IDF evacuates Gaza City HQ, including Gaza Central Prison, marking start of final Israeli withdrawal fr. Palestinian self-rule areas in Gaza Strip. 250 Palestinian police of Palestine Liberation Army (PLA) `Ayn Jalut brigade take over al-Saraya complex. (MM 5/16; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 5/17)
Palestinian police cmndr. in Jericho, PLA Maj. Gen. Hajj Isma'il, says settlers may enter Shalom Al Yisrael synagogue but may not be armed. (MM 5/16; NYT, WP 5/17)
Settlers, Palestinians clash in Hebron after 30 armed settlers marching on `Ali Baka mosque rough up 2 Palestinian women and Palestinian crowd stones settlers. Settlers open fire, wound 9 Palestinians. 2 settler yeshiva students arrested. Palestinians also clash with IDF; IDF gunfire wounds 10 Palestinians. IDF orders Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH) observers to leave scene, declares area closed military zone. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/17; WP 5/18; TJT 5/20; JP 5/28)
Secy of State Warren Christopher meets in Damascus with Syrian FM Faruq al-Shara`, delaying for 6 hrs. departure for Israel, then meets Israeli PM Rabin in Jerusalem, presenting Syrian reply to Israeli proposals on withdrawal fr. Golan Heights. (MM 5/16; CSM, MM, NYT, WT 5/17)