Israel's History:
1988

1988:
by Lena Silver, 2002-2003 Far West Israel Affairs VP

Israel in 1988:

• Memorandum of Understanding is signed with the US, expanding cooperation between them.
• Israel and the US begin cooperation on the production of the Arrow missile.
• Elections for Twelfth Knesset; Yitzhak Shamir remains Prime Minister of national unity government.
• Hundreds of dunams of forest are destroyed by fires set by intifada activist.
• An Israeli Consulate is opened in Moscow.
• December 14th - Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, condemns all forms of terrorism and recognizes the state of Israel. U.S. President Ronald Reagan authorizes the U.S. to enter into a "substantive dialogue" with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Israel remains hostile to the PLO. Jordan renounces all territorial claims to the West Bank. The next day, in a clear show of support for the PLO, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 53/196, which "reaffirmed the inalienable rights of" Palestinians and Syrians in the Golan, called on Israel not to exploit natural resources in the occupied territories.