The Palestine Chronology

Arafat leaves the U.S. for Austria to ask EU states to support the Wye agmt. (NYT 10/24; NYT, WT 10/25)

A poll of 505 Israelis by the Israeli Dahaf Institute shows that 74% approve of the Wye agmt. (YA 10/25 in WNC 10/27)

As part of clamp down on Hamas, PA police in Gaza detain 11 journalists on their way to interview Hamas's Shaykh Yasin on Wye. Journalists call an open-ended strike to protest the PA actions. PA police also arrest al-Aqsa cleric Shaykh Hamid Bitawi, Islamic Jihad chief spokesman Nafiz Azzam for speak against the accord. (ITV 10/24 in WNC 10/27; WT 10/25; LAW, MM, NYT 10/26; WP 10/29; MEI, MM, PR 10/30; MM 11/2)

After 21 straight hrs. of talks with Pres. Clinton, Israel, PA reach an agmt. at Wye. Following a delay caused by Netanyahu's last minute claim that the U.S. backed out of a promise to release spy for Israel Pollard as part of the deal, the agmt. is signed at the White House. (MM, PR 10/23; IDF Radio, ITV, MENA 10/23 in WNC 10/26; IDF Radio, ITV, JTV, MENA 10/23, ATL, ITAR-TASS, JT, MENA, RE, RJ, al-Thawra 10/24, al-Ahram, al-Aswaq, ITV, MENA, al-Ra'i, RL, YA 10/25, MA, RL, al-Wafd 10/26 in WNC 10/27; NYT, WP, WT 10/24; WT 10/25; al-Ahram 10/25. al-Akhbar, al-Ba'th, al-Jumhuriyya, MENA 10/26, AFP 10/27 in WNC 10/28; MM 10/26; WJW 10/29; MEI 10/30; SA 10/30 in WNC 11/6; JP 11/2; NYT 11/11; WT 11/12; MM 11/13)

Pres. Clinton, King Hussein rejoin Wye talks. By evening, some agmts. have been reached, others are near. Over dinner, King Hussein gives an "impassioned speech," calling on Arafat, Netanyahu to keep making progress. Egypt's Mubarak phones Clinton to discuss the talks. (MM 10/22; VOA 10/22 in WNC 10/23; ITV, MENA 10/22 in WNC 10/26; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 10/23; JT, JTV, al-Ra'i 10/22, Shihan 10/24 in WNC 10/23 [dates as published]; JTV 10/22, IDF Radio 10/23 in WNC 10/26; NYT 10/25)

State Dept., White House meet with major U.S. oil companies to press them to build a pipeline to bring Caspian crude fr. Azerbaijan to Turkey, avoiding Russia, Iran. Oil companies do not believe the region can export enough oil in the nr. future to justify the $3.7-b. project, which the U.S. does not want to fund. (WP 10/28; MEI, WP, WT 10/30) (see 10/21)

An Israeli court orders 3 border policemen detained on suspicion of having shot at a Palestinian van 10/18. (WP 10/23) (see 10/21)

Israeli police arrest a mbr. of a right-wing Jewish group for carrying out 7 knife attacks on Palestinians in Jerusalem btwn. 11/97 and 5/98, killing 1. (AFP [Internet] 10/22)

U.S. announces plans to present a text outlining what it believes to be the points of accord btwn. Israel, the PA reached thus far, which could be signed as a partial agmt. Fearing an ultimatum, Netanyahu threatens to send his delegation home, holds conference call with Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations to mobilize its support in an anticipated public row with the White House. Clinton cancels plans to return to Wye, Albright suspends U.S. participation until Netanyahu agrees to resume security talks. After several hrs. of security talks involving CIA Dir. Tenet, Netanyahu agrees to stay. (MM 10/21; IDF Radio, ITV 10/21 in WNC 10/22; ITV 10/21 in WNC 10/23; al-Akhbar, ITV 10/21, Globes [Internet] 10/22 in WNC 10/23; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/22; ITV, al-Quds 10/22 in WNC 10/26; MM, WP 10/23; WP 10/24; NYT 10/25; MEI 10/30)

The U.S. asks Israel to investigate 2 incidents in 3/98 (3/10, 3/13) in which the IDF shot Palestinians, raising the issue for the 1st time under a U.S. law that can limit foreign aid when troops abuse human rights. (WP 10/22)

During morning rush hr., Jewish settlers block traffic at 3 major junctions in the West Bank to protest possibility of a compromise agmt. with the PA. (WP 10/22)

