In Aqaba, Egypt's Pres. Mubarak, Jordan's King Hussein hold talks on the peace process. (RJ 5/24 in WNC 5/28; JT 6/5 in WNC 6/6)
In the 1st official criticism of corruption within the PA since self-rule began in 1994, a PA General Control Office (GCO) audit ordered by Arafat shows that the PA misused $326 m. in public funds in 1996, $223 m. thus far in 1997. (NYT, WP 5/25; MM 5/27; MM 6/4; CSM 6/18)
Israeli High Court rules that a sale of land in the Palestinian village of Silwan to the Jewish settler land acquisition company Elad was illegal, based on fraudulent documents; orders the property to revert to the Palestinian inheritors. (LAW 5/24)
Palestinian journalist Kuttab begins a hunger strike to protest his continued detention without charge. (WP, WT 5/25; WT 5/26; MM 5/27) (see 5/22)
Turkish military officials say that during the army's offensive into n. Iraq, 1,445 of the estimated 4,000 PKK mbrs. have been killed, 184 wounded, 121 captured. 10's of Turkish soldiers, at least 27 KDP mbrs. have also been killed. At least 25,000 and possibly more than 50,000 Turkish troops may now be in Iraq. (WP 5/26; AFP 6/13 in WNC 6/17) (see 5/20)