February 27, 1997

Arafat convenes Palestinian national dialogue conference in Nablus. (NYT 2/28; MM 3/4)

2,000 Palestinians march fr. Beyt Sahur toward Har Homa to protest Israeli settlement plans; are stopped by PA security forces, IDF troops. (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 2/28; NYT 3/1, 3/2; MEI 3/7)

Lebanon selects economist Muhammad Chatah as its new amb. to the U.S. Current Amb. Riad Tabbara has announced his retirement fr. the Lebanese foreign service. (WT 2/28)

In s. Lebanon, Amal detonates a roadside bomb as an SLA patrol passes, causing no injures. SLA mbrs. shoot back, killing 1 Amal mbr. (RL 2/27 in WNC 3/3)