To block a rider on an unrelated issue, Pres. Clinton vetoes a bill that would pay $1 b. in late dues to the UN. Although a separate spending bill has been passed to pay the UN enough to allow the U.S. to keep its voting rights in the UNGA, UN Secy. Gen. Kofi Annan says that the UN feels "deceived," having carried out reforms demanded by Congress in exchange for payment of U.S. arrears. (NYT, WP 10/22)

Saying it impedes the ability of the pres. to conduct foreign policy in the interest of national security, Pres. Clinton signs a determination waiving legislation that allows property held by a foreign state to be subject to legal claim, blocking the Flatow's attempt to take possession of 12 Iranian holdings. (Federal Register 11/2) (see 9/27)

U.S. grants Turkey $823,000 in technical assistance to help plan its part of a proposed oil/gas pipeline linking Azerbaijan with the Turkish port of Ceyhan. (WP 10/23) (see 5/14)

At Wye, Pres. Clinton, King Hussein meet with Arafat, Netanyahu. Talks break at 1 a.m., having made little progress. On the sidelines, FM Sharon meets with reps. of Victims of Terror (see 10/18). Clinton phones Egyptian pres. Mubarak to brief him on talks. (MM 10/20; AFP, RJ 10/20 in WNC 10/21; ITV, MENA 10/20, al-Ahram, MA, RJ 10/21 in WNC 10/22; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 10/21; al-Quds 10/21 in WNC 10/23; al-Ra'i 10/21 in WNC 10/26; NYT, WP 10/25)

Israeli Finance M Yaakov Neeman says that Israel will not pay the costs of redeployment fr. the West Bank, money "should come from abroad." (WT 10/21)

Hamas claims responsibility for 10/19 grenade attack in Beersheba. PSF detains 20 alleged Hamas mbrs. in PA-controlled Hebron. (AFP 10/20 in WNC 10/22; NYT, WP, WT 10/21; LAW 10/22; PR 10/23)

Overnight, shots are fired, Molotov cocktails thrown at IDF post in Hebron, causing no damage or injuries. (IDF Radio 10/20 in WNC 10/21)

After 2-days of talks, Syria, Turkey reach agmt. under which Syria promises to halt all support to the PKK; arrest, bring to court any Kurdish rebels found in its territory; deny entry to PKK leader Ocalan, who, according to Turkish PM Yilmaz, has been in Russia for over a wk. (ATL 10/20, ATL, HUR, MENA 10/21 in WNC 10/22; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/21; MM, NYT, WP 10/22; al-Ahram, MENA, RJ 10/22 in WNC 10/23; SATN 10/22, MIL 10/23 in WNC 10/26; MIL 10/23 in WNC 10/27; MEI 10/30) (see 10/19)

In s. Lebanon, SLA opens fire on a civilian car, injuring 1. In a separate incident, a child is injured by IDF shelling. (RL 10/20 in WNC 10/21)

A Palestinian throws 2 grenades at a bus stop in Beersheba, Israel, injuring 64 Israeli civilians, soldiers, 3 of them seriously. Salim Rajab al-Sarsur, an alleged Hamas mbr. fr. PA-controlled Hebron, is detained by Israeli police. (MM 10/19; AFP, IDF Radio, MENA 10/19 in WNC 10/20; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/20; al-Dustur, IDF Radio, MA, SA, SANA, YA 10/20 in WNC 10/21; JTV 10/20 in WNC 10/22; WJW 10/22; JP 10/29; MEI 10/30)

At Wye, PM Netanyahu suspends all but security talks in light of Beersheba attack. Pres. Clinton cancels fund-raising trips for 10/20+n21, returns to Wye. Jordan's King Hussein flies fr. the Mayo Clinic to the airport nr. Wye, confers with Secy. Albright by phone, but does not join talks. Israeli pres. Weizman, Egyptian pres. Mubarak are also on standby. Syrian pres. Asad phones Mubarak to discuss Wye mtgs. (JTV 10/19 in WNC 10/20; MENA, SATN 10/19, al-Ahram, al-Dustur, HA, JTV, YA 10/20 in WNC 10/21; NYT, WP, WT 10/20; ITV 10/20 in WNC 10/22; WT 10/21; PR 10/23; MM 10/30; MM 11/10)

Turkey, Syria open security talks in Adana. (MM 10/19; ATL 10/19 in WNC 10/20; ATL, MIL 10/20 in WNC 10/21) (see 10/15)

After a day of talks attended by Pres. Clinton and VP Al Gore, joined by Israeli FM Sharon, DM Mordechai, teams decide to extend mtgs. for another day; the U.S. had hoped to host a signing ceremony this afternoon. PM Netanyahu phones King Hussein to brief him on talks. (al-Ahram, ITV, Petra-JNA, RJ 10/18 in WNC 10/20; HA [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/19; NYT 10/20; JP 10/24)

