Voter and candidate registration for Palestinian elections closes. (JP 1/6; CSM 1/19; WT 1/20)
2d round of Syrian-Israeli talks closes in Maryland. (MM 1/5; ITV, MBC, SATN 1/5, SARR 1/6, ITV, RMC, SARR 1/7, QY, SARR 1/8 in FBIS 1/11; NYT, WP, WT 1/6; WT 1/8)
In Gaza, no. 1 on Israel's most wanted list, Yahya Ayyash, thought to be behind many of Hamas's major bombings, is killed when his booby-trapped cellular phone explodes. Hamas, PA blame Mossad. Israel neither confirms or denies responsibility. Arafat pays condolences to Hamas's Zahhar. (IDF Radio, QPAR, QY 1/5 in FBIS 1/5; NYT, WP, WT 1/6; MM 1/8; WP, WT 1/9; ITV, QPAR 1/5, RMC 1/6, IDF Radio, HA, MA, MENA, QY, RMC 1/7, QY, RE, 1/8, QY 1/9 in FBIS 1/11; MM 1/9; WJW 1/11; JP 1/13; NYT 1/14)