Palestinian Council closes 2 days of debate on a draft civil service law without approving the draft. Deliberations focus on the scales for promotions, allowances for employees. (PR 1/17)
Two pipe bombs explode in Tel Aviv, wounding 13 Israelis. No one takes responsibility. PM Netanyahu breaks off a mtg. with U.S. special envoy Ross; says that if the bombing proves to have been staged fr. the PA areas, he would suspend negotiations, respond with "great severity." Israeli police say that bombs were small, unsophisticated; they have not determined a motive for the attack. (IDF Radio, ITV, QY 1/9 in WNC 1/13; MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/10; JP 1/18)
IDF says that the number of attacks on Israeli troops in s. Lebanon dropped significantly in 1996 (414 attacks), compared to 1995 (584 attacks). (MA 1/9 in WNC 1/10)
3 Amal mbrs., 1 IDF soldier are killed in clash in s. Lebanon. (RL 1/9 in WNC 1/10; CSM 1/10)