When U.S. officials refuse to allow 2 Jewish settler leaders into Wye to "join a prayer quorum" with the Israeli team, PM Netanyahu leaves the compound to meet with them. U.S. protests. (Globes [Internet], MM 10/19; YA 10/19 in WNC 10/20) (see 10/18)

Nr. Hebron, 3 Palestinians are wounded when IDF soldiers open fire on their van, claiming they tried to avoid a checkpoint. (WP 10/19; WT 10/20)

Jordan's Press and Publications Dept. drops libel cases against 21 Jordanian newspapers. (JT 10/18 in WNC 10/20; JT 10/20 in WNC 10/21) (see 9/1)

Pres. Clinton goes to Wye to hold informal talks with Arafat, Netanyahu; also consults with Egyptian pres. Mubarak by phone. Talks are off today for the Jewish sabbath. (al-Aswaq, ITV, MENA, RE 10/17 in WNC 10/20; NYT, WP, WT 10/18)

PA-Israeli talks begin at Wye. Negotiating teams set up subcomms. on specific issues. Secy. Albright, envoy Ross oversee talks btwn. Arafat, Netanyahu. CIA Dir. Tenet joints security mtgs. (IDF Radio, RE 10/16 in WNC 10/19; Xinhua 10/16, ITV, al-Dustur, Xinhua 10/17 in WNC 10/20; NYT, WP, WT 10/17; al-Thawra 10/17 in WNC 10/22; WP, MM 10/19)

Israeli FM Sharon visits Jordan's King Hussein at the Mayo Clinic. King Hussein phones Arafat to discuss Wye talks. (JTV 10/16, YA 10/18 in WNC 10/20; MM, NYT 10/19)

Nr. Ramallah, Jewish settlers block a West Bank highway, burn tires, claiming that the PA police detained, beat, shot at 2 of their security guards. PA confirms 2 guards were held briefly when they entered PA-controlled territory armed but denies they were mistreated. (NYT 10/17; JP 10/29)

The British daily Independent reports on growing evidence linking the high number of Iraqi civilians suffering fr. unexplained cancers and the use of depleted uranium shells by U.S., UK forces during th 1991 Gulf War. (Independent 10/16 [Internet])

PM Netanyahu, FM Sharon stop in Amman to brief Crown Prince Hassan on talks with the PA before heading to Washington. (MM 10/14; RJ 10/14 in WNC 10/15; NYT 10/14; JTV, al-Dustur 10/15 in WNC 10/17; YA 10/18 in WNC 10/20; MM 10/19; al-Watan al-Arabi 11/6 in WNC 11/12)

1,000s of right-wing Israelis outside PM Netanyahu's home demonstrate against FRD. (ITV 10/14 in WNC 10/16)

Turkey announces preparations for talks with Syria. (MENA 10/14 in WNC 10/15; MIL, Sabah 10/14 in WNC 10/16; IRNA 10/19 in WNC 10/20) (see 10/13)

The UN secures the Taliban's agmt. to hold talks with Iran in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, toward ending the military standoff along their common border. (WP 10/17) (see 10/8)

Nr. Nablus, a Palestinian boy is critically injured, his mother lightly wounded when a munition fr. an IDF firing range 700 meters away that had landed unexploded in the family's olive grove detonates. (Infopal News Bulletin [Internet] 10/14)

Construction begins on 1,200 new houses for Jewish settlers in the West Bank. Contractors claim the new buildings are an expansion of Alei Zahav settlement, which is over a mile away. Alei Zahav has 330 residents (90 families). (Infopal News Bulletin [Internet] 10/15)

PA, Israeli security teams work on draft security MOU. (QY 10/15 in WNC 10/16) (see 10/6)

Unidentified gunmen open fire on 2 Israelis at a spring nr. Jerusalem, killing 1. IDF places curfew on the nearby Palestinian village of Walaja. (MM 10/13; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/14; MA 10/14 in WNC 10/16; CSM, WJW 10/15; JP 10/29)

Turkish DM Ismet Sezgin says that PKK leader Ocalan has left Syria, that Syria has closed some PKK camps, which could help defuse tensions. Meanwhile, Ocalan tells PKK mbrs. to prepare for end to cease-fire on Turkey (see 9/1). (ATL, MIL 10/13 in WNC 10/14; MM, WP, WT 10/14; MENA, MIL, VOA 10/14 in WNC 10/15; ATL 10/15 in WNC 10/16; HUR 10/19 in WNC 10/20; MED Television 10/19 in WNC 10/22) (see 10/12)

