Pres. Clinton, Secy. Albright, special envoy Ross discuss ways of reviving peace process in light of Ross's failed mission, possibility of publicly presenting 13.1% FRD proposal. (MM...
Pres. Clinton accepts in principle the new terms of the agmt. reached btwn. the UN and Iraq, but reserves "the unilateral right to respond" if Iraq does not adhere to requirements. U....
PM Netanyahu arrives in Washington for AIPAC conference, holds talks with Pres. Clinton, Secy. of State Albright (MM 4/7; MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/8; ITV 4/8 in WNC 4/9; CSM, NYT 4/9; MA, La...
Israeli Deputy FM Yossi Beilin tells interviewer, "We will not and cannot make any concessions on the issue of Jerusalem.... we have no intention of making any concessions whatsoever." (ITV 6/24...
Occupied Palestine/Israel: WZO completes placement of 30 buildings on hilltop S.E. of Nablus to form Tel Haim settlement [adjacent to former Elon Moreh, ordered...
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Pres. Clinton, Secy. Albright, special envoy Ross discuss ways of reviving peace process in light of Ross's failed mission, possibility of publicly presenting 13.1% FRD proposal. (MM 4/6)
Lebanon, Syria hold summit in Damascus to draw up plans to counter Israel's moves to promote its conditional s. Lebanon withdrawal offer. (MM 4/6)
Pres. Clinton receives letter fr. 33 House reps., praising their Middle East policy. (WJW 4/2; NYT 4/7; MM 4/8; WJW 4/9; MEI 4/10; WT 4/13; NYT 4/26)
PA concludes that Hamas's Sharif was killed by a rival Hamas faction; says it has detained 30, arrested 5 Hamas suspects in the murder, is looking for a 6th accomplis. Hamas rejects report, saying PA is seeking an excuse to can crack down on the movement as Israel demands prior to an FRD. PM Netanyahu says investigation proves the PA is capable of fighting terrorism. (ITV 4/6 in WNC 4/7; MM 4/6; VIRI 4/6, Corriere della Sera [Milan] 4/7 in WNC 4/8; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 4/7; MM 4/8; MM, WT 4/15; PR 4/17; CSM 4/21; MEI, PR 4/24; YA 4/26 in WNC 4/30) (see 4/4)
1,000s of Israeli Arabs hold general strike, protest march in the Galilee to denounce government discrimination against Arab citizens. In Um al-Sehali, Israeli police watch, do not interfere as 3 bedouin families rebuild their homes. (MM 4/6; MM, WP 4/7; WT 4/8; MM 4/9; PR 4/17) (see 4/4)
Hrs. after being summoned to appear before the PA General Intelligence Service (GIS), Palestinian Muhammad Anqawi, previously arrested by the PA on suspicion of being a collaborator, is found shot dead in Ramallah. (PR 4/17; JP 4/25)
Russia says it has proposed building a nuclear research reactor in Iran in addition to the atomic energy plant currently under construction. Israel, U.S. protest. (WP 4/7)
Federal judge in Manhattan jails Ismail Elbarasse, a Palestinian American, for refusing to testify before a secret grand jury investigating Hamas fundraising in the U.S. (NYT 4/18) (see 2/23)
Pres. Clinton announces ban on foreign-made assault rifles that closes loophole in a 1994 weapons ban that allowed the continued import of Israeli Uzis, Galils. Israeli Military Industries, which planned to sell 10,000 of the guns in the U.S. over the next 3 to 4 yrs., is considering manufacturing the guns in the U.S. to avoid the restriction. (Globes [Internet], YA 4/7 in WNC 4/8; WJW 4/9)
Roadside bomb detonates nr. the Lebanon-Israel border, killing 1 civilian, injuring 3. 1 IDF soldier is injured, 1 Hizballah mbr. is killed in separate incident nr. the border. (RL 4/6 in WNC 4/7; WJW 4/9)
Pres. Clinton accepts in principle the new terms of the agmt. reached btwn. the UN and Iraq, but reserves "the unilateral right to respond" if Iraq does not adhere to requirements. U.S. will maintain current level of forces in the region indefinitely. Although Joint Chiefs chmn. Gen. Henry Shelton says the military is pleased "to see the cup pass. . . . We had a tough time seeing where this thing was going to take us." Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS), who has led the call in Congress for a military overthrow of Saddam Hussein, accuses Clinton of having "subcontracted" U.S. foreign policy to the UN. (MM 2/23; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 2/24; JT 2/24 in WNC 2/26; WT 2/25; NYT, WT 3/2)
PM Netanyahu proposes Israel, the PA hold Camp David-style summit under U.S. auspices to discuss "core issues" in the stalled peace process. (WT 2/24; La Libre [Brussels] 2/25 in WNC 3/3)
PISMC cochairs meet in Jericho. (IGPO 2/23; WJW 2/26; PR 3/6) (see 2/18)
Federal judge in Manhattan jails Abdelhaleem Ashqar, a Palestinian in the U.S. on a student visa, for refusing to testify before a secret grand jury investigating Hamas fundraising in the U.S. No further information is available as all documents in the case are sealed. (NYT 4/18)
1 SLA mbr. is injured in a clash with Hizballah in s. Lebanon. (IDF Radio 2/23 in WNC 2/26)
