The Palestine Chronology

Arafat flies to Paris to discuss the status of the peace process with Pres. Chirac. (MM 4/27; al-Quds 4/27 in WNC 5/2) (see 4/25)

UN special envoy Larsen meets with PM Barak, FM Levy to discuss Israel's plans to pull out of s. Lebanon. (MM 4/27)

In Paris, the UN Comm. on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) opens a 2-day international conference on Palestinian refugees. It is a precursor to the CEIRRP's annual mtg. of NGOs on the question of Palestine, which begins in Paris on 4/28. (UN press release 4/27)

Barak for the 1st time says that Israel would not annex Palestinian villages nr. Jerusalem but would seek to annex most Jewish settlements in a final agmt.; says Israel might make a "down payment" on future land transfers, possibly handing over Palestinian villages nr. Jerusalem. (MM 4/10; Hatzofe 4/12 in WNC 4/13; AYM 4/12 in WNC 4/14; MM, NYT, WT 4/17; WJW 4/20; WP 5/4)

Another 4 senior Israeli officials confirm that under the right conditions, Israel would formally recognize a Palestinian state. The 5 officials who have made statements since 4/15 are Internal Security M Ben Ami, Regional Cooperation M Shimon Peres, M without portfolio Haim Ramon, Education M Sarid, Dep. DM Ephraim Sneh. (WP 4/17)

Israeli FM Levy arrives in Paris to meet with French officials. (Le Monde 5/6 in WNC 5/10)

Israel postpones the release of 13 Lebanese detainees after the family of IDF airman Arad files an appeal of the High Court's 4/12 ruling. (NYT, WT 4/17)

After a 6-wk. investigation, Israeli police recommend that Transportation M Mordechai be indicted on charges of having sexually assaulted 3 women over 8 yrs. Police say that the statue of limitations has expired on "several" other incidents. (NYT, WP, WT 4/17; JP 4/14; WJW 4/20) (see 3/7)