Lebanese parliament amends the constitution to allow the election of Gen. Lahoud as the next pres. on 10/15. Only 4 legislators, all associated with Druze leader Walid Junblatt, opposed amending article 49, which requires senior public employees to leave their posts 2 yrs. before seeking the presidency. (RL 10/13 in WNC 10/14; WP, WT 10/14; al-Quds al-Arabi 10/14 in WNC 10/27) (see 10/5)

Israel eases closure on the occupied territories, allowing 25,000 Palestinian workers, 8,000 businessmen into Israel; but says it will not be lifted until after Washington talks. The curfew on Palestinians in Israeli-controlled Hebron, imposed 9/30, is lifted. (HA [Internet] 10/13; ITV 10/14 in WNC 10/16; NYT 10/15; MEI 10/16)

PM Netanyahu appoints current Infrastructures M Sharon as FM and chief negotiator with the Palestinians to head upcoming Washington talks, final status negotiations. He also keeps his position as infrastructures M. (MM 10/9; ITV, RMC 10/9, JT, MENA, al-Nahar, al-Ra'i 10/10, al-Akhbar, Petra-JNA, al-Ra'i, VOA 10/11 in WNC 10/14; NYT, WP, WT 10/10; WT 10/11; MM 10/12; CSM 10/14; MM, WJW 10/15; MEI, PR 10/16; MA 10/16 in WNC 10/19; JP 10/17, 10/29) (see 10/8)

In Ankara, Iranian FM Kharrazi discusses Turkish-Syrian tensions with Turkish FM Cem, then phones Egyptian FM Musa to brief him on his mediation efforts. (IRIB Television, IRNA, MENA, SANA 10/9 in WNC 10/14; IRNA 10/15 in WNC 10/16)

Yemen, Eritrea accept ruling of a London-based international arbitration panel that Eritrea should return most islands in the disputed Red Sea Hanish Archipelago that it occupied in 1995. (MM 10/12; JT 10/13 in WNC 10/14)

In continuing clashes in Hebron, 32 Palestinians are wounded by rubber bullets fired by the IDF. (NYT 10/10)

A Palestinian stabs to death an IDF soldier as she gets off a bus in Tomer settlement nr. Jericho. (MM 10/9; NYT, WP 10/10; PR 10/16)

A Palestinian woman dies of complications during labor when the IDF refuses to let her through a checkpoint to reach the Hebron hospital due to the ongoing closure. (PR 10/16) (see 9/22)

PM Netanyahu meets with his security cabinet to discuss upcoming Washington talks; for the 1st time presents Ms with 2 2d FRD maps. (ITV 10/8 in WNC 10/14; NYT 10/10)

U.S. envoy Ross, Palestinian-Israeli Steering and Monitoring Comm. (PISMC) heads Saeb Erakat and Dani Nave discuss security at Gaza airport. (ITV 10/8 in WNC 10/14)

U.S. Asst. Secy. Indyk phones Syrian FM Shara` fr. Cairo to discuss crisis btwn. Syria, Turkey. Shara` calls on the U.S. to adopt a clear stand, back mediation efforts. Indyk publicly calls on Turkey to exercise self-restraint, then heads to Jordan to brief Crown Prince Hassan on Albright trip. (MENA 10/8 in WNC 10/9; SATN 10/8, RJ 10/9 in WNC 10/14)

In Moscow, Arafat briefs Russian Pres. Boris Yeltsin, PM Yevgeny Primakov, Duma Chmn. Gennady Seleznev on his recent mtgs. with Pres. Clinton, Secy. Albright. (Interfax, ITAR-TASS 10/8 in WNC 10/14)

Iran reports clash with Taliban troops along the border with Afghanistan, marking the 1st significant military incident in their 2-mo.-old standoff. Taliban denies any clash took place. 270,000 Iranian troops are facing 10,000 Taliban troops along the border. (NYT, WP, WT 10/9; MEI 10/16) (see 9/12)

Iranian FM Kharrazi arrives in Syria for talks with senior officials on lowering tensions with Turkey. (IRNA, SANA 10/8 in WNC 10/9; MM 10/9; IRNA, SANA 10/9 in WNC 10/14)

In a ceremony attended by Israeli mayor of Jerusalem Ehud Olmert and 50 mbrs. of the Ateret Cohanim settler group, 3 Jewish settler families move into a home in East Jerusalem. Israel also announces that 150 new housing units will be added to Ma'ale Mikhmas settlement nr. Ramallah. (AFP 10/9 [Internet])

