PA election law goes into effect. (FBIS special supplement 12/19)
In Gaza, Arafat meets with U.S. special envoy Ross. (MM 12/7; VOP 12/7 in FBIS 12/8)
PM Peres meets with Egyptian Pres. Husni Mubarak in Cairo; promises to launch investigation into reports that IDF soldiers killed Egyptian POWs during the 1956, 1967 wars (see 9/5). Pair agrees to put off further discussion of NPT until after an agmt. btwn. Syria, Israel is reached. (MM 12/7; QY 12/7 in FBIS 12/8; NYT 12/10; MEI 12/15; JP 12/16)
PA arrests Iyad Sarraj, head of the Independent Palestinian Commission for Citizens' Rights, after he publicly declares the PA has "a poor record on human rights"; demands he sign statement promising not to criticize the PA again; releases him though he refuses to sign. (HA 12/9 in FBIS 12/11; MEI, MM 12/15; JP 12/16; MM 1/4)
At the close of one of Egypt's most violent elections, Pres. Mubarak's National Democratic Party wins 317 of 444 seats. (NYT 12/8)