Israel’s move to lift the legal ban on meetings between its citizens and officials of the Palestine Liberation Organization is being viewed around the world as a major step toward eventual negotiations between the Jewish state and the PLO. But the Israeli government takes exception to that view, even though it initiated a repeal of… More ▸
German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel will fly to Tunisia directly from Tel Aviv next Thursday, after a two-day official visit in Israel. But German sources here denied that the minister was planning a meeting with Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasir Arafat, whose organization is based in the Tunisian capital. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin,… More ▸
The Tunisian president has received France’s chief rabbi in a special visit and used the occasion to pardon two Jewish prisoners, including a teen-ager who murdered an Arab. Rabbi Joseph Sitruk was visiting the Tunisian Jewish community on the eve of Rosh Hashanah. During his much-publicized trip, he secured the releases of the prisoners, one… More ▸
A delegation of six Israeli Arabs returned from Tunis this week after meeting with leaders of the Palestine Liberation Organization in blatant defiance of an Israeli law banning such meetings. Two weeks ago, before leaving for Tunis — home to the PLO headquarters — the group said the purpose of the trip was to attend… More ▸
For the first time ever, a delegation of senior Israeli Arab leaders is making a trip to Tunis, where the Palestine Liberation Organization is headquartered. While the official purpose of the trip is to attend an annual festival in the ancient Tunisian city of Carthage, it is clear that the delegation will be meeting with… More ▸
Italian authorities are investigating the failed hijacking Sept. 19 of an Alitalia flight to Tunis. Though it appears to have been the work of a lovelorn Tunisian immigrant upset by losing his job in Italy, the authorities are not fully convinced there was not a political motive. One source of suspicion was the presence on… More ▸
Israeli peace activist Abie Nathan, recently freed from prison, where he served time for having met with members of the Palestine Liberation Organization, made good on his promise to renew contacts with the PLO. Nathan met Friday evening in Tunis with Yasir Arafat and other PLO leaders. In a telephone interview Sunday with the Jewish… More ▸
The father of an Israeli soldier missing in Lebanon since 1982 sought the help of Palestine Liberation Organization officials in Tunis nearly a year ago to trace his son and six other Israeli soldiers believed to be held captive by Shi’ite groups. Yona Baumel was identified by Israel Television on Monday night as the first… More ▸
Austrian President Kurt Waldheim made a three-day visit to Tunisia last week, which included a meeting with Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasir Arafat. Waldheim, accompanied by Foreign Minister Alois Mock and Austrian businessmen, also met with his Tunisian counterpart, President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. According to the Austrian press agency APA, Waldheim used the occasion… More ▸
Israel’s protest to the opposition Social Democratic Party for sending a delegation to meet with Palestine Liberation Organization chief Yasir Arafat in Tunisia last week was more than a pro-forma complaint. Israel deeply resents that the SPD, a staunch friend since the era of former Chancellor Willy Brandt, is virtually begging Arafat to visit West… More ▸
