Arafat won the Palestinian presidency in what was considered an affirmation of the peace process. On Feb. 11 Peres called for early elections for Israel's prime minister and Parliament. On Feb. 27 two suicide bombings by Hamas killed 27 Israelis. A summit of 27 world leaders met in Egypt (March 13) to lend support to the peace process and condemn terrorism; 14 Arab nations participated. On April 24 the PLO's parliamentary body eliminated the specifically anti-Israel clauses in its charter.
Benjamin Netanyahu of the right-wing Likud Party became the new prime minister of Israel. Netanyahu visited the U.S. (July 9) and delivered a speech emphasizing his concern with security in the peace negotiations. On Aug. 27 the Israeli government approved plans to expand Jewish settlement in the West Bank, precipitating an Aug. 29 strike by Palestinians across that area.
Riots in the West Bank and Gaza Strip were precipitated by the opening of a tunnel in Jerusalem by Israelis, marking the worst Palestinian-Israeli violence in three years.
