The Palestine Chronology

In Washington, Secy. Albright meets with PM Netanyahu but fails to overcome differences keeping Israel fr. reaching an FRD agmt., resuming talks with the PA. Netanyahu again raises escrow idea. In a couched criticism of Israel, Clinton expresses suspicions that "some of the actors in th Middle East drama" are carrying out "a deliberate strategy of delay." Netanyahu is at the start of a 5-day U.S. visit to meet with congressional leaders, attend AIPAC, American Jewish Comm. mtgs. (MM, NYT 5/13; NYT, WP, WT 5/14; MA 5/14 in WNC 5/15)

Russian special envoy Posuvalyuk arrives in Beirut for 2 days of talks with PM Hariri on peace process, Israel's s. Lebanon withdrawal offer. (RL, VOL 5/13 in WNC 5/14; RL 5/14 in WNC 5/15)

Kuwait releases 4 of the 13 Jordanian detainees pardoned 4/26. (JTV 5/13 in WNC 5/15) (see 5/7)

In Jerusalem, a Palestinian is stabbed to death by an Ultraorthodox Jew. He is the 6th Palestinian to be stabbed in Jerusalem since 2/17, the 1st to die of his injuries. (NYT, WP 5/14)

In the deadliest attack in more than 2 yrs., Israeli air force (IAF) bombards Fatah-Uprising training camp in s. Lebanon, killing 10 Palestinians, wounding 26. IAF also targets nearby PFLP-GC camp, causing damage but no injuries. France condemns the attacks. (MM 5/13; AFP, RL, VOL 5/13 in WNC 5/14; NYT, WP, WT 5/14)

U.S. cancels Washington summit planned for 5/11, says Pres. Clinton is trying to set up the talks for later this mo. Netanyahu spokesman Bar-Ilan says Netanyahu's schedule is full until 5/28. (al-Dustur 5/9, RJ 5/10 in WNC 5/12; NYT, WP, WT 5/10; NYT, WP 5/11; JP 5/16)

FMs fr. Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK, U.S. (in London to prepare for upcoming mtg. of the G-8 leading industrialized nations) unanimously call on Israel to accept the U.S. FRD proposal. (LPA 5/9, SANA 5/10 in WNC 5/12; WT 5/10)

At the Vatican, Lebanese pres. Hrawi discusses Israel's conditional withdrawal proposal with Pope John Paul II, who expresses support for Lebanon's stance. (RL 5/9, 5/11 in WNC 5/12)

ITV reports that it has uncovered a document signed by Infrastructures M Sharon in which the Likud promises Ultraorthodox leaders that in exchange for their votes for Netanyahu in the 1996 election, the party would make sure that 2 new settlements plus up to 79,000 new housing units in existing settlements would be constructed; would look into providing grants, loans, exemptions to cover settlers' construction costs. PM's Office says that it doubts the document could be considered a legal agmt., meaning that it would not have to have been submitted to the Knesset, does not constitute election bribery. (ITV 5/9 in WNC 5/12)