In continuing clashes in Hebron, IDF troops open fire, killing a Palestinian protester, seriously wounding a news photographer, 20 other Palestinian protesters. (MM 10/8; CSM, NYT, PR, WT 10/9; WP 10/10; MEI, PR 10/16; JP 10/29)

Secy. Albright holds 2d round of mtgs. with Arafat, Netanyahu. Netanyahu then heads to Ariel settlement for celebration marking Ariel's new city status (see 6/11) also attended by DM Mordechai, Infrastructures M Ariel Sharon. (MM 10/6; ITV 10/6, JT 10/7 in WNC 10/8; NYT, WP 10/7; ITV 10/7 in WNC 10/9; NYT 10/8; PR 10/9; MEI 10/16; JP 10/17)

CIA Dir. George Tenet meets with Israeli, PA officials on security MOU. Israel, PA reach understanding on long-delayed opening of Gaza industrial park after an FRD agmt. is finalized, discuss forming an "anti-incitement" comm. (WP 10/8; ITV, QY 10/13 in WNC 10/15; MEI, PR 10/16) (see 9/8)

While Egypt's Mubarak shuttles btwn. Turkey's Demirel in Ankara and Syria's Asad in Damascus, Turkish PM Mesut Yilmaz cancels leaves for all troops, gives Syria a "last warning" on support for Kurdish separatists. (MM 10/6; ATL, ESC Television, INA, ITAR-TASS, MENA 10/6 in WNC 10/7; MENA, al-Sabil, SATN 10/6, ATL, al-Dustur 10/7 in WNC 10/8; CSM, MM, WP, WT 10/7; ATL, HA, HUR, Iran News, al-Liwa', MENA, MIL 10/7, ATL, MIL 10/8 in WNC 10/9; MM 10/8; MA 10/9 in WNC 10/14) (see 10/5)

In s. Lebanon, Hizbullah mbrs. detonate roadside bombs as an IDF convoy passes, killing 2 soldiers, wounding 6. (MM 10/6; WT 10/7; JP 10/17)

Israel seals borders with the occupied territories to prevent what DM Mordechai claims are plans for an "unprecedented, horrific" attack by Hamas. (MM 10/2; ITV 10/2 in WNC 10/6; WT 10/3)

Syria calls for dialogue with Turkey on security issues, accuses Israel of being behind Turkey's recent belligerent tone. (MM 10/2; SANA 10/2 in WNC 10/5; Sabah, SATN 10/2, ATL, JT, SA, SATN 10/3 in WNC 10/6; WP, WT 10/3; NYT 10/4; Anatolia 10/5 in WNC 10/7) (see 10/1)

A British analysts claims that Israel is the government referred to in a passage of the Starr report (see 9/19) in which Lewinsky testified that Clinton said that he suspected a foreign emb. of tapping his phones. The analyst claims that Mossad installed the tap after the FBI began looking into reports of an Israeli mole, Mega, in the administration (see 5/6/97); used its recordings of more than 30 sexually explicit calls btwn. Lewinsky, Clinton to force Clinton to call off the Mega investigation. A Washington source confirms that Israeli bugging, blackmail halted the FBI hunt. (MEI 10/2; see also MM 9/18)

In Hebron, 7 Palestinians are injured as clashes with the IDF continue. (WT 10/3)

Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar settlement nr. Nablus fire on Palestinians in the neighboring village of Burin. In East Jerusalem, settlers throw molotov cocktails at a Palestinian home causing light damage. (PR 10/9)

Turkey's national security council discusses accusations that Syria is aiding the PKK; considers imposing diplomatic, economic sanctions on Syria. (WT 9/30; MIL, Zaman 10/1 in WNC 10/6; NYT 10/4) (see 9/1)

In Hebron, an unidentified Palestinian throws 2 grenades at an IDF post, wounding 13 soldiers, 11 Palestinians, 1 Israeli border policeman. IDF shoots, wounds the attacker, who flees into PA-controlled territory. IDF reimposes curfew on Palestinian residents in Israeli-controlled area of the city. (ITV 9/30 in WNC 10/2; LAW, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/1; CSM 10/2; WJW 10/8; PR 10/9; JP 10/10)

In Biddu, West Bank, 100s of Palestinians clash with IDF troops after the funeral of the alleged Hamas mbr. killed 9/29. 6 Palestinians are injured. (MM, WP 10/1)

Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad reports that the El Al cargo plane that crashed in Amsterdam in 1992 was carrying 3 of the 4 chemicals used to make sarin nerve gas, including 50 gallons of dimethyl methylpohsphonate (DMMP). According to the plane's cargo manifest, the chemicals were sent fr. a U.S. factory in Pennsylvania to the top secret Israeli Institute for Biological Research. (ITV 9/30 in WNC 10/2; MM, WT 10/1; NRC Handelsblad 10/3 in WNC 10/6; WT 10/7; JP 10/10; Sunday Times [London] 10/4; MEI 10/16)

