July 20, 1996

Israel seals Ramallah, preventing Palestinians fr. leaving the city, after PSF mbrs. allegedly abduct an Israeli Arab fr. East Jerusalem in connection with a land dispute with the Coptic Church there. PSF says it arrested, did not kidnap, `Abd al-Salam al-Hirbawi. (WT 7/21; QY 7/20, JMCC, QY, VOP 7/21 in FBIS 7/22; WT 7/22; JP 7/27; MEI 8/2)

For the 2d wk., street clashes erupt btwn. over 10,000 orthodox, secular Jews over plans to close Jerusalem's Bar Ilan Street during Sabbath. 2,500 riot police attempt to keep order. (NYT 7/21; CSM 8/6; WJW 8/8) (see 7/13)