The Palestine Chronology

At ceremony in Washington, Jordanian Crown Prince Hassan, Israeli FM Peres announce trade initiatives to develop Jordan Rift valley, involving transportation, water, desalinization, energy, exploitation of minerals. Plans inc. $1.5 b. canal, free-trade zone btwn. Eilat an Aqaba, Red Sea Marine Peace Park. U.S. says it will send business leaders "to help develop trade." (JTV 10/3 in FBIS 10/3; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/4; RJ 10/6 in FBIS 10/7; MEI 10/7)

Syrian FM al-Shara` gives speech to UNGA saying Syria wants peace, but return of Golan is not open to compromise. (Syrian Arab Television 10/3 in FBIS 10/3; SARR 10/3 in FBIS 10/5; MM 10/4; WT 10/5; ITV 10/6 in FBIS 10/7)

Israeli PM Rabin presents policy statement to Knesset, outlines components of peace with Syria, hints that agmt. with Syria would lead to mutual reduction in regular forces. (QY 10/3 in FBIS 10/3; MM 10/4)

PM Rabin wins nonbinding 53-41 Knesset vote in favor of his foreign policies, inc. Israeli request for U.S. troops to monitor any peace accord with Syria; marks effective end of Labor party rebellion started 9/7. (MM, WP 10/4; WT 10/5; WJW 10/6)

After mtg. with U.S. Secy. of State Christopher, Lebanese FM Faris Buwayz says Lebanese track will not be activated until "features of the Syrian track become clear, not before." (Al-Hayat 10/3 in FBIS 10/5)

PNA Local Affairs M Erakat, Israeli negotiator Danny Rothschild meet in Cairo for talks on elections, expanding PNA authority in the West Bank. (MM 10/3; MENA, VOP 10/4 in FBIS 10/5; WT 10/4; JP 10/8)

Arafat, angry over PSF head Col. Rajub's conflicts with Israeli police, sends Rajub to Egypt for cooling-off period. (JP 10/3 in FBIS 10/3) (see 9/16)

Arab League criticizes GCC states, Tunisia for "hasty" normalization of relations with Israel. (SARR 10/3 in FBIS 10/5)

Palestinian prisoners appeal to Pres. Clinton to intercede with Israel to gain their release. Israel says most of remaining 4,000 prisoners are mbrs. of leftist, Islamist groups opposed to peace and cannot be released now; others have attacked Israelis and will never be freed. (WT 10/4)

Arab League "strongly denounces" Israeli PM Rabin's decision to build new housing in West Bank settlement, calling it a "flagrant violation" of the DOP. (MENA, RE 9/27 in FBIS 9/28)

Israeli FM Peres meets with Argentinean Pres. Carlos Menem in New York, asks him to help arrange mtg. btwn. PM Rabin, Syrian Pres. al-Asad. (QY 9/27 in FBIS 9/29)

Jordan renounces religious links to West Bank, reaffirms spiritual authority in Jerusalem in move to avoid conflict with PLO. PNA says it will assume administrative, financial duties for West Bank religious institutions next mo. (JTV 9/27 in FBIS 9/28; NYT 9/28; MM 9/28; QY 9/28 in FBIS 9/28; AFP 9/28 in FBIS 9/29; MEI 10/7; JP 10/8)

Hamas calls on its mbrs. to avoid clashes with Palestinian police. (VOP 9/27 in FBIS 9/28; WT 9/28) (see 9/24)

Palestinian military delegation arrives in Moscow for wk.-long stay, signs agmt. with Russian DMin. for delivery of 45 BT-82 armored personnel carriers, spare parts, ammunition for use by Palestinian police. (MM 9/15; Al-Hayat 9/27 in FBIS 9/29)

UNRWA approves $250 m. worth of projects for Gaza, West Bank to be implemented over the next 2 yrs. (UNRWA News 9/21)

Libya's Pan-Arab Unity Min. releases statement saying Palestinian autonomy "must be fought," bringing Palestinian-Libyan relations to new low. (MM 9/15)

Arab League FM's meeting in Cairo reject Israeli steps to give Jordan distinguished religious role in Jerusalem; pledge they will not sign NPT unless Israel signs in move planned by Syria to pressure Israel to adhere to NPT, open installations to inspection. (AFP 9/15, VOP 9/16 in FBIS 9/16) (see 8/31)

Cairo talks btwn. Israel, Palestinians continue, Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath saying progress made on extending self-rule in West Bank.  (WT 7/28)

PNA official Nabil Shaath criticizes Washington Declaration clause on Jerusalem, asking "Who gave Israel the right to decide who has rights in the Islamic institutions in Jerusalem?"  Shaath says Palestinians will seek Arab League affirmation of Arab character of Jerusalem.  (WT 7/28)

3 Palestinian immigrants plead guilty to racketeering charges in St. Louis.  The 3 were charged with plotting murder of Jewish Americans, bombing Israeli embassy on behalf of FRC ("Abu Nidal" organization).  (NYT 7/28)

