Between meetings with FM Peres and PM Rabin in Jerusalem, UN special envoy Chinmaya Gharekhan says the UNSC "cannot wait any longer" for Israel to repatriate the 12/17 deportees. Israel formally asks the UN to delay further action until the High Court ruling (see 1/17). (MM 1/20; WT 1/21)
Jordan Times reports that the PLO "kitchen cabinet" (the "American lobby") of pol. advisor Nabil Shaath, Exec. Comm. mbr. Mahmud 'Abbas, and Yemen-based Bassam Abu-Sharif believe that linkage between the deportations and the peace talks is "not necessary." (Jordan Times 1/20 in FBIS 1/21)
EC Commission says it plans no sanctions or downgrading of Israel's trade status despite its objections to the deportations. (MM 1/22)
Israel announces that the mostly Muslim former Soviet Republic of Kyrgyzstan will open an embassy in Jerusalem. (NYT 1/21)
Bill Clinton is inaugurated 42nd president of the U.S. (NYT 1/21