks. (MENA 7/16 in WNC 7/20)
Palestinian land dealer Badawi Jawlani, suspected of selling Palestinian land to Jews, is found murdered nr. Ramallah. (YA 7/17 in WNC 7/20) (see 6/10/97)
A day after PM Netanyahu leaves the U.S., Labor Chmn. Barak arrives in Washington for talks with U.S. officials on the peace process. (MM 5/22)
EU reps. meet with Israeli Finance M Yaakov Neeman to discuss Israel's practice of exporting goods fr. the occupied territories with "Made in Israel" labels. (JP 5/30; see also AFP [Internet] 5/19)
In Amman, the PA, Jordan open 2 days of talks on the peace process, coordination btwn. the PC and parliament. Separately, PA Planning M Shaath, Jordanian PM `Abd al-Salam al-Majali discuss peace process, U.S. mediation (see 5/19). (JTV 5/20, RJ 5/21 in WNC 5/23; JTV 5/21 in WNC 5/27)
A panel of 9 Israeli High Court judges holds hearing on 6 petitions by Palestinian prisoners challenging the use of torture in interrogations by Israeli security services. Intelligence representatives testify that use of "moderate physical pressure" has prevented anti-Israeli attacks. (WP 5/21; NYT 5/22; LAW 5/23)
Hamas spiritual leader Shaykh Ahmad Yasin arrives in Syria fr. Yemen. (MENA 5/21 in WNC 5/23; MM 5/22; al-Quds al-Arabi 5/22 in WNC 5/27; PR 5/29)
In Washington, Secy. Albright meets with PM Netanyahu but fails to overcome differences keeping Israel fr. reaching an FRD agmt., resuming talks with the PA. Netanyahu again raises escrow idea. In a couched criticism of Israel, Clinton expresses suspicions that "some of the actors in th Middle East drama" are carrying out "a deliberate strategy of delay." Netanyahu is at the start of a 5-day U.S. visit to meet with congressional leaders, attend AIPAC, American Jewish Comm. mtgs. (MM, NYT 5/13; NYT, WP, WT 5/14; MA 5/14 in WNC 5/15)
Russian special envoy Posuvalyuk arrives in Beirut for 2 days of talks with PM Hariri on peace process, Israel's s. Lebanon withdrawal offer. (RL, VOL 5/13 in WNC 5/14; RL 5/14 in WNC 5/15)
Kuwait releases 4 of the 13 Jordanian detainees pardoned 4/26. (JTV 5/13 in WNC 5/15) (see 5/7)
In Jerusalem, a Palestinian is stabbed to death by an Ultraorthodox Jew. He is the 6th Palestinian to be stabbed in Jerusalem since 2/17, the 1st to die of his injuries. (NYT, WP 5/14)
In the deadliest attack in more than 2 yrs., Israeli air force (IAF) bombards Fatah-Uprising training camp in s. Lebanon, killing 10 Palestinians, wounding 26. IAF also targets nearby PFLP-GC camp, causing damage but no injuries. France condemns the attacks. (MM 5/13; AFP, RL, VOL 5/13 in WNC 5/14; NYT, WP, WT 5/14)
After mtg. with Arafat late 5/2, VP Gore holds unscheduled 2-a.m. mtg. with Netanyahu to discuss peace process; then heads to Cairo for pre-dawn mtg. with Pres. Mubarak regarding London talks, bilateral economic relations. Later in the day, Arafat flies to Cairo to meet with Mubarak before heading to London mtgs. (WP 5/3; ESC Television, MENA, RE 5/3 in WNC 5/6; NYT, WP, WT 5/4)
Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan travels to Turkey to participate in mtg. of new Atlantic Initiative Group, which stresses human rights as the basis for security, stability in the Middle East. Conferences discusses peace process, Iraq. (JTV 5/3 in WNC 5/6)
Group of 17 German army cadets arrives in Israel for 1st joint training program. (NYT, WT 5/4; ITV 5/4 in WNC 5/8)
Iran calls on Turkey to expand bilateral economic relations. (IRNA 5/3 in WNC 5/6)
Jordan Information Min. says that police have detained 50+n60 suspects for questioning in connection with 4/29, 4/30 bombings. (AFP 5/3, al-Quds al-Arabi, al-Ra'i 5/4 in WNC 5/6; al-Hadath 5/4, al-Hayat al-Jadida, JT, al-Sabil 5/5, RJ 5/6, al-Ra'i 5/7 in WNC 5/8; RJ 5/10 in WNC 5/12; al-Hadath 5/11 in WNC 5/13)
Israeli military court convicts, sentences Palestinian Riyad Abu Hamdiyya to 4 life terms in prison for participation in 1/9/97, 3/21/97 bombings in Tel Aviv. (NYT 5/4)
Israel 2-day official celebration of its 50th anniversary (by the Jewish calendar) begins. Jubilee officials have banned any reference to the Oslo process during official programs; Pres. Weizman, who is critical of government's handling of peace process, has not been scheduled to speak. IDF places closure on the West Bank, Gaza for the long weekend. (CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/29; Tishrin 4/29 in WNC 5/6; NYT, WT 4/30; Interfax, Star, Xinhua [Beijing] 4/30 in WNC 5/1; JP 5/2)
Jordanian government bans rally planned by 13 opposition parties to highlight the 50th anniversary of Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands. (JT 4/30 in WNC 5/1; al-Majd [Amman] 5/4 in WNC 5/6; MEI 5/8)
Hamas spiritual leader Shaykh Yasin arrives unexpectedly in Iran. (MM 4/29; IRIB Television 5/2 in WNC 5/6; WT 5/4; MM 5/7; WT 5/13) (Peace Monitor)
Switzerland announces that Israel has paid a $2-m. bail to free Mossad agent arrested for spying 2/19. (WP 4/30; JP 5/9) (see 2/27)
In separate incidents in Amman, unknown assailants place bombs under the car of fmr. Jordanian intelligence chief Muhammad Kilani, outside the home of Senator Jawdat al-Subul. (AFP 4/29, al-Dustur 4/30 in WNC 5/1; MENA 4/30 in WNC 5/5; RJ 5/10 in WNC 5/13)
In s. Lebanon, a Lebanese civilian is seriously wounded by IDF shelling. (VOL 4/29 in WNC 5/1)