Car bomb explodes outside London building housing Jewish and Israeli groups, including Joint Israel Appeal, injuring 5.  British Foreign Office says Hamas claims responsibility; Hamas rep. in Jordan Muhammad Nazzal denies involvement.   Israel, U.S. say evidence in Argentina, Panama, and U.K. bombings points to Iran, Hizballah.  Security strengthened at Israel's U.S. embassy, UN mission, and 9 U.S. consulates.   Argentine authorities question 2 Iranians in 7/18 Buenos Aires bombing.  (WP, WSJ, WT 7/27; CSM, NYT, WSJ, WT 7/28)

Israel expels fr. Gaza 4 frmr. PLO guerrillas, including 2 linked to 1974 Maalot massacre, for past attacks on Israelis.  Officials charge PLO Chmn. Arafat tried to infiltrate them with his 13-mbr. entourage 7/12.  A 5th is sought; Israel bars entry of further PNA officials until he is found.  Israel closes Gaza-Egypt, West Bank-Jordan crossings; Gaza-Israel, Jericho-Israel crossings remain open.  (MM 7/13; CSM, NYT, WP, WSJ, WT 7/14; TJT 7/15)

PLO, ICRC sign memorandum of understanding on ICRC role in Palestinian self-rule areas.  MOU, signed by PLO Political Dept. head Faruq al-Qaddumi and ICRC Pres. Cornelio Sommaruga, permits ICRC to visit prisoners held by Palestinian police.  (ICRC release 7/13; MM 7/14)

Multilateral talks steering comm. completes 6th mtg. in Tabarka, Tunisia.  (Jordan TV 7/14 in FBIS 7/15)

Federal District Court in NY sentences Jordanian Bilal Alkaisi, 5th and final defendant in 2/93 World Trade Center bombing, to 20 mos.' imprisonment for lying to immigration officials.  (NYT 7/14)

PLO Chmn. Arafat returns to Palestine, entering Gaza Strip at Rafah border crossing and proceeding to Gaza City.  3,000 Palestinian police detailed to provide security for 3-day visit.  Arafat addresses crowd of 30-100,000 in Gaza City's Square of the Unknown Soldier, honoring intifadah casualties, Arab states, declaring intention to expand Palestinian self-rule in West Bank.  Arafat vows to seek release of Hamas leader Shaykh Ahmad Yasin.  (MM 7/1; NYT, WP, WT 7/2; JP 7/9)

WSJ reports that Bethlehem is now Muslim, and mosques in once-predominantly Christian city fr. 5 to 70 since 1970.  (WSJ 7/1)

East Jerusalem Palestinian found shot to death.  "Sword of David" group claims responsibility, citing revenge for killing of Israeli, opposition to Arafat visit.  (NYT 7/3)

JP publishes poll showing 33.8 % of Israelis oppose all settlements, 25.2 % support them.  Poll also shows 59 % support continued talks with PLO.  (MM 7/1)

Israeli police arrest fugitive Kach leader Baruch Marzel in Pnei Hever settlement, West Bank, last of 5 Kach/Kahane Chai leaders sought. Marzel is sentenced to 3 mos.' administrative detention. (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 4/4)

Frmr. Hebron Mayor Mustafa Natsha, deposed a decade earlier at settler demand, resumes post. (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 4/4; CSM 4/5)

"Ansar 2" prison in Gaza evacuated, transferring its 600 inmates to Qetziot ("Ansar 3") in Israel. Prison site is to become Palestinian police training camp. Also, 18 Israeli families leave Dugit settlement in northern Gaza Strip. (WP 4/4, 4/5; MM 4/5)

Clashes btwn. Palestinians, IDF in Hebron, Gaza leave 10 Palestinians, 2 soldiers wounded. Meanwhile, Fateh mbr. Kamal 'Abd al-Majid kidnapped fr. Gaza City home by Hamas for "collaboration"; Hamas figure Khalid Hindi, director of Islamic University pres.' office, kidnapped by Fateh but later released. (WP, WT 4/4)

PM Rabin and Pres. Clinton, at joint news conference in Washington, call on PLO to return to negotiations immediately. Rabin says he will consider Palestinian police force in o.t., but only under Israeli control, suggesting Israel might rehire 900 Palestinian police officers who resigned during the intifada. Rabin says an international force would be limited to monitors, not armed peacekeepers. Both leaders say they want comprehensive Arab-Israeli settlement in 1994, Rabin saying "painful decisions" must be made over Golan Heights. (NYT, WP, WT 3/17)

Haram al-Ibrahimi officials, other Hebron Palestinians refuse to testify to Israeli commission of inquiry investigating Hebron massacre. (NYT 3/17)

Demonstrations throughout West Bank and in Jabaliya r.c., Gaza, to protest 3/15 killing of PFLP mbr. 2 Palestinians killed, 50 wounded by IDF. (WP, WT 3/18; MEI 4/15