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Israeli Army radio on Sunday quoted the chairman of the Israeli Meretz movement, Yossi Sarid, as saying, "It has become crystal clear now that the only possibility to pull the Israeli army out from south Lebanon is through making negotiations with Syria." Go

The British Sunday Telegraph reported on Sunday that kidnapping of British tourists in Yemen was carried out in revenge for the bombarding of Iraq. The paper added that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation has proof that those who were dragged into kidnapping foreigners in Yemen were trained in camps supervised by exiled Saudi billionaire Osama Bin Laden. Go

The United Kingdom has appointed Sir Ivan Callan as new ambassador to Oman, effective in February, replacing Richard Muir. Go

Bahrain's Cabinet agreed on the amendment of the Gulf state's weapons law concerning allowing citizens to possess weapons, Bahrain Tribune reported. Go

UAE immigration officials arrested 33 illegal immigrants adding that those arrested were also involved in "immoral" activities, Khaleej Times reported. Go

Oman's Sultan Qaboos issued a decree on Sunday establishing a 25 meter "inviolable area" on each side of oil pipelines in the country, Oman Daily observer reported. Go

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a message to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat demanding that the Palestinian Authority find those who carried out the shooting in Hebron in which two Israeli women were killed. Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai condemned the attack and called on the IDF to make an intelligence effort to determine who is responsible. Go

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak received a written communique from the foreign minister of Switzerland, Flavio Cotti, in which Switzerland is calling on Egypt to make financial reparations to families of the victims of the 35 persons from Switzerland who died in the 1997 Luxor incident. Go

In its first meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Ismael Hamdani, the new Algerian government determined and set up its program, which will be submitted to the parliament on January 7. Go

Royal Air Moroc has decided to increase the number of its non-stop flights from Casablanca to Geneva from three to five weekly. Go

Morocco drained in 1998 about two million foreign tourists earning the country around $ 164 million, representing a 20 percent increase compared to the returns posted last year. Go

For the first time in a long time the tourist occupation rate in Aswan's five-star hotels increased to more than 90% as 5,000 tourists spent the new year in Aswan. Go

Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Hamdi El-Banbi announced that the Egyptian parliament is studying six new agreements to search for petroleum in Egypt whose investments are worth $1 billion in addition to the adjustment in one of the two agreements by adding $540 million dollar to the current investment. El-Banbi told ArabicNews.com that the offers was presented by six international companies. Go

The price of the united European currency, the euro, reached the Egyptian banks at a price of 396.9 piasters for purchasing and 402.8 piasters for selling. Banking stated that the Egyptian pound will not be affected by the euro. Go

In the context of changing the demographic and geographic structure of the occupied Arab lands, Israel has recently transported underground treasures, including antiquities from the Syrian Golan Heights, demonstrating the historical record of the area. AFP reported that Israeli authorities have transported from the occupied Syrian Golan Heights to Israel an engraved leopard from Banit Castle site dating back to the 12th century AD in the Memluke age. The engraved leopard's length is 1.5 meters and the width 70 cm. It is in good condition and one of the most beautiful pieces of its kind. Go

Jordanian banks on Sunday started to deal in the new European Union currency, the "euro," and new bank accounts are being opened using this currency. Officials at these banks stress that dealers can simultaneously keep other accounts in dollars and other European currencies relating to the EU's member states. Go

Chairman of the municipality council of Ramallah, Issa Zeyadah, died on Saturday night at the age of 60. The Palestinian Jordanian daily al-Ayam said on Sunday that Zeyadah died suddenly after he felt a great pain in his chest. He was admitted to the hospital, but doctors' efforts failed to save his life. Go

The Jordanian daily al-Dostour reported on Sunday that Egyptian, Palestinian and Jordanian contacts are being made to convene a tripartite meeting on the level of foreign ministers in order to discuss developments in the Middle East peace process, the Iraqi crisis and the latest developments in the Arab and international arenas. Go

Former director general of the Israeli Premier's office Avigdor Lieberman has announced the establishment of a new party under his chairmanship named "Israel, Our House." The Israeli radio said on Sunday that the newly established party will compete for votes with members of the Israel' B'Aliya party for the 15th Knesset elections which will be held on May 17. Meantime, member of the Israeli Knesset Dan Meridor has called upon Israeli figures who want to joint the new "Middle Party" to unify their ranks regardless to the question of selecting a candidate for Israeli prime minister. Go

US Middle East peace process coordinator Dennis Ross intends to conduct a new tour in the region that will include Tel Aviv and the Palestinian self-rule areas in a new attempt to salvage the signed and already frozen agreements between Israel and the Palestinian government, Israeli radio reported. The radio added that Ross will arrive in Tel Aviv by the end of the current week. Go

The French daily Le Figaro has said according to information from government sources in Tel Aviv that the year 1997 was exceptional in terms of Israel's exports of weapons estimated at a value of 14.4 billion French francs, due to a huge contract with Turkey that amounted at 3.4 billion French francs and provided for modernizing 54 Phantom planes. Go

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Saturday in Sanaa discussed with the chief of Hamas political bureau, Khaled Mishal, developments pertaining to the Palestinian cause in light of the renewed stalemate in the Middle East peace process. Go

Lebanese Premier Salim al-Hoss announced on Sunday in Beirut that Lebanon will submit a complaint to the April Understanding monitoring committee against Israel regarding the Israeli air raid carried out on the Bekaa area on Sunday afternoon resulting in several civilian casualties. Go