The Palestine Chronology

Donor countries promise to release $125 m. of promised aid to PA immediately to help self-rule transition. Arafat says money will go to improving Gaza slums. (VOP 11/30 in FBIS 12/1; CSM, MM, WP, WT 12/1; Le Soir 12/1 in FBIS 12/2; JP 12/3; WJW 12/8; MEI 12/16)

Labor MK Ori Orr suggests Israel postpone troop withdrawal fr. West Bank but uproot some settlements ahead of schedule. Similar statements made separately by Environmental M Sarid. Comments widely thought to be "trial balloons" sent up by Rabin government. (JP, QY 11/30 in MM 11/30; MM 12/2)

Israel, Palestinians, donor countries sign "memorandum of understanding" outlining PA's needs for next 4 mos., issues of taxation, Israeli aid, contributions fr. donor countries. (QY 11/30 in FBIS 12/1)

Joint Jordanian-Israeli borders comm. ends 2nd 2-day round of talks in Aqaba. Each side delegates 3 teams to carry out primary delineation of border, to be completed 12/6. (PETRA 11/30 in FBIS 12/1)

Joint Jordanian-Israeli comm. on treaty implementation creates 2 subcommittees comprising representatives fr. armed forces and Mins. of Interior, Agriculture, Water respectively to implement Jordanian law in al-Ghamar, Baqurah areas by 1/95, in keeping with Jordan-Israel treaty annexes. (PETRA 11/30 in FBIS 12/1)

ITV reports Israeli Amb. Itamar Rabinovitch, Syrian Amb. Walid Mu`allim recently held talks in Washington on security arrangements in which senior army officers fr. both sides participated; some progress was made. (ITV 11/30, HA 12/1 in FBIS 12/1)

UNRWA approves $163,810 in new small-business loans for projects in Gaza, bring number of UNRWA loans to Gaza to 157. (UNRWA News 11/30)

IDF soldier is axed to death by Palestinian in Afula, northern Israel; IDF arrests 40 Hamas mbrs. in West Bank. (IDF Radio 11/30 in FBIS 12/1; MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/1; PR 12/4; WJW 12/8; JP 12/10)

Israeli FM Peres, Arafat meet on sidelines of European Union (EU) mtg. in Brussels to discuss elections, self-rule; urge donor countries to transfer aid. (QY 11/28, 11/29 in FBIS 11/29; MM, NYT 11/29; PR 12/4)

International Labor Organization signs agmt., providing PA with $500,000 for technical and scientific equipment, training classes, vocational workshops. (VOP 11/28 in FBIS 12/1)

PA bans 4 newspapers (al-Quds, al-Nahar, JP, al-Manar) because of their coverage of Islamist opposition. PA Culture M `Abid Rabbu says decision came fr. highest level of PA. (MM 11/28; QY 11/28 in FBIS 11/28; RJ 11/28, QY 11/29 in FBIS 11/29; WT 11/29; MM 11/30; NYT 12/1; PR 12/4; JP 12/10)

EU lifts 8-yr. arms embargo on Syria, grants PA $12 m. for new housing. Israeli FM Peres criticizes move, says it should only be done after Syrian signs agmt. with Israel. (MM 11/28; RJ QY 11/28 in FBIS 11/28; NYT, WT 11/29; SARR 11/29 in FBIS 11/29; IDF Radio 11/30 in FBIS 12/1; MM 12/6; JP 12/10; MEI 12/16)

Reports say that 300-400 Hamas supporters have been arrested by IDF in the West Bank since Tel Aviv bus bombing 10/19. Most have been questioned and released. (Ma`ariv 11/28 in FBIS 11/29; MM 11/30)

Reports say Israel wants U.S. to suspend shuttle missions btwn. Israel and Syria, U.S. Secy. of State Christopher to cancel trip to region planned for end of month, talks to stay on ambassadorial level since Pres. al-Asad will not soften position. (Al-Hamishmar 11/7 in FBIS 11/7)

PNA Econ. M Qurai`, Palestinian officials boycott Jerusalem business conference in protest over continued partial closure of Gaza, West Bank. (QY 11/7 in FBIS 11/8)

Syrian FM al-Shara` arrives in Cairo for talks with Pres. Mubarak on peace process, Clinton visit. (MENA 11/7 in FBIS 11/7; SARR 11/8 in FBIS 11/8)

Tomb of the Patriarchs, site of the Hebron massacre, reopens with metal detectors, electronic gates, cameras. Jews, Muslims completely segregated by partitions. (MM 11/7; QY 11/7 in FBIS 11/7; CSM, NYT, WP 11/8; JP 11/19)