Prime Min. Shamir rejects Pres. Bush's 6/1 letter calling for Israeli acceptance of greater U.N. role in proposed Arab-Israeli peace talks. Shamir refused proposal for U.N. mediator to be present at talks, as well as proposal that conference, including representatives from superpowers and European community, reconvene periodically. Shamir insisted that international contingent bepresent merely for opening ceremonies. He also seeks clarification of composition of Palestinian participants. (NYT, LAT 6/8; Radio Israel 6/9)
Israeli peace activist Abie Nathan ends 37-day hunger strike in response to appeal from Israeli Pres. Haim Herzog. Nathan's highly-publicized strike failed to prompt Knesset to rescind law forbidding Israelis from meeting with PLO members. (NYT 6/7)