U.S. secy. of state Albright meets with King Hussein, speaks twice by phone with Arafat. Later, the king meets with Defense Secy. Cohen. (AFP, RJ 4/2 in WNC 4/4; WT 4/3)
At the UN, fmr. Secy. of State James Baker III criticizes the U.S. for vetoing recent UNSC resolutions on Israeli settlements, especially after having publicly criticized Israeli settlement decisions; says the vetoes send a mixed signal, Israel's Har Homa construction makes "a mockery of Resolutions 242 and 338." (WP, WT 4/3)
Israeli government acknowledges that DM Mordechai recently approved construction of 1,000s of housing units in West Bank settlements. (ITV 4/2 in WNC 4/3; NYT, WP, WT 4/3; JP 4/12)
Nr. Nablus, 2 settlers, who claim to have been attacked by Palestinian stone throwers, kidnap a disabled Palestinian youth, beat him, take him to their settlement. IDF soldiers at nearby checkpoint, informed by Palestinian witnesses, enter the settlement, free the youth, arrest the settlers. (PR 4/11)
Israel prevents 20 Hamas, Islamic Jihad mbrs. fr. leaving Gaza to preform the haj although they had already obtained Israeli permission to do so. (al-Ayyam 44 in WNC 4/7)
Nr. Jalazun r.c. in the West Bank, an unidentified assailant throws a firebomb at an IDF truck, injuring 13 soldiers; IDF puts a curfew on Jalazun. In a nearby village, Israeli motorists beat a Palestinian they accuse of stoning their car, dump him at an army camp. (NYT, WP, WT 4/3)
Islamic Jihad leader Shaykh `Abbullah al-Shami denies Islamic Jihad was responsible for the 4/1 bombings in Gaza. Meanwhile, PA police detain 30 suspected Islamic Jihad mbrs. in connection with the explosions. 13 are released after questioning. (ITV 4/2 in WNC 4/7; CSM, NYT, WP 4/3; NYT 4/4)