PM Netanyahu arrives in Washington for AIPAC conference, holds talks with Pres. Clinton, Secy. of State Albright (MM 4/7; MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/8; ITV 4/8 in WNC 4/9; CSM, NYT 4/9; MA, La Repubblica [Rome] 4/9 in WNC 4/10; al-Thawra [Damascus] 4/9, RE, RL 4/10 in WNC 4/11; PR 4/11; al-Ahram [Cairo] 4/11 in WNC 4/17; WJW 4/17; MEI 4/18; MM 4/28)
In Amman, Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan, Arafat dep. Mahmud Abbas discuss Jordanian-PA coordination on political, economic issues. (RJ 4/7 in WNC 4/8)
In preparation for trial, Jordanian military team visits Israel to interview victims of the 3/13 Daqamsa shooting. (JT 4/9 in WNC 4/10) (see 3/27)
Vatican says that it has reached a critical stage in its relations with Israel, that Israel should renew its commitment to peace for normalization to progress further. (WJW 4/17)
In Moscow, Lebanese PM Hariri, Russian PM Viktor Chernomyrdin, Dep. FM Yevgeny Primakov discuss peace process, bilateral relations. (RL 4/7 in WNC 4/8; RL 4/8 in WNC 4/9)
In Manhattan, federal prosecutors for the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) open exclusion proceedings against Hamas political leader Abu Marzuq. Abu Marzuq is willing to withdraw his application to reenter the U.S. and agree to exclusion (i.e., immediate deportation), but INS says he cannot do so without either conceding or contesting the terrorism charge, otherwise he could be detained indefinitely. Abu Marzuq refuses to concede; contesting the charge could take yrs. The exclusion proceeding is closed; the INS does not have to reveal the sources of its evidence. (MM 4/8; NYT 4/13; WJW 4/17; MEI 4/18) (see 4/3)
The Knesset Finance Comm. agrees (by vote of 6-5) to demand that the PA detail the use of funds in its Bank Leumi account. Some MKs suspect the account is a secret petty cash fund. (Globes [Internet] 4/7 in WNC 4/9)
In Kharbata village nr. Ramallah, a Jewish settler opens fire with an M-16, handgun on Palestinians who stone his car, wounding 2. Villagers say the settler is known for intimidating local Palestinians, driving through the village instead of using the Jewish-only bypass road. (MM 4/7; WT 4/8)
Islamic University of Hebron holds student council elections. Hamas-Islamic Jihad list wins 19 of 35 seats; pro-Arafat Fatah lists wins 15 seats; PFLP 1 seat. (WT 4/8; MEI, PR 4/18; JP 4/19)
The Kuwaiti government denies the Comm. for the Defense of Islamic Issues permission to stage a rally outside parliament to protest Israel's policies on Jerusalem, U.S. support for Israeli actions. (AFP 4/7 in WNC 4/8)
SLA exchanges 3 Hizballah mbrs. being held at al-Khiyam prison in s. Lebanon for 1 SLA soldier held by Hizballah. (RL 4/7 in WNC 4/8)
Federal judge in Manhattan refuses to stop extradition to Israel of Hamas political leader Musa Abu Marzuq. (NYT 10/10; QPAR 10/10; al-Ra'i 10/11 in WNC 10/15; MBC 10/11, VIRI 10/14 in WNC 10/17; PR 10/18; al-Diyar 10/21 in WNC 10/25) (see 5/8)
Israeli gunboats off the coast of Tyre, Lebanon, detain cargo ship for search before allowing it into port. (RL 10/9 in WNC 10/11)
Israeli Deputy FM Yossi Beilin tells interviewer, "We will not and cannot make any concessions on the issue of Jerusalem.... we have no intention of making any concessions whatsoever." (ITV 6/24 in FBIS 6/25)
Fateh Cent. Comm. concludes meetings in Tunis. (VOP 6/24 in FBIS 6/25)
Arab delegations to peace talks hold coordinating meeting at Syrian mission in Washington, focusing on U.S. role as "full sponsor" and pressure on Israel to meet terms of reference. (JTV 5/24 in FBIS 5/25)
Lebanese delegation proposes partial Israeli withdrawal from "security zone" to test Lebanese government's ability to maintain security in south. Israeli negotiator Uri Lubrani rejects proposal, saying Israel "does not engage in experiments with the safety of its civilians." (Qol Yisra'el 6/25 in FBIS 6/25)
U.S. FBI arrests 8 in New York on suspicion of plotting assassinations and bombings of UN HQ, FBI building, and 2 Manhattan tunnels. (NYT, WP, 6/25)
Social/Economic/Political:
Occupied Palestine/Israel: WZO completes placement of 30 buildings on hilltop S.E. of Nablus to form Tel Haim settlement [adjacent to former Elon Moreh, ordered dismantled in 1979]. Jerusalem mayor Kollek's spokesman confirms plan for 75-acre Jewish cemetery east of city, saying it "will increase our hold" on West Bank. Report issued by "West Bank Data Project" concludes US funds intended for economic projects in occupied territories diverted by Israeli gov't. for its own use. Labor Party unanimously nominates Shimon Peres as PM candidate for 7/23 elections.
Other Countries: Zehdi Terzi speaks before Canadian Senate Foreign Affairs Com. as final witness in 2-yr. review of Canadian policy toward Middle East. US Pres. Reagan tells Jewish Community Relations Council in private New York mtg. that if Israel expelled from UN, "We will walk out with her."
Military Action:
Arab World: IDF shoots and wounds 7 Lebanese civilians in Sidon after grenade thrown at Israeli patrol on main street.
Other Countries: Bomb explodes in Israel Aircraft Industries' Manhattan offices; "Red Guerrilla Resistance" claims responsibility.
