Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres PLO Executive Council Member Abou Abbas sign the agreement. The EC is already the largest donor of aid to the Palestinians. Eleventh round opens with the Israelis announcement on secret talks with PLO in Oslo and an initialed accord on self-rule for Palestinians in Gaza Strip and Jericho. Ninth round bilaterals open on hopeful note as Israel revokes objection to participation of Faisal Husseini, key east Jerusalem PLO activist, as delegation leader. Israel also repatriates 30 Palestinians expelled between 1967 and 1987 and offers to take back some of those deported in December.
Talks end in disarray, however.
Slaying of six Israeli soldiers by Palestinian extremists results in Israeli crackdown and mass expulsion of more than 400 Palestinians and in increasing tension. In seventh round, Israel reiterates willingness to talk about pulling out of Golan, but makes clear it's not prepared to yield the entire strategic plateau. Palestinians call for similar Israeli commitment to yield ground in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem. For the first time, Israel openly speaks about the possibility of withdrawing from part of Golan Heights. The fourth round of bilateral talks ends in Washington.