The Palestine Chronology

Protest by Palestinian political prisoners against their detention in Israel's Megiddo jail turns into riot, injuring 3 Israeli policemen. Meanwhile, 44 Palestinians held in PA jails without charge end mo.-long hunger strike (see 2/12), claiming that they have reached an agmt. with the PA to resolve their case. (AFP [Internet] 3/1; PR 3/5)

A Palestinian is shot, wounded by IDF when he tries to avoid a road block nr. Ramallah. (PR 3/5)

Jordanian, Israeli water officials meet in Amman to prepare funding proposals to the EU for joint water projects in the Jordan Valley. (JT 3/2 in WNC 3/4; al-Ayyam 3/3 in WNC 3/5)

Jordanian FM `Abdallah Khatib makes 1st high-level Jordanian visit to Kuwait since the 1990+n91 Gulf conflict. Kuwait says that bilateral relations have returned to normal. (Petra-JNA, Radio Kuwait 3/2, JT 3/3 in WNC 3/4; MM, WP 3/3; Xinhua 3/3 in WNC 3/5)

Pentagon confirms that the U.S., Britain, Turkey have signed their 1st agmt. on technical rules of engagement for air operations in n. Iraq, broadening rules of engagement for pilots for 2d time since 1/25. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/2)

Israel's atty. gen. files formal request for a larger group of High Court justices to reconsider the 2/25 decision not to extradite Sheinbein. (WP 3/2; WJW 3/4, 3/11)

Results of Iran's 2/26 local elections show that reform candidates allied with moderate Pres. Mohamed Khatami won a sweeping victory, taking all seats in Tehran, most seats nationwide. (WP, WT 3/2; NYT, WP, WT 3/3; MM, NYT, WP 3/8)

Lebanese brace for escalation in Israeli attacks following 2/28 incident. Israel's security cabinet threatens future strikes, but under strong international pressure, the IDF stages no attacks. (RL 3/1 in WNC 3/2; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 3/2; ITAR-TASS, MA 3/2 in WNC 3/4)

After a 5 wk. trial, the Senate, voting along party lines, acquits Pres. Clinton on both articles of impeachment (45-55; 50-50). (NYT, WP, WT 2/13)

Arafat resurrects idea of Palestinian confederation with Jordan in a final peace arrangement. (NYT, WP, WT 2/13; `Ukaz 2/13 in WNC 2/17; al-Ayyam 2/13, al-Hayat al-Jadida 2/14 in WNC 2/18)

200 Palestinian protesters storm PA jail in Jericho, demanding release of 5 Islamists held there without charge. The 5 are among the 48 political prisoners who have been on hunger strike since 1/24. Protesters scuffle with PA police but eventually leave the building peacefully. In Nablus, 1,000 Palestinians hold rally in solidarity with prisoners. (WP 2/13; MEI 2/26)

In keeping with its 1/30 decision, the UN creates a panel to review Iraq's disarmament record, recommend ways of ensuring Iraq fulfills agmt. to abandon unconventional weapons. 20-mbr. panel contains 12 UNSCOM mbrs., including the ranking American UNSCOM inspector but not chmn. Butler. UN also creates 2 other panels on humanitarian affairs, prisoners of war and Kuwaiti property. (NYT 2/13)

Israel declines U.S. invitation to hold trilateral mtg. with the PA in Washington in 2/99 to discuss Wye implementation. Israeli FM Sharon says time is not right. (YA 1/25 in WNC 1/26) (see 1/17)

Ousted DM Mordechai joins the new Shahak-Meridor party. Netanyahu terms Mordechai "immoral" for consorting with centrists. (NYT, WP, WT 1/25; MA 1/25 in WNC 1/26) (see 1/23)

Israelis of Rumanian origin establish new political party, the Progressive Center Party. 14 requests to form new parties have been submitted since the last Knesset elections. Only 3 have been approved. (MA 1/25 in WNC 1/26)

Arab League mtg. on Iraq convenes in Cairo. Iraq attends but walks out in protest of what it calls a biased final statement that could give the U.S. a pretext to launch more airstrikes. The statement expresses "deep concern" over, but does not denounce, 12/98 U.S.-led attack; insists Iraq recognize Kuwait, comply with UN resolutions as a prelude to sanctions relief. Participants agree to set up ministerial comm. to work toward lifting economic sanctions on Iraq in accordance with a specific UN compliance time table. (WP 1/24; AFP, MENA, RE 1/24, al-Ayyam, al-Dustur, MENA, SANA 1/25 in WNC 1/26; MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/25; MENA, al-Quds al-Arabi 1/25, al-Safir 1/26 in WNC 1/27; MM, WT 1/26; MENA 1/28 in WNC 1/29; MEI 1/29)

48 Hamas, Islamic Jihad prisoners in the PA's Nablus, Jericho, Jneid jails begin hunger strike to protest the PA's failure to adhere to the PC's 1/13 call to free political prisoners held without charge at the end of Ramadan. (LAW, MEI, PR 1/29) (see 1/17)

Jewish settlers bulldoze Palestinian land nr. Bethlehem, including property of a historic monastery, to expand Efrat settlement. (INFOPAL 1/25)

U.S. planes attack 2 more Iraqi missile sites in the n. no-fly zone. (NYT, WP 1/25)