The Palestine Chronology

In Gaza, the EA, PLO Exec. Comm., PC ratify the Hebron protocol. (NYT, WP, WT 1/16; PR 1/24)

Israeli cabinet begins debate on Hebron protocol. (ITV 1/15 in WNC 1/17)

PA police begin entering Hebron. Redeployment should be completed by 1/17. (NYT 1/15, 1/16)

Syria terms the new Hebron agmt. an "enslavement of [the] Palestinians." (WP 1/16)

Netanyahu policy adviser Bar Ilan says that he believes that, under the new Hebron agmt., Israel could stay in control of 50% of the West Bank after the 3d stage of further redeployment. (WT 1/16)

Jordanian delegation arrives in Baghdad for talks with Iraq on an economic agmt. encompassing an oil deal, trade protocol. (RJ 1/15 in WNC 1/17)

The U.S. warns Pres. Nelson Mandela that it might withdraw millions of dollars in aid to South Africa if Mandela approves a $641-m. arms sale to Syria. Mandela angrily rejects the warning, noting that 3 EU states are trying to sell Syria the same equipment, and the U.S. has not issued warnings to them. Israel summons the South African amb. to express its "deep concern" over the sale. (South Africa Radio [Johannesburg] 1/15 in WNC 1/15; IGPO 1/15 in WNC 1/17; al-Safir 1/15, SANA in WNC 1/21; MM, NYT, WT 1/16)

Hamas holds rally at Birzeit University to mark the 1996 Yahya Ayyash assassination. (ITV 1/10 in WNC 1/14; WT 1/12)

The Israeli cabinet approves Roni Bar-On's nomination as atty. gen. Labor places an injunction against the appointment, saying Bar-On, an obscure Jerusalem lawyer known as a Likud activist, was selected for political reasons, not his abilities. (ITV 1/10 in WNC 1/14; JP 1/18; MEI 2/7) (see 12/4)

A Saudi Arabian Islamist group, the Islamic Movement for Change, says it carried out the Damascus bus bombing 1/2 in retaliation for Syria's execution of a mbr. of its group fr. participation in the 6/25/96 Khobar barracks bombing. Syria discounts the claim. (MM 1/10; AFP 1/10 in WNC 1/13; al-Nahar 1/10 in WNC 1/16; NYT 1/11; WT 1/12)

ILMG meets to discuss an Israeli complaint concerning the launching of a rocket into n. Israel 1/8; issues statement saying that 1 rocket was fired in violation of the 4/96 understanding, but that the group could not determine who fired it. (RMC 1/10 in WNC 1/13; RL 1/11 in WNC 1/14; IGPO 1/12) (see 12/16)

The Iranian Fencing Federation invites the Israeli Hadar Yosef fencing association to participate in a world cup competition in Tehran 2/12+n14. Although invitations to the international meet are traditionally sent by the host country, the invitation was sent with the knowledge of the Iranian government. (YA 1/12 in WNC 1/14)

Israeli Amb. to the U.S. Ben-Elissar accuses Egypt of encouraging the PA to stall on a Hebron deal, pressing other Arab states not to normalize relations with Israel. (WT 1/9)

Syria announces that Pres. Asad has undergone successful prostate surgery, will resume official duties in a few days. (SATN 1/7 in WNC 1/9; WP 1/8; RJ 1/9 in WNC 1/13; NYT 1/28)

IDF eases closure on the West Bank, Gaza, increasing fr. 3,420 to 4,520 the number of Palestinian merchants allowed in to Israel; allowing 250 Gaza merchants into the West Bank and vise versa; increasing fr. 150 to 200 the number of Gaza PA officials allowed into the West Bank; allowing 50 Gaza trucks into Israel. (IGPO 1/7; PR 1/17)

14th session of the Iranian-Turkish Joint Security Commission opens in Tehran. Discussion focuses on expanding bilateral ties. (IRNA 1/7 in WNC 1/8)

Secy. of State Christopher tells Secy. Gen. Annan that the U.S. is interested in paying its $1.3-b. debt to the UN. Rep. Bill Richardson (D-NM) is nominated to replace outgoing Amb. to the UN Albright. (NYT, WT 1/8) (see 12/5)

Trying to appease his right-wing cabinet ministers in advance of a vote on a Hebron deal, Netanyahu says that he will not give the PA a timetable for further redeployment, but only a date on which redeployment would begin. PA says it will not sign a deal without a timetable. 10 of the 18 cabinet mbrs. now say they are considering vetoing or abstaining fr. a vote on a Hebron deal. (see 12/30). (IDF Radio 1/3 in WNC 1/6; NYT, WP, WT 1/4)

Israeli police release Yuval Jibli. (NYT 1/4) (see 1/2)

Syria says that it is "astonished" by the insensitivity of U.S. remarks on the 12/31 bus bombing. U.S. then issues statement saying that it deplores the attack. (RMC 1/3 in WNC 1/6; WP, WT 1/4; SANA 1/4 in WNC 1/7; MM, WT 1/7; MEI 1/10)

In s. Lebanon, Hizballah attacks an IDF position, wounding 2. (RL 1/3 in WNC 1/7)

A 3d letter bomb arrives at the federal penitentiary in Levenworth, is detected before it is opened. (WP 1/4, 1/8; MEI 1/10) (see 1/2)