Israeli Supreme Court upholds eviction order of 150 Jewish settlers from Hospice of St. John in Jerusalem, saying all but 20 settlers must leave by 5/1; the 20 may remain in hospice as guards while lower court hears testimony on Panamanian-owned company that sublet to settlers [WP, NYT, LAT 4/27].
Labor party leader Shimon Peres officially surrenders his mandate to form new Israeli gov't. after 5 weeks of bargaining [NYT, LAT 4/27; IDF 4/26 in FBIS 4/ 26].
In departure from usual custom, Israel declines to release Muslim prisoners in celebration of Muslim holiday of Id al-Fitr, apparently to avoid speculation it is involved in prisoner exchange [NYT 4/ 27].
U.S. State Dep't. statement strongly criticizes start of 2 new Israeli settlements in O.T. [WP 4/27].
PLO rep. Hakam Balawi meets with ambassador Robert Pelletreau to discuss situation in O.T. [TDS 4/27 in FBIS 4/ 27].
Israel's Knesset Finance Committee approves NIS 2.44 billion plan to build 32,500 housing units for new immigrants [JPD 4/27 in FBIS 4/27].