The IDF continues operations in Ramallah, Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids in Bayt Furik, Rafah, Tubas (demolishing 2 PSF posts, 2 Palestinian homes, a kindergarten); sets fire to 300...
Egyptian pres. Mubarak says that Israel, Syria have neared a peace agmt. in behind-the-scenes talks (through "special envoys," U.S. and British officials) that have continued since...
In Washington, Israeli, PA teams hold separate follow-up talks on the peace process with State Dept. Dep. Special Coordinator for Arab-Israeli Negotiations Aaron Miller, special envoy Ross. No...
Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv publishers poll shows 86% of Israelis support cabinet's decision to attend peace conference. (MEM 8/9)
PLO Executive Committee supports Palestinians who have been...
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The IDF continues operations in Ramallah, Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids in Bayt Furik, Rafah, Tubas (demolishing 2 PSF posts, 2 Palestinian homes, a kindergarten); sets fire to 300 dunams of olive groves nr. Shavei Shomron settlement, bulldozes 50 dunams of land nr. Khan Yunis. In Gaza, 8 Palestinians are killed by the IDF; a 9th Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. In the evening, the IDF withdraws fr. most of Ramallah, including removing a cordon around Arafat's offices, lifts curfew for 3 hrs. but reimposes it; more than 80 Palestinian have been arrested in Ramallah since 6/9. (HP, PR, PRCS press release, UPMRC 6/12; NYT, PCHR, WP 6/13; LAW 6/19)
Nr. Beersheba, Israeli authorities bulldoze 17 bedouin homes, bulldozes bedouin land to expand the Omer municipal district. (WAFA 6/13)
MK Uriel Ariel (National Union and Yisrael Beitainu) proposes that the Knesset establish a committee of inquiry into how the secret Oslo talks came about in 1993. Israeli FM Shimon Peres in protest suspends the Labor party's membership in the governing coalition, but the motion fails to pass by a vote of 34-26. (INN 6/13; HA 6/17)
State Dept. senior adviser on the Arab-Israeli negotiations Aaron Miller gives a private briefing to a Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) group, during which some ZOA mbrs. yell "Wrong!" when he says there can be no "military solution" to the conflict, groan audibly when he mentions Seeds of Peace camps for Israeli and Palestinian children, walk out, slamming the door, when he says that Palestinians seek a "democratic, pluralistic, humanistic" government. ZOA head Morton Klein says the group found Miller "frustrating" after just having come from a Congressional reception that made an "incredible show of support" for Israel. (Forward 6/21)
Egyptian pres. Mubarak says that Israel, Syria have neared a peace agmt. in behind-the-scenes talks (through "special envoys," U.S. and British officials) that have continued since talks were formally suspended in 1/00. (WP 3/22) (see 3/20)
PA, Israeli negotiating teams, led by Yasir `Abid Rabbu and Eran respectively, resume final status talks at Bolling air force base (AFB) nr. Washington under a media blackout. U.S. special envoy Ross, his assistant Aaron Miller will oversee the talks but will not, at this stage, present U.S. proposals. (CSM 3/21; MENA 3/21 in WNC 3/22; NYT, WP, WT 3/22)
Israel implements the 3d stage of the 2d FRD, transferring 6.1% of area B to area A. In total, the PA now has full control of 18.2% of the West Bank, partial control of 21.8%. (CSM 3/21; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 3/22; JP 3/31)
The pope celebrates mass for 30,000 Catholics in Amman, visits several religious sites before heading to Israel. (MM 3/21; NYT, WP, WT 3/22; MEI 3/24)
Pres. Clinton phones Pres. Asad to discuss the next round of Syrian-Israeli talks, which is to begin on 1/19. (WT 1/14)
