The Palestine Chronology

PA team walks out of talks with Israel over issues of Hebron security arrangements. U.S. special envoy Ross's announcement that he is returning to Washington today as planned brings the sides back to the table. After several hrs. of talks, Ross decides to stay on, saying the PA, Israel are "in the midst of the most promising discussions to date." (MM 10/21; ITV 10/21 in WNC 10/23; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/22; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 10/23; WJW 10/24; MEI, PR 10/25; JP 11/2)

French Pres. Chirac visits Israel; gives speech at Techion University; makes last-minute visit to the Knesset, but does not address it. Health Secy. Hervé Gaymard visits Orient House. (MM 10/21; LCI 10/21 in WNC 10/22; JP, YA 10/21 in WNC 10/23; NYT, WP, WT 10/22; MM, WP 10/23; MEI, PR 10/25; NYT, WT 10/27; JP 11/2)

Israeli High Council of Planning refuses building permits for 5 Palestinian families, clearing the way for the demolition of their West Bank homes. (LAWE 10/21)

In the Knesset, Netanyahu government loses (43-45) vote of confidence on its economic policy. (ITV 10/21 in WNC 10/23; WP 10/22)

Outside Ofra settlement nr. Ramallah, settlers kill Palestinian in drive by shooting. (LAWE 10/23)

As PA-Israeli subcomms. continue talks in Taba, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Arafat meets with Pres. Mubarak in Cairo, denounces Israeli proposal for Hebron as "racist." The plan, similar to that proposed 10/7, calls for redefinition of H1 (Palestinian) and H2 (Israeli) zones, allowing Israel to retain civil control of the city, incl. zoning and planning control, which could be used to increase settlements in and around Hebron. (MM 10/16; IDF Radio, ITV, RE 10/16 in WNC 10/19; CSM, MM, NYT, WT 10/17; PR 10/18) (see 10/15)

In an unprecedented incident, Shin Bet says that it ordered IDF troops to appear without weapons when PM Netanyahu visited an army base last wk. because of rising distrust of Netanyahu within the military. Top army cmdrs. are upset at being left out of crucial security decisions. (MM 10/16; WT 10/17, 10/18; JP 10/26)

SLA cuts electricity to some villages in s. Lebanon after villagers ignore its announcement of conscription of local men btwn. the ages of 15 and 40 for a new camp nr. Bint Jubayl. (RL 10 16 in WNC 10/17; RL 10/17 in WNC 10/19)

King Hussein returns to Jericho with Arafat for his 1st visit to the West Bank since it was lost to Israel in 1967. (RJ 10/15, RE, RJ 10/16 in WNC 10/17; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/16; PR 10/18; MM 10/24; MEI 10/25; JP 10/26)

PISMC continues mtgs. in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, while an indirect dialogue is held btwn. Arafat, Netanyahu, mediated by U.S. special envoy Ross. Arafat proposes that the U.S. add a military contingent to the TIPH to ease Israel's security fears on Hebron. Israel rejects the idea. (HA, ITV, JP, YA 10/15 in WNC 10/17; CSM, MM, NYT, WT 10/16; HA, YA 10/16 in IL 10/16) (see 10/14)

35,000 Palestinian workers begin entering Israel. Internal closure on Nablus is lifted. (HA 10/16 in IL 10/16; PR 10/18) (see 10/10)

ILMG continues to discuss 10/12 Israeli shelling of a s. Lebanese village. Also in s. Lebanon, Lebanese woman steps on Israeli mine planted in olive grove to deter Hizballah attackers, is severely wounded. (RL 10/15 in WNC 10/17; WT 10/16) (see 10/14)

Lebanon publishes results of 1st census since 1932, showing a population of 3.1 m., lower than expected given 150,000 deaths during the 1975-90 civil war. The census took 2 yrs. to complete, does not incl. statistics on refugee camps. (WT 10/16)

Lebanese PM Hariri's government resigns to make way for new cabinet following recent national elections. (WT 10/16; MEI 10/25) (see 9/15)

PUK halts its advance outside Irbil, says it has no plans of trying to retake the city. (WP, WT 10/16) (see 8/31, 10/14)

PA-Israeli talks continue at Erez without progress. As a compromise, PA proposes formation of a joint security headquarters in Hebron to command mobile and permanent units that would incl. riot and assault forces; Israel is not enthusiastic but says it will consider the idea. (RJ 10/8 in WNC 10/10; CSM 10/9; MA, YA 10/9 in IL 10/9; PR 10/11; IDF Radio 10/11 in WNC 10/15; WT 10/12) (see 10/7)

At his meeting with Pres. Weizman in Israel, Arafat says that he has given a "permanent order" to PA policemen not to fire at IDF troops. (CSM, MM 10/8; IDF Radio 10/8 in WNC 10/11; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/9; WJW 10/10; MEI 10/18; JP 10/19) (see 8/25)

Israel demands that the PA punish policemen involved in fire fights with IDF troops, disarm Palestinian civilians; says soldiers at checkpoint nr. Nablus have already begun checking IDs in search for policemen involved in fight at Joseph's tomb 9/26. (WP 10/9)

