The Palestine Chronology

PLO Central Council ends 2-day meeting in Tunis, votes 63-8 (9 abstentions) to approve Palestinian-Israeli DoP. 25 delegates to the 107-member council do not attend, including reps. of PFLP and DFLP, who boycott meeting, and several opponents of the accord who were not invited or barred fr. entering Tunisia, including Fateh mbr. Hani al-Hasan. Meeting also adopts resolution establishing Palestinian National Authority under Arafat to assume powers transferred by Israel. Turmoil surrounding meeting points to power struggle among Arafat loyalists as PLO figures contend for positions in nascent Palestinian administration in Gaza and Jericho. (WT 10/12; CSM, NYT, WP 10/13)

Applications for the Palestine Central Security Force (Palestinian police) reportedly far outstrip vacancies, with 30,000 applications issued for the 17,000-strong force. 4,000 forms are filled out in Hebron, while 10,000 are submitted in Gaza for 3,800 vacancies. (WT 10/11)

CIA informs Senate Govtl. Affairs Comm. that Israel has been providing China with advanced military technology for over a decade, including fighter aircraft, missiles, and tanks. Report estimates Israel-China weapons trade amounts to "several billion dollars," notes that Israeli weapons companies are expanding presence in China. Report asserts "the Chinese seek fr. Israel advanced military technology that U.S. and Western firms are unwilling to provide." Israeli embassy denies Israel has transferred U.S. technology to China, spokeswoman saying, "Israel adheres to all of its commitments to the United States with regard to its relationship with China." (NYT, WT 10/13)

Israeli PM Rabin meets in Beijing with Chinese PM Li Peng, toasts new Israeli-Chinese pacts on consular affairs, aviation. (MM 10/11; WT 10/12)

Undercover IDF unit kills fugitive Palestinian in Gaza Strip. PLO sources identify him as Nael Reefi, 24, mbr. of "Fateh Hawks" group. Witnesses say he dropped his weapon and shouted "I surrender" before being shot. In separate incident, mbr. of Islamic Jihad killed in clash with soldiers while crossing fence separating Israel from Gaza Strip. (MM, WP, WT 10/6)

Syrian FM al-Shara' meets in Washington with Secy. of State Christopher in 1st visit to U.S. by such a senior Syrian official in 2 decades. Al-Shara' relays proposal fr. Syrian Pres. al-Asad for meeting with U.S. Pres. Clinton in effort to break deadlock in Syrian-Israeli talks. Al-Shara' says such a meeting "would help very much the peace process." Christopher declines to comment on proposal. (NYT, WP 10/6)

Jordanian Crown Prince Hassan, speaking to UNGA, says Jordan cannot accept portions of PLO-Israel accord dealing with water, energy, security, and refugees, stating, "Some issues cannot be addressed by any two parties to the exclusion of others. The questions of regional security, water, and above all the refugees, cannot be resolved without direct reference to the neighboring states." (CSM 10/13)

Clinton administration recommends to Congress that $437 m. be cut fr. the $2 b. in U.S. loan guarantees to Israel in FY 1994. Cut is dollar-for-dollar penalty for Israeli spending on settlements in o.t. (NYT, WP 10/6)

World Bank VP Caio Koch-Weser, in briefing to Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Qutlines plan for assistance to Palestinian entity. Major priorities of scheme include building infrastructure, upgrading tax system, and strengthening public administration. Estimated costs of project are $300 m. per year for 5 years plus $125 m. in relief funds. World Bank is to send 40 experts to Tunis for consultations with PLO before survey of conditions on ground in o.t. (WT 10/6)