Arafat returns to Washington to meet with Pres. Clinton, then briefs Egyptian FM Musa. (MM 9/29; MENA 9/29 in WNC 9/30; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/30; MM 10/1)

IDF places 2-day closure on occupied territories for Yom Kippur holiday. (NYT, WT 9/30; MM 10/1; PR 10/2)

1 Palestinian is killed, 2 are wounded in Beitunia, West Bank, when a bomb blows up in their car. PA police say the 3 alleged Hamas mbrs. had just collected a bag they believe to contain weapons, which detonated as they left the rendezvous. Later, the PSF arrests 4 Israeli Arabs in the Hebron area for selling arms to the men. (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 9/30; ITV 9/30 in WNC 10/2; PR 10/2, 10/9) (see 9/21)

PA security forces raid a suspected Hamas building in Hebron, find 640 lbs. of explosives. (ITV 9/30 in WNC 10/2; MM, WT 10/1)

Clashes btwn. Israeli Arabs, police in Umm al-Fahm continue for 3d day, spread to Nazareth (Israel's largest Arab city). Arabs throughout Israel strike to protest police brutality. Palestinians Bethlehem also hold solidarity protest, clash with IDF. (MM 9/29; NYT, WT 9/30; MM 10/1; MA 10/1 in WNC 10/2; MEI, PR 10/2; Shihan 10/3 in WNC 10/5; ITV 10/2, 10/3 in WNC 10/6; MM 10/5; JP 10/10; JTV 10/19 in WNC 10/21)

In Washington, Pres. Clinton meets with Netanyahu and Arafat, who agree on essentials of a 13% FRD but differ on "parallel" Palestinian actions to ensure Israeli security. Announce plans for another 3-way mtg. in the U.S. in mid-10/98 to finalize agmt. (MM 9/28; ITV 9/28 in WNC 9/29; HA [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/29; Les Echos 9/29 in WNC 9/30; CSM 9/30; al-Akhbar 9/30 in WNC 10/1; WJW 10/1; MEI, MM, PR 10/2; JP 10/3, 10/10)

Arafat returns to New York City to address the UNGA. Under pressure fr. the U.S., he does not mention declaring of a state in 5/99. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/29; CSM 9/30; MM 10/1; MEI, MM, PR 10/2; JP 10/10) (see 9/23)

Fmr. UNSCOM inspector Ritter reveals that for 4 yrs., Israel analyzed intelligence data on Iraq for UNSCOM. (MM 9/28; HA [Internet], WP 9/29; MM, WT 9/30; al-Thawra 9/30 in WNC 10/6; MM 10/1 WP 10/11, 10/12) (see 8/26)

In Umm al-Fahm, Israeli Arabs, Israeli security forces clash for 2d day, with some police firing live ammunition, leaving 11 residents wounded. Town observes general strike to protest police brutality. (MM 9/28; MM, WT 9/29; MEI, PR 10/2; MM 10/5; JP 10/10)

Israeli police free settler who killed a Palestinian boy 9/17. (MEI, PR 10/2) (see 9/19)

Arafat, Netanyahu agree to go to Washington next wk. to meet separately with Pres. Clinton. No 3-way mtg. is planned. Clinton last met with the 2 leaders in 1/98. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/25; ITV 9/25 in WNC 9/29)

 On his 1st trip to the U.S. in 10 yrs., Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah meets with Pres. Clinton, Secy. Albright, and various Treasury, State Dept., CIA, FBI officials. (RJ, SANA 9/25 in WNC 9/28; MEI 10/2)

 A small bomb explodes at a Jerusalem bus stop during rush hour, injuring 1 IDF soldier. (WP 9/25; PR 10/2)

IDF searches the Palestinian village of Arura nr. Ramallah, detains 30 alleged Hamas mbrs. for "being involved in hostile activities." (ITV 9/25 in WNC 9/29)

IDF prevents 20 Israeli peace activists fr. entering Hebron to protest the ongoing closure, existence of settlements. (WT 9/23)

In s. Lebanon, 2 IDF soldiers are killed, 2 are wounded in accidents. (MM 9/22; ITV 9/22 in WNC 9/24)

Videotape of Pres. Clinton's testimony on Lewinsky before grand jury, in which he details their affair, is aired in its entirety nationwide and on Israeli television. (WP 9/21; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/22; ITV 9/22 in WNC 9/24; MM 9/24; al-Akhbar 9/22 in WNC 9/25)

