Bilateral Israeli-Syrian, Israeli-Lebanese peace talks resume in Washington. But talks between Israel, Jordanians, Palestinians fail to take place when Israel rejects 2-track approach of meeting...
Sec. Baker meets with Palestinians in Jerusalem, makes no comment afterward. Faisal Husseini says that meeting was most constructive of the 3 held so far. Baker flies to Jordan for meeting with...
After midnight meeting with F.M. Aziz in Moscow, Soviet leaders announce Baghdad has given "positive" response to Soviet peace plan; U.S. delays formal response until consultation with allies [NYT...
Facing rising congressional opposition, White House backs off from plan to sell Saudi Arabia over $20 billion in military hardware; legislative support appears possible for fraction of total sale...
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PM Netanyahu arrives in China for 3-day visit. (MM 5/26)
In Cairo, Arafat attends Arab League mtg. called to commemorate the 50th anniversary of al-Nakba; calls for Arab summit on the peace process. (MENA, RE 5/26 in WNC 5/27)
Egyptian FM `Amr Musa arrives in Amman for talks with King Hussein on Mubarak's trip to France, possible Arab summit; says Pres. Mubarak is discussing summit idea with other Arab leaders, including Morocco's King Hassan, who arrived in Cairo today for 3-day official visit, and Syria's Pres. Asad. (MENA, RE, RJ 5/26 in WNC 5/27; MM 5/27, 5/28)
In Tel Aviv, Israel's DM Yitzhak Mordechai meets with Turkey's dep. chief of staff, Gen. Cevik Bir, for talks on the peace process, furthering military cooperation, possible joint arms projects. (WT 5/27)
Saudi Arabia's FM Prince Saud al-Faisal arrives in Iran for 2-day talks on improving bilateral ties. (WT 5/27)
Hamas's Shaykh Yasin visits Syria's Yarmuk refugee camp, where he receives warm welcome fr. Palestinian refuges. (WP 6/11) (see 5/25)
In East Jerusalem, Israeli border policemen clash with Palestinians protesting illegal construction by Jewish settlers (see 5/25). To halt violence, Israel's Jerusalem mayor Ehud Olmert bans the construction in the name of Israel's Antiquities Dept., orders the demolition of the settlers' illegal dwellings. (ITV 5/26 in WNC 5/27; MM, NYT 5/27; WJW 5/28; MM 6/3; MEI 6/5; WT 6/9)
Yemen reports that over the past 2 days, Saudi troops have seized the island of Harim in the Red Sea as part of an attempt to pressure Sana' to make territorial concessions in the 2 countries' border demarcation negotiations, which just resumed last wk. The island is 1 of 3 uninhabited but strategically significant Red Sea islands in dispute. (MM 5/26)
3 SLA mbrs., 3 Hizballah mbrs. are killed in 2 clashes in s. Lebanon. 4 civilians are injured, over 100 flee their homes. (ITV, RL, VOL 5/26 in WNC 5/27)
Bilateral Israeli-Syrian, Israeli-Lebanese peace talks resume in Washington. But talks between Israel, Jordanians, Palestinians fail to take place when Israel rejects 2-track approach of meeting separately with Palestinian and Jordanian components of joint J-P delegation and insists on meeting only with combined delegation in one room. (WP 12/11)
At Islamic Conference Organization (ICO) meeting in Dakar, Senegal, Saudi Crown Prince 'Abdallah bin 'Abd al-'Aziz underscores continued Saudi anger at PLO and Jordan by shaking hands but refusing to embrace Chmn. Arafat in traditional Arab greeting of friendship, and avoiding greeting King Hussein altogether. (WP 12/1 1)
Israel decides to establish direct dialing telephone service to 11 Arab countries (Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, Kuwait, Yemen, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates) [see 12/5]. Calls will be completed by satellite connection which routes them through U.S. (MM 12/11)
Sec. Baker meets with Palestinians in Jerusalem, makes no comment afterward. Faisal Husseini says that meeting was most constructive of the 3 held so far. Baker flies to Jordan for meeting with King Hussein (lst since Gulf war), who endorses Baker's peace mission; then Baker flies to Cairo. Israeli officials criticize what they call "subtle pressure" on Jerusalem to offer concessions; Baker and other American officials admit that Saudi Arabia is not likely to attend peace conference with Israel [NYT, WP 4/21; JDS, IDF, AGS, MENA, ADS 4/20 in FBIS 4/22; FJ 4/22; JPI 5/4].
Battalion of U.S. Marines lands in northern Iraq to begin erecting 1st refugee camp in what is to be allied-protected zone inside Iraq [NYT, WP 4/21; CSM 4/22].
Under pressure to form more democratic gov't., Kuwait announces new cabinet with 4 of 9 members of Sabah family retaining major posts [NYT 4/21; MEM 4/22; KUNA 4/20 in FBIS 4/22].
Opposition groups say naming cabinet is insufficient, that it fails to move country toward democracy [WP 4/21; MEM 4/22].
Yasir Arafat arrives in Yemen for meetings with Pres. Salih [AES 4/20, SDS 4/21 in FBIS 4/22].
After midnight meeting with F.M. Aziz in Moscow, Soviet leaders announce Baghdad has given "positive" response to Soviet peace plan; U.S. delays formal response until consultation with allies [NYT, LAT, WP, WT 2/22].
