Thursday, July 20, 2000
At Camp David, PA-Israeli talks continue in a more informal atmosphere, under the guidance of Secy. of State Albright, who holds several 1-on-1 mtgs. with Arafat, Barak. Both sides say they have agreed to stay out of respect for Pres. Clinton, not because of optimism for an agmt., but U.S. officials say that Barak, not wanting to return home empty handed, asked for negotiations to continue. (MM 7/20; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/21; AYM, SA 7/21 in WNC 7/24; WP 7/22)
A Lebanese military court sentences 26 SLA mbrs. to prison terms of 3 wks. to 15 yrs. for collaborating with Israel. This is the 18th group of SLA mbrs. to be tried since the IDF pullout in 5/00. (NYT 7/21; WJW 7/27)