The Israeli daily Ma'ariv reports that PM Netanyahu, Labor Chmn Barak recently held (beginning 7/12) a series of detailed secret talks at a Mossad location in central Israel on possibility...
PA Higher Education M Hanan Ashrawi, Agriculture M `Abd al-Jawad Salih resign in protest over Arafat's new cabinet. (MM 8/6; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/7) (see Peace Monitor, Doc. B2)
PA warns that talks set for 8/3 will be the last mtg. with Israel unless the Israeli team offers new ideas. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/3)
The Israeli FMin. says that it has rebuffed overtures by...
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Saying it would be "useless," Arafat cancels scheduled mtg. with Israeli negotiator Molho. (HA [Internet] 8/18; WJW 8/20)
Hamas mbr. Imad Awadallah, jailed by the PA for the 3/29 murder of Hamas mbr. Muhieddin Sharif, escapes fr. PA jail in Jericho. PA police conduct house-to-house search in Jericho, Ramallah; place curfew on central Jericho, marking the 1st time the PA has placed a curfew on Palestinians. (CSM, WP, WT 8/17)
Jordan's parliamentary speaker arrives in Iran for 3-day visit; discussions on expanding bilateral economic, political, cultural relations. (IRNA, RJ 8/15, IRNA, JT 8/16, IRNA 8/17 in WNC 8/18)
Pakistan hands over to Kenya a suspect, Muhammad Saddiq Odeh, in the 8/7 U.S. embassy bombing in Nairobi, claiming that he admitted during interrogation that he helped carry out the Kenya, Tanzania bombings for Saudi dissident Osama Bin Laden. In Nairobi, Kenyan, FBI officials question Odeh. (WP, WT 8/17; NYT 8/17)
The Israeli daily Ma'ariv reports that PM Netanyahu, Labor Chmn Barak recently held (beginning 7/12) a series of detailed secret talks at a Mossad location in central Israel on possibility of forming a unity government. (MM 8/10, 8/14)
In Tel Aviv, Israel, Russia open talks on establishing bilateral consular relations. (ITAR-TASS 8/10 in WNC 8/11; Vesti 8/13 in WNC 8/14; Interfax 8/28 in WNC 8/20) (see 8/8)
U.S. gives Jordan a $54.3-m. grant to help cover costs of Jordan's international debt, economic reform programs, employment generation. (RJ 8/10 in WNC 8/12)
In Tehran, Jordan, Iran discuss expanding technical, industrial cooperation. After mtgs., Jordanian FM Anani leaves for Bahrain. (IRNA, RMC 8/10 in WNC 8/11; JTV 8/11, VOA 8/12 in WNC 8/13) (see 8/9)
An IDF soldier, 1 Hizballah mbr. are injured during a clash in s. Lebanon. (RL 8/10 in WNC 8/11)
After 2 days of heated debate, PC approves (55-28, with 3 abstentions) Arafat's new EA. (WP 8/9; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 8/10; JP 8/15)
PM Netanyahu turns down invitation fr. Norway to attend 5th anniversary commemoration of the Oslo accords scheduled to be held in Oslo 8/23-24. Fmr. Israeli PM Peres, Arafat plan to attend. (HA [Internet] 8/10, 8/18)
Jordanian FM Anani arrives in Iran for 2 days of talks on bilateral cultural, economic, political ties; meets with Majles speaker Ali Akbar Nateq-Nuri. (JTV 8/8, IRNA 8/9, JT 8/10 in WNC 8/11; MM 8/14)
Jordan's new amb. to Iraq, Hammud Katarneh, presents his credentials to Iraqi VP Taha Yassin Ramadan. Both men express desire to boost bilateral cooperation. (MM 8/12)
Israel's Atty. Gen. Elaykim Rubenstein, State Prosecutor Edna Arbel, National Chief of Police Yehuda Vilk meet to finalize new regulations for the IDF, police, Shin Bet that will eliminate special treatment for Jewish settlers who break the law in the occupied territories, especially in cases involving attacks on Palestinians. (HA [Internet] 8/11)
10s of Jewish settlers fr. settlements along the Lebanese border demonstrate outside PM Netanyahu's office to protest government plans to rescind the benefits granted the border settlements after Israel's assault on Lebanon 4/11-26/96. (HA [Internet] 8/10)
Palestinian prisoner Walid Qawasmeh dies en route to a Nablus hospital after 10 days in PA custody. PA says that he died of heat stroke. Autopsy today concludes that he had been tortured. (WP 8/11; LAW 8/12)
PA Higher Education M Hanan Ashrawi, Agriculture M `Abd al-Jawad Salih resign in protest over Arafat's new cabinet. (MM 8/6; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/7) (see Peace Monitor, Doc. B2)
Israeli DM Mordechai briefs U.S. Amb. Walker on talks with the PA. (IGPO 8/6)
In Amman, PA Local Government M Erakat briefs Crown Prince Hassan on talks with Israel. Crown Prince Hassan later meets with Israeli Internal Security M Kahalani. (RJ 8/6 in WNC 8/7; JTV, RJ 8/6 in WNC 8/10)
In Washington, delegation of Labor MKs headed by party chmn. Barak meets with Secy. Albright. (MA 8/6 in WNC 8/7)
PM Netanyahu accuses the Vatican of bending to political pressure fr. the PLO in appointing a Palestinian, Pierre Mouallem, as archbishop of the Melchite (Greek Orthodox) church in the Galilee. (NYT 8/8)
In Damascus, Iran, Syria discuss expanding cooperation in the judicial sphere. (MM 8/6; IRNA 8/6 in WNC 8/10) (see 8/5)
Arafat presents new cabinet to the PC. (MM 8/5; MM, NYT 8/6; LAW, MM, PR 8/7)
By phone, Secy. Albright tells PM Netanyahu that the freeze in the peace process is harming U.S. interests in the Middle East, is affecting the U.S.'s ability to forge a coalition against Iraq (see 8/4). Netanyahu asks Albright to send special envoy Ross back to the region, but she refuses. (MA 8/6 in WNC 8/7)
In Damascus, Iran, Syria hold talks on financial cooperation, joint investments, elimination of double taxation. (IRNA 8/5 in WNC 8/7) (see 8/2)
2 Jewish settlers on patrol around Yitzhar settlement nr. Nablus are shot, killed. IDF places curfew on nearby Palestinian villages, search for attackers but do not find them. PM Netanyahu authorizes expansion of Yitzhar; settlers say that they will start work immediately. (MM, NYT 8/5; CSM, MM, WP, WT 8/6; MM 8/7; YA 8/7 in WNC 8/11; JP 8/15)
In s. Lebanon, 1 Hizballah mbr. is killed, 1 is wounded by IDF shelling. (RL 8/5 in WNC 8/6; VOL 8/5, RL 8/6 in WNC 8/7)
PA warns that talks set for 8/3 will be the last mtg. with Israel unless the Israeli team offers new ideas. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/3)
The Israeli FMin. says that it has rebuffed overtures by Cuban contacts seeking closer ties btwn. the 2 countries. (YA 8/2 in WNC 8/10)
In Damascus, Iran, Syria hold talks on economic cooperation, expanding commercial ties. (IRNA 8/2 in WNC 8/10)
Israeli military police arrest 1 IDF tracker, 1 SLA mbr. suspected of smuggling 10 M-16 rifles, 5 handguns fr. Lebanon into Israel. (MA 8/2 in WNC 8/10)