Saddam Hussein delivers speech over Baghdad radio reaffirming Iraq's 2/15 proposal; says Iraq is ready for all-out war unless proposal is accepted [BADS 2/21 in FBIS 2/21; NYT, LAT, WP, MEM 2/22; MET 3/5].
U.S. Def. Sec. Dick Cheney says allied forces are braced for "one of the largest land assaults of modem times" as U.S.-Iraq clashes grow larger and more intense; U.S. command says allies have reached level of destruction specified by senior generals as minimum needed before ground offensive can begin [NYT 2/22].
SCUD missiles are fired at Saudi Arabia in 2 rare daylight attacks; Patriot missile intercept all; 9 American soldiers are killed in 2 helicopter crashes in Saudi Arabia [LAT, MEM 2/22; MET 3/5].
Kuwaiti gov't-in-exile contracts U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help restore Kuwait's damaged water, power, and transportation systems after war. Contract runs for 90 days, valued at $45 million [LAT 2/22].
Saudi ambassador to U.S., Prince Bandar bin Sultan, warns that Yasir Arafat, King Hussein, and Pres. Saleh of Yemen will be made to pay dearly for supporting Iraq, signalling sharp break from Saudi prewar policy of trying to forge Arab consensus (cf. 2/26) [LAT 2/22].
Hours after long-disputed $400 million loan guarantees to Israel is approved, Israeli officials claim the amount is grossly insufficient; Immigration Min. Yitzhak Peretz says "In fact, it's a very small sum that only accounts for 3 or 4 percent of the overall figure" needed [NYT 2/22].
Amnesty International accuses members of allies of using war as pretext for human rights violations, citing Britain, Egypt, and U.S. for war-related abuses [MEM 2/21; LAT 2/22].
At Labor party bureau meeting MK Moshe Shahal expresses, for 1st time in public, support for creation of Palestinian state [IDF 2/21 in FBIS 2/22; MEM 2/22; JPI 3/2].
Iraq's Revolutionary Command Council issues statement allowing all Soviet citizens to leave Iraq providing Soviet gov't. assumes responsibility for breaching worker contracts [MEM 12/4; NYT, LAT, WT, WP, CSM 12/5; INA 12/4 in FBIS 12/4].
After meeting in Cairo with Saudi and Syrian F.M.s, Pres. Mubarak urges creation of new Arab alliance grouping Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Syria as a "foundation to serve the Arab people." Tripartite statement is also issued. King Hussein of Jordan and Vice Pres. al-Beedh of Yemen fly to Baghdad to meet with Saddam Hussein and Yasir Arafat [MENA 12/4 in FBIS 12/5; NYT, LAT, MEM 12/5; WP 12/6; AVP 12/6 in FBIS 12/7; MET 12/18].
Kuwait's ambassador to U.S. says Bush admin. has assured his gov't.-in-exile that U.S. would make "absolutely no concessions" when it meets with Iraqi officials [NYT 12/5].
New York Newsday reports Kach party members mailed to a television reporter a "hit list," threatening lives of at least 8 supporters of Palestinian rights, including M.T. Mehdi, Arthur Hertzberg, Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said, and Anthony Lewis. Threats are aimed at avenging assassination of Kach founder Meir Kahane [WT, WP, MEM 12/5].
In Brussels, 12-country EC agrees that It- aly, current holder of EC presidency, could hold talks with Iraqi F.M. Aziz if Aziz first meets with Pres. Bush [MEM 12/5].
Responding to growing fear over rash of Palestinian knife attacks on Israelis, police broaden surveillance of Arab workers in Israel with spot check searches and new roadblocks along W. Bank [NYT, MEM 12/5].
Facing rising congressional opposition, White House backs off from plan to sell Saudi Arabia over $20 billion in military hardware; legislative support appears possible for fraction of total sale (cf. 9/20) [WP 9/20].
Bush admin. promises to deliver additional F-15 fighters and Patriot missiles to Israel, but defers action on Israel's request for more than $1 billion in new military aid [WP 9/20]; Israeli D.M. Moshe Arens raises questions about whether U.S. is honoring its commitment to maintain Israel's military advantage in Middle East [NYT 9/20].
Bush admin. officials say they are satisfied with Soviet cooperation in isolating Iraq; note with enthusiasm Soviet overtures toward Israel, Saudi Arabia [NYT 9/20].
In move reflecting impatience with stance of newly-unified Yemen, Saudi Arabia abolishes "exemptions" governing residence requests for expatriates, a move affecting 2.2 million Yemenis in Saudi Arabia hitherto exempted form many tight restrictions affecting other foreign workers [MEM 9/20; MET 10/2].
Jordanian gov't makes strong public plea for international financial aid, warning that unless it is compensated for enforcing embargo against Iraq, its economy may collapse [NYT 9/20].
Argentina becomes 1st Latin American nation to join U.S.-led multinational force in Middle East, sending 2 warships [NYT, CSM 9/20; WP 9/23].
Iraq announces it has impounded assets of nations that had frozen Iraqi money and property abroad and is withholding payments on its debts; Revolutionary Command Council decrees says order applies to gov'ts, companies, banks, and institutions [MEM 9/19; LAT, WP, CSM 9/20].
Searching for "Arab solution" to Gulf crisis, King Hussein, King Hassan, and Pres. Benjedid meet in Rabat [NYT 9/21].
Hamas and Fateh issue joint communique calling for end to conflict between the 2 groups and for future coordination in activities [FT 9/24; QUD 9/22 in FBIS 9/24; MET 10/2].