In Ramallah, Arafat receives U.S. Middle East peace coordinator Aaron Miller, who is in the territories to set the agenda for Arafat's mtg. with Clinton on 1/20. (al-Quds 1/14 in WNC 1/19)
Israel releases 2 Hizballah mbrs. held in detention inside Israel, frees 25 Lebanese detained in al-Khiyam jail in s. Lebanon, apparently in exchange for information on IDF airman Ron Arad, whose plane crashed in Lebanon in 1986. (RL 1/13 in WNC 1/18; NYT 1/14; WJW 1/20; JP 1/21)
In Jordan, King Abdallah accepts Royal Court chief `Abd al-Karim Kabariti's resignation, appoints Fayiz Tarawnah to replace him. The king keeps as PM his rival `Abd al-Rauf Rawabida, who has recently been accused of corruption by 2 parliament mbrs.; approves plans for a cabinet reshuffle. (MM 1/14, JT 1/14 in WNC 1/18; JT 1/16 in WNC 1/19; MM 1/17, 1/27; MEI 1/28)
Israeli police, IDF troops forcibly remove a group of settlers that tried to claim a West Bank hilltop nr. Havat Maon. (WJW 1/20; JP 1/21)
In Washington, Israeli, PA teams hold separate follow-up talks on the peace process with State Dept. Dep. Special Coordinator for Arab-Israeli Negotiations Aaron Miller, special envoy Ross. No progress is made. Israeli team is led by Cabinet Secy. Nave, Netanyahu foreign policy adviser Uzi Arad. PA team is led by Local Government M Erakat; PLO Washington rep. Hassan `Abd al-Rahman also attends. (JT 2/10 in WNC 2/12; WP 2/10; MM, WJW 2/12; PR 2/13)
In Amman, EU Pres. Santer discusses peace process with Jordanian PM Majali. (RJ 2/10 in WNC 2/11)
In Amman, PA, Jordan open 3 days of talks on expanding cooperation in health-related fields. (JT 2/10 in WNC 2/11; JT 2/11 in WNC 2/12)
Russian special envoy Posuvalyuk delivers message to Israeli PM Netanyahu fr. Iraqi pres. Saddam Hussein, saying that Iraq has "neither the intention nor the ability" to attack Israel. (WT 2/11; CSM 2/18)
After PM Netanyahu demands halt to Palestinian pro-Iraq demonstrations, PA's Gaza police chief Brig. Gen. Ghazi Jabali issues order preventing all marches, protests, flag burnings in area A. Human rights groups say order undermines right to peaceful assembly. (LAW 2/10; IDF Radio, ITV 2/10 in WNC 2/11; NYT 2/11; PR 2/13)
Jordan bans all demonstrations "for any reason," citing preservation of national security given the "delicate" regional situation. (JTV 2/10 in WNC 2/11; JTV 2/11, JT 2/12 in WNC 2/15; JTV 2/12 in WNC 2/17)
Defense Secy. Cohen says that Oman has given the U.S. permission to station support planes in Oman for an attack on Iraq; combat units will be station in Bahrain, Kuwait, Germany, Spain, Diego Garcia. (MM 2/10; CSM , MM 2/11)
Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv publishers poll shows 86% of Israelis support cabinet's decision to attend peace conference. (MEM 8/9)
PLO Executive Committee supports Palestinians who have been meeting with Secy. of State Baker in Jerusalem, in wake of 8/4 death threat directed against the Palestinians. (MEM 8/9)
U.S. officials including Dan Kurtzer, Aaron Miller, and Edmond Hall meet with Faisal Husseini, Hanan Ashrawi to discuss text of U.S.-Palestinian "memorandum of understanding" but fail to reach agreement. Americans met with Israeli officials 8/7 to discuss similar memorandum between U.S., Israel. Palestinians reportedly sought inclusion of demands that peace talks be based on U.N. Security Council resolutions 242, 338, that Israel must withdraw completely from occupied territories, that transition period of Palestinian self-government last for one year only, and that disagreement among peace conference participants be referred to binding international arbitration. (MEM 8/12)
Five-member Arab Maghrib Union, 15 other African countries meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe, issue statement urging PLO inclusion in peace conference. (MEM 8/12)
