December 27, 2000

Ramadan ends. As a gesture to Hamas, the PA releases spokesman `Abd al-`Aziz Rantisi, who was detained on 10/18. (NYT 12/28; SA 1/2 in WNC 1/3)

Barak conditionally accepts Clinton's 12/23 peace proposals as a basis for discussion but says Israel seeks clarification on some points. Arafat says the PA cannot accept or reject the proposals without additional information, forwards Clinton a list of clarifying questions. Clinton phones the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia to urge them to press Arafat to accept the parameters. (AFP, MENA 12/27 in WNC 12/28; XIN 12/27, MENA 12/28 in WNC 1/2; AP, NYT, WP, WT 12/28; AYM 1/3 in WNC 1/8)