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Linda Gradstein reports on the opening session of the Palestinian Council, the legislative body elected in Palestinian elections earlier this year. On the streets of Gaza, there is widespread support for Yasser Arafat, but people also said they understood the frustration that led to four suicide bombings in the past 12 days.

Linda speaks with David Critchell, who was at ringside last night for the heavyweight bout between Riddick Bowe and Andrew Golota. Mr. Golota was disqualified after he threw his fourth blow below the belt in the fight. After the referee stopped the bout, men from Mr. Bowe's corner went after Mr. Golota and thereafter fights broke out both and out of the ring. Mr. Critchell describes the scene and talks about its likely impact on boxing.

NPR's Eric Weiner reports from the West Bank on the second day of pitched battles between Palestinian policemen and Israeli soldiers that have killed at least 30 Palesitnians and 11 Israelis. The violent demonstrations that have occurred in virtually every city on the West Bank and in Gaza forced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut short a European visit and fly home to proclaim a state of emergency in the territories.

When the TV evangelist ran for president in 1988, he gained a following that appreciated his vision of moral certainty. But Robertson's recent suggestions that Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon's stroke and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were acts of divine retribution have made even his allies uneasy.

NPR's Eric Weiner reports from Gaza that almost four months after the election of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, all progress toward Palestinian self-rule begun by the Middle East peace process is stalled. Surprisingly, that has not yet eroded Yasser Arafat's position, and Arafat remains popular despite being unable to show any progress. But that situation won't last forever.

Time has a transformative effect on public and critical tastes for creative efforts. Many works that were poorly regarded upon release are now considered classics. Two vivid examples: Melville's Moby-Dick and the King James Bible.

NPR's Ted Clark reports that the Clinton Administration is sending Secretary of State Warren Christopher to the Mideast this weekend to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on the eve of new peace negotiations at Erez on the Gaza border. Christopher's Mideast visit, only days after the two-day Israeli-Palestinian summit at the White House, underscores the importance the US is placing on reviving the Middle East peace process.

NPR's Mara Liasson reports that President Clinton opened an emergency summit today between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Arafat. The meeting is an attempt to salvage the Middle East peace process, which unravelled in violence last week in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem. But in the opening sessions of the two-day summit, there appeared to be more distrust and anger between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders than a commitment to seek compromise.

Linda Gradstein reports from Jerusalem on efforts to teach Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza the basics of voting in advance of elections for a president and legislative council in the autonomous territories. The elections on Saturday are the first time Palestinians have ever participated in the Democratic process on their own land.

Scientists in Idaho have produced the world's first cloned mule. Born May 4, Idaho Gem is the brother of a champion racing mule race, Taz, and some are betting cloning may provide a way to reproduce champion mules -- and horses. NPR's Joe Palca reports.

Environmental activist John Francis spent 22 years on a journey across America, mostly on foot and deliberately without the aid of motorized devices. He's written about those years in the book Planetwalker: How to Change Your World One Step at a Time.

A House Government Reform Committee meeting focuses on distribution of grants for urban disaster-response planning. New York and other large urban centers complain that they got less money this year than last.