The Palestine Chronology

Donors' Joint Liaison Comm. meets in Gaza. (AYM 9/16 in WNC 9/21)

PA gives Israel a list of names of its 30,000 police officers, fulfilling a Wye obligation. Israel wanted the list to make sure that none of the security forces are involved in anti-Israeli acts. (MM, WP 9/16; JP 9/24)

Arafat appoints Local Government M Erakat to head the team to oversee Wye II implementation and issues arising fr. the interim agmts., passing him over for the job of chief negotiator for final status talks. (AFP 9/16 in WNC 9/17)

The new PA Administrative Reform and Development Comm. (ARDC) sets up 5 technical comms. to investigate PA ministries and government offices for duplication of duties, impediments to independent and efficient functioning. (HJ 9/16 in WNC 9/21)

Israeli police question fmr. PM Benjamin Netanyahu in connection with allegations that a contractor carried out private work for him, billed the government. (MM 9/15; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/16; JP 9/24; MM 9/28)

PA Preventive Security Force (PSF) arrests popular television talk show host Maher al-Disouqi on incitement charges after a guests on his show, the mothers of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, criticize the PA, denounce Arafat for failing to secure their sons' release. (LAW 9/16, 9/20; JP 10/1; NYT 10/14)

Walt Disney Corp. meets with reps. of the Arab League, officials fr. the UAE, Morocco, and Arab American groups to discuss Israel's plans to host an exhibition entitled "Jerusalem, Capital of Israel" at Disney's Epcot Center. Arab states have threatened to boycott Disney products if the exhibition takes place. (NYT, WT 9/18; al-Quds 9/18, IRNA, Tehran Times 9/19 in WNC 9/21) (see 8/12)

The most splintered Israeli parliament in history, including 15 parties, is sworn in. Prior to the ceremony, PM-elect Barak vows to stop Jewish settlers fr. establishing new settlement enclaves, to reevaluate settlement decisions taken by outgoing PM Netanyahu. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/8)

Israel agrees to allow 1,500 Palestinian refugees from Egypt to return to Gaza over the next 2 yrs. (NYT, WP 6/10; JP 6/18)

Ending a 30 yr. dispute, Qatar, Saudi Arabia sign agmt., maps defining their common border. (WT 6/9)

IDF demolishes a Palestinian home in East Jerusalem. (LAW 6/9)

Israeli military court rules that a Palestinian fatally shot by an IDF soldier at a West Bank checkpoint on 6/3 did not try to run the soldier over as claimed, sentences the soldier 30 days in jail for wrongful death. (AFP [Internet] 6/7)

Arafat meets with King Abdullah in Amman. (VOA 3/18 in WNC 3/19; PR 3/19)

In Gaza, a Palestinian security court sentences to death a PA policeman for killing a fellow policeman, sparking demonstrations across Gaza by Palestinians who feel that the court decision was made under pressure fr. the murdered man's influential family, not based on evidence. PA police fatally shoot 2 demonstrators, wound several others. (PCHR 3/10; NYT, WP 3/11; CSM 3/18; PR 3/19; MEI 3/26)

U.S. Defense Secy. Cohen leaves Kuwait for Amman to discuss with King Abdallah the $200 m. military aid package now before Congress. (MM 3/10; RJ, Xinhua 3/10 in WNC 3/11; MM, NYT, WP 3/11; MEI 3/12)

Rana Raslan becomes 1st Israeli Arab to win Miss Israel beauty contest. PM Netanyahu claims her victory proves that Israeli Arabs are treated as equals to Jews, but 64% of Israeli Jews polled say they cannot accept Raslan as representing Israel. (NYT, WP 3/11; MM 3/12; WJW 3/18; JP 3/19; WT 4/6)