PSF detains 3 mbrs. of an Israeli special unit caught traveling through the PA-controlled enclave of Hebron carrying machine guns, pistols. (PR 9/25)

Muhammad Muqbal, dir. gen. of the PA Youth and Sports Min., is arrested by Force 17 after giving a speech in Ramallah protesting the killing of the Awadallah brothers 9/10. (PR 9/25)

U.S. envoy Ross holds final mtgs. with Arafat, Netanyahu before returning to Washington. (ITV, QY 9/19, IDF Radio, RE 9/20 in WNC 9/22; WP, WT 9/20; Tishrin 9/20 in WNC 9/24; CSM, MM 9/21; al-Akhbar 9/21 in WNC 9/25)

Palestinians clash with IDF troops outside Ramallah. (NYT 9/20)

By order of an Israeli court, Israeli police place Jewish settler Ladani under house arrest in a Jerusalem hostel so that he can have visitors for Rosh Hashanah. (WP 9/21; MM 9/24; MEI 10/2) (see 9/17)

SLA, Hizballah clash in s. Lebanon, leaving 1 SLA mbr. injured. (RL 9/19 in WNC 9/22)

In Cairo, U.S. envoy Ross briefs Pres. Mubarak on his talks with Arafat, Netanyahu. (MENA 9/13 in WNC 9/15; NYT 9/14; WJW 9/17)

Palestinian-IDF clashes continue in the occupied territories. Israel says that it will hold bodies of Awadallah brothers as "bargaining chips" with Hamas. (MM, NYT, WP 9/14; WT 9/16; ITV 9/16 in WNC 9/18)

Independent counsel Kenneth Starr's report on Pres. Clinton's relationship to Lewinsky, detailing their sexual encounters and listing 11 impeachable offenses, is released to the public. (NYT, WP, WT 9/12, 9/13; al-Akhbar, Globes [Internet], al-Jumhuriyya, YA 9/13 in WNC 9/15; MM 9/14; ITV 9/16 in WNC 9/18; MM 9/18; al-Thawra 9/19 in WNC 9/25)

U.S. envoy Ross meets with Arafat, then with Netanyahu. (ITV 9/12 in WNC 9/15; NYT, WP, WT 9/13)

Across the West Bank and Gaza, IDF troops clash with Palestinians protesting the IDF killing of the Awadallah brothers, leaving at least 30 Palestinians, 1 IDF soldier injured. Largest protest march, attended by 1,000s of Palestinians, takes place al-Bireh, the Awadallah's hometown. (NYT, WP, WT 9/13; CSM 9/14)

U.S. special envoy Ross meets with PM Netanyahu, then with Arafat. Ross also meets with Israeli pres. Ezer Weizman, who urges him to pressure Israel into accepting U.S. initiatives. (MM 9/10; ITV 9/10, MA 9/11 in WNC 9/14; NYT 9/11; MM 9/14)

100 IDF troops storm house nr. Hebron, killing Imad, `Adil Awadallah--wanted by Israel for staging attacks for Hamas. Some Palestinians accuses the PA of collaborating with Israel to set up the raid. PA suspects that raid was timed to scuttle Ross's visit. The IDF seals the West Bank, Gaza. (MM, NYT 9/11; LAW, NYT, WP, WT 9/12; al-Ra'i, RE 9/12, AFP, al-Aswaq, MA, MENA 9/13 in WNC 9/15; YA 9/13, JT 9/14 in WNC 9/16; MM, NYT 9/14; WT 9/16; MEI, PR 9/18; JP 9/19) (see 8/25)

IDF troops fire rubber bullets, live ammunition at Palestinians protesting at Shuafat refugee camp in Jerusalem, killing a Palestinian bystander. (NYT 9/11)

Israel's Immigrant Absorption M Yuli Edelstein goes to Washington on PM Netanyahu's behalf to ask the U.S. for the 1st time to release spy for Israel Jonathan Pollard. Edelstein asks 5 congressmen to back Clinton if he pardons Pollard. (WJW 9/17; JP 9/19) (see 5/15)

A bomb explodes in s. Lebanon, killing 4 SLA mbrs., including the cmdr. for Jazzin. (VOL 9/10 in WNC 9/11) (see 8/28)

In Ramallah, Ross holds 3-hr. session with Arafat, who says the PA will not accept any changes to the U.S. 13.1% FRD proposal. (MM 9/9; ITV, RJ 9/9 in WNC 9/11; NYT, WT 9/10)

In Cairo, Netanyahu aides Dani Nave, Uzi Arad meet with Pres. Mubarak in a bid to persuade Egypt to press the PA to agree to Israeli FRD proposals. (WT 9/9; ITV, MENA 9/9 in WNC 9/11; MM 9/10)

