The Palestine Chronology

Israeli Police Min. Moshe Shahal meets with Palestinian lawyers, agrees to minor concessions on prisoner demands (see 10/11), rejects the prisoners' major demands, including closure of some solitary confinement wards. Israel reports 240 prisoners are still on strike at Nafha jail; Palestinians claim figure is higher and that strike is still on at other jails. (Qol Yisra'el 10/13 in FBIS 10/14)

Dozens of settlers from Kiryat Arba try to break into structures at "Giv'at Haharsina," a settlement they tried to establish 8/9 in defiance of IDF orders. IDF and Border Police seal roads to the site, declare "Judea district" a closed military zone, detain about 20 settlers. Hebron rabbis call on settlers to disobey army orders. (ITV 10/13 in FBIS 10/14)

Palestinian gunman is killed, IDF soldier wounded in shootout in Khan Yunis. 13- year-old boy wounded in 10/10 clashes dies in Tel Hashomer hospital. Curfew remaining in force in most of Gaza Strip since 10/11 brings some quiet. (Qol Yisra'el 10/13 in FBIS 10/14; MM 10/15)

"Heavily armed" 3-man DFLP (Hawatima wing) squad is captured by IDF forces as they approach the Israeli border at the far eastern end of the "security zone" in southern Lebanon. (MM 10/14; Qol Yisra'el 10/14 in FBIS 10/16)

Rockets are fired into the air to celebrate arrival of PLO official Ahmad Mansur 'Azzam in 'Ayn al-Hilwa camp, Sidon, Lebanon, who is on a mission to quell FRC-Fateh violence in the camps. Bombs explode outside the homes of 2 Palestinians in Sidon, 1 of whom is an FRC official. (VOL, Radio Lebanon 10/13 in FBIS 10/14)

FMs of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and Palestine (PLO pol. dept. head Faruk Qaddumi) meet in Damascus at invitation of Syrian FM Faruk al-Shara' to coordinate negotiating strategy. Haydar 'Abd al-Shafi and other Palestinian delegation members also attend talks. Egypt and the Palestinians reportedly support the Israeli-American plan for an autonomy agreement by 10/30; Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan oppose this. (Radio Lebanon, SANA 7/24 in FBIS 7/24; MM 7/24)

King Hussein meets with Pres. Asad in Damascus. (Syrian Arab Republic Radio 7/24 in FBIS 7/27)

Prominent Palestinian Israelis meet in Tunis with PLO officials. (ITV 7/23 in FBIS 7/24)

PLO Exec. Comm. issues memo rejecting Israel's "theatrical step" of cancelling 6,600 o.t. housing contracts that were only imaginary projects of Shamir and Sharon. (Algiers VOP 7/24 in FBIS 7/27)

At news conference with Saudi FM Prince Saud al-Faisal in Jidda, Secy. of State Baker praises Israel's partial freeze of new settlement construction but says U.S. will need to decide whether the action meets conditions for granting loan guarantees. (NYT 7/25)

Israeli jets raid Hizballah targets in Jabal Safi, Iqlim al-Tuffah regions, S.Lebanon, following up 7/24 attacks. (Qol Yisra'el 7/24 in FBIS 7/24; MM 7/24)

Fateh Revolutionary Council blames Mossad in collaboration with PLO in 7/23 killing of Walid Khalid (Al-Anwar 7/24 in FBIS 7/28)

Lebanese govt. sets dates for first general elections in 20 years, despite Christian opposition to holding the vote before Syrian withdrawal. Regional elections rounds will be held 8/23, 8/30, and 9/6. (WP 7/25)

PM-designate Rabin appoints Shimon Peres as for. min., but reserves the right to "lead" negotiations on Palestinian autonomy. Rafael Eytan announces he and Tsomet's MKs will not join the governing coalition. (WP 7/12)

Clashes continue between Fateh and Hamas, injuring dozens, in Gaza Strip as Hamas rejects 7/10 "agreement." Opposing rallies are held in camps. Meanwhile, Hamas reps. in Amman praise agreement. Palestinian delegation from W. Bank led by Faisal Husseini arrives in Gaza City to help mediate the conflict. (MM 7/10; ITV 7/11 in FBIS 7/13; Jordan Times 7/12 in FBIS 7/14)

Pres. Mubarak meets with Syrian FM Faruk al-Shara' in Cairo. (MENA 7/11 in FBIS 7/13)

Syrian VP 'Abd al-Halim Khaddam, PM Mahmud al-Zubi' meet separately with Lebanese PM Rashid al-Solh in Damascus, discuss S. Lebanon, bilateral relations, national accord implementation. (Syrian Arab Republic Radio 7/11 in FBIS 7/13)

Fateh and Hamas reportedly reach agreement to end violence after massive efforts by Haydar 'Abd al-Shafi and NRC (see 7/8). Violence and threats on peace delegates continue. (ITV 7/10 in FBIS 7/13; MM 7/10)

Palestinian Israeli delegation including MK 'Abd al-Wahhab Darawsha and Umm al-Fahm Mayor Shaykh Raid Salah arrives in Gaza City to "offer good offices" for mediation of Hamas-Fateh violence in Gaza Strip. (MM 7/10)

PLO sources announce Oman has been asked to help mediate PLO's conflict with GCC countries, which cut off large amounts of aid as a result of Palestinian position in the Gulf war. (AFP 7/10 in FBIS 7/17)