Israel announces it will allow 10,000 Palestinian workers into Israel, eases blockade on Ramallah and Hebron. (NYT, WP, WT 10/9; PR 10/11)

New round of PISMC talks opens at Erez crossing point. (MA, RAI Radio Uno [Rome], RJ 10/6, RJ 10/7 in WNC 10/8; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/7; HA 10/7 in IL 10/7; IGPO, YA 10/7, YA 10/9 in WNC 10/10; CSM, NYT 10/8; WJW 10/10; PR 10/11; JP 10/12)

Israel ends 10-day-old curfew on Hebron; pulls tanks back fr. some areas of the West Bank; restores Palestinians' freedom of movement in Gaza, parts of the West Bank; allows 700 Palestinian workers to return to their jobs in Israel, 2,000 to resume their jobs at n. Gaza industrial park. (CSM, MM, NYT, WT 10/7; WT 10/8; PR 10/11; JP 10/12)

Arafat, Netanyahu end 2-day summit in Washington without resolving their differences, agree to begin nonstop intensive negotiations at Erez 10/6 on disputed issues. (MM 10/2; al-Dustur [Amman], ITV, JTV 10/2, MA, RE 10/3 in WNC 10/4; CSM, MM, NYT, WJW, WP, WT 10/3; RE 10/3 in WNC 10/4; ITV, QPAR, al-Quds, al-Quds al-Arabi, VOA 10/3, al-Ra'i 10/4 in WNC 10/7; MM, WP 10/4; ITV 10/8 in WNC 10/11; PR 10/11; MEI 10/25)

Israeli, PA officers meet to discuss reopening Qarni crossing export of Palestinian goods into Israel. Israel demands that Palestinians at the checkpoint be unarmed. PA refuses. No agmt. is reached. (ITV 10/2 in WNC 10/4)

Anticipating possible failure of Washington talks, IDF moves more troops and heavy weapons, incl. tanks, helicopters, sniper squads, to the outskirts of zone A areas. (YA 10/2 in WNC 10/3; ITV 10/2 in WNC 10/4; WP, WT 10/3; MA 10/4 in WNC 10/7)

In Hebron, IDF fires on Palestinian protesters, killing 1 boy, wounding 2 men. 4 other Palestinians are wounded during protest nr. Halhul. (ITV 10/2 in WNC 10/4; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 10/3)

In Jerusalem, 50,000 Israelis march in support of Netanyahu. (WT 10/3)

Turkey's PM Necmettin Erbakan arrives in Cairo on 1st leg of 6-day regional tour. Meanwhile in Tripoli, Turkish, Libyan delegations begin talks on strengthening bilateral cooperation, with emphasis on economic, industrial issues. (WT 10/2; JANA [Tripoli] 10/3 in WNC 10/4)

Turkey announces plans to increase its electricity purchases from Iran to 3 b. kw/h. (IRNA 10/2 in WNC 10/4)

Lebanon's Council of Ministers grants al-Manar Television, al-Nur Radio temporary exclusion fr. the new media law (see 9/17), allowing them to continue broadcasting news of the resistance. They will both still be banned fr. broadcasting other political news, programs as of 11/30. (RL 10/2 in WNC 10/4)

In s. Lebanon, 2 IDF officers are wounded in clash with Hizballah. (ITV 10/2 in WNC 10/4)

PM Netanyahu arrives in London on 1st stop of 3-day EU tour to garner support for his hard-line attitude toward the peace process; meets with PM John Major. (MM 9/24; LPR 9/24 in WNC 9/27; MM, WP, WT 9/25)

Under heavy police guard, Israel undertakes a surprise predawn excavation to complete a long disputed archeological tunnel that runs along the al-Aqsa mosque compound. The 12-yr.-old project was completed only on the personal orders of PM Netanyahu, who intended it as a message to Palestinians that Israel is the sole sovereign in Jerusalem. PA denounces tunnel work, calls for general strike 9/25. During the day, Palestinians at the mosque clash with police, hurl stones at Jews at the Western Wall. Jordan's King Hussein is furious that Gold did not warn him of the tunnel opening in their mtg. 9/22. (MM 9/24; JTV, RJ 9/24 in WNC 9/27; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/25; WJW 10/3; MEI, PR 10/4; MM 10/9; WT 10/11)

In Hebron, IDF orders 6-mo. closure of 2 charity organizations allegedly linked to Hamas. Palestinians clash with IDF over reopening the central market (see 9/16). (HA 9/24 in IL 9/24; RMC 9/24 in WNC 9/27)

Following Israel's Yom Kippur holiday, ILMG reconvenes in Naqura to discuss complaints filed by Lebanon, Israel. (ITV, RL 9/24 in WNC 9/27; NYT, WT 9/25; JP 10/5) (see 9/22)

IDF, Amal clash in s. Lebanon, leaving 2 Amal mbrs. dead. (RL 9/24 in WNC 9/27; CSM, MM, NYT, WT 9/25; RL 9/25 in WNC 9/27; JP 10/5)