UN Security Council (UNSC) unanimously votes to suspend periodic reviews of economic sanctions on Iraq, meaning that Iraq will no longer have guaranteed opportunities to challenge the sanctions. (NYT, WP, WT 9/10; MM 9/11)

In s. Lebanon, 2 SLA mbrs. are killed, 4 are wounded by a roadside bomb. (VOL 9/9 in WNC 9/11)

Pres. Clinton agrees to send special envoy Ross to the Middle East next wk. as part of a renewed U.S. mediation effort aimed at reaching a PA-Israeli FRD agmt. (MM 9/3; MA, YA 9/3 in WNC 9/4; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/4; IDF Radio 9/4 in WNC 9/8; WT 9/5; ITV, YA 9/6, ITV 9/7, VOA 9/8 in WNC 9/9; al-Ba`th 9/6 in WNC 9/11; WJW 9/10; JP 9/12)

Syria opens a trade center in Iraq. (WP 9/4)

Israeli authorities begin construction of new housing units on confiscated Palestinian land to expand the West Bank settlement of Mihula. (al-Quds 9/3 in WNC 9/9)

In Hebron, IDF soldiers clash with 60 Palestinians protesting the sealing of the city, curfew; arrest 7 demonstrators. A 3-mo.-old Palestinian baby dies when IDF soldiers refuses bars access to Hebron hospital. (ITV 8/22 in WNC 8/26; NYT, WP 8/23; LAW 8/25; PR 8/28; MEI 9/4; WP 9/19)

PA imposes house arrest on escaped prisoner Imad Awadallah's family, which lives in al-Bireh. (PR 8/28) (see 8/17)

In retaliation for the 8/7 embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, the U.S. launches 79 Tomahawk cruise missiles striking 6 training camps in Afghanistan reportedly connected to Saudi dissident Osama Bin Laden; a pharmaceutical plant in Khartoum, Sudan, in which Bin Laden possibly holds stock. U.S. claims that "terrorists" at the sites were planning attacks on U.S. interests. Sudan says plant was a legitimate medical drug company. Sudanese stone the U.S. embassy in protest. (ITV 8/20 in WNC 8/21; MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/21; AFP, IDF Radio, ITV, JTV, MENA, News [Islamabad], RE, RJ, VIRI, VOL, YA 8/21 in WNC 8/24; NYT, WP, WT 8/22; al-Dustur, MENA, Petra-JNA, RE, RJ, SANA, VOL 8/22, JT, MA, MENA, al-Ra'i, RJ 8/23, al-Ahram, MENA, al-Ra'i 8/24, MENA, al-Dustur, al-Wafd 8/25 in WNC 8/26; MM 8/24; MM 8/28; MEI 9/4)

King Hussein replaces PM `Abd al-Salam al-Majali with Chief of the Royal Court Fayiz al-Tarawnah after Majali officially resigns over recent water pollution scandal. Tarawnah is replaced by FM Jawad al-Anani. Abdallah al-Khatib is named FM. (MM 8/20; AFP, JT, JTV, RJ 8/20 in WNC 8/21; JTV 8/20; CSM, WP 8/21) (see 8/16)

In Tal Rumayda, one of the most tightly guarded Israeli enclave, an unknown assailant stabs to death a Jewish settler rabbi, wounds another before setting fire to the settlers' home. Settlers take to the streets, attack Palestinians. IDF seals Hebron, places curfew on Israeli-controlled sector of Hebron. (MM, NYT, WP 8/21; IDF Radio 8/21 in WNC 8/24; NYT, WT 7/22; ITV 8/22 in WNC 8/26; CSM 8/25)

IDF demolishes 7 Palestinian homes in Samu`a village in the West Bank. (PR 9/4)

PM Netanyahu approves plan to expand Golan heights settlements. (HA [Internet], IGPO, MM 8/20; JT 8/20 in WNC 8/26; WT 8/21; SA 8/21 in WNC 8/24; PR 8/28; ITV 9/4 in WNC 9/9)

PM Netanyahu agrees to send his political adviser Uzi Arad to represent Israel at Norway's celebrations marking the Oslo agmt.'s 5th anniversary. (IGPO 8/19) (see 8/9)

IDF demolishes 15 Palestinian homes nr. Hebron. (IDF Radio 8/19 in WNC 8/20; WP 8/20; LAW 8/21)

Hizballah detonates roadside bomb in s. Lebanon, killing 1 IDF solider, wounding 4. (RL 8/19 in WNC 8/20; IGPO, MM 8/20)