U.S. special envoy Ross meets with Pres. Asad in Damascus, PM Peres in Israel. (MM 12/5; RMC, SARR 12/5 in FBIS 12/5; ITV, QY, SARR 12/5 in FBIS 12/6; CSM, MM, WT 12/6)
After several days of mtgs., PFLP Central Comm. decided to boycott 1/20 elections, with the view that the elections are being held with the specific purpose of legitimizing Arafat, Oslo process. (al-Hayat 12/7 in FBIS 12/8)
PM Peres, Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Amnon Shahak, DMin. Dir. Gen. David Ivri, Amb. to Washington Itamar Rabinovitch, senior DMin. officials begin initial discussion on whether Israel should ask the U.S. for a special defense pact in return for making peace with Syria; if so, what it should include. (HA, JP, YA 12/6, HA, QY 12/7 in FBIS 12/7)
Israeli Civil Administration begins confiscating weapons of West Bank Palestinian collaborators, fearing arms will be turned over to the PA after IDF withdraws. (QY 12/5 in FBIS 12/5; PR 12/15)
With the end of the 30-day mourning period for Rabin, Israeli prosecutors officially charge Yigal Amir with premeditated murder, aggravated assault; Hagai Amir, Dror Adani with conspiracy to kill Rabin and attack Arabs, weapons violations. Canadian businessman Sam Spodak will fund the defense for both Amir brothers. (QY 12/5 in FBIS 12/6; WP, WT 12/6; QY 12/9 in FBIS 12/11)
Israeli Central Command restricts the movement of 4 right-wing Jewish activists, giving 1 3-mo. administrative detention, barring 2 fr. entering the West Bank. (QY 12/5 in FBIS 12/5)