The Palestine Chronology

Multilateral talks on refugees open in Ottawa with Palestinians asserting that solution for Palestinian refugees should be made through implementation of UN Gen. Assembly Res. 194, which calls for repatriation of refugees or compensation. Israel boycotts talks. (MM 5/12)

Responding to 5/12 U.S. statement regarding right of Palestinian refugees to return, PM Shamir states "There is only a Jewish 'right of return' to the Land of Israel." State Dept. clarifies 5/12 statement, reaffirming U.S. support for Res. 194 and Sec. Council Res. 237 (adopted 14 June 1967) regarding return of Palestinian refugees but adding that this remains a matter to be negotiated between Palestinians and Israel. (NYT, MM 5/14)

Multilateral talks on water open in Vienna with more than 30 delegations attending. (WP 5/14)

Palestinian negotiators Zakariyal-Agha, 'Abd al-Rahman Hamad are refused entry into Gaza by Israeli authorities at Rafah border crossing point for a second time after they again refused to allow border guards to search documents they were carrying [see 5/12]. (MM 5/15)

Annual assembly of World Health Organization passes resolution criticizing Israel for health conditions in o.t. (MM 5/14)

In Jerusalem, Jordanian-controlled Higher Islamic Council warns against intervention by "foreign or international bodies" in repair work to Islamic holy sites in E. Jerusalem, an apparent reference to Saudi attempts to finance repairs of shrines in coordination with UNESCO [Jordan has traditionally been responsible for shrines' maintenance] [see 4/29, 5/5, 5/11, 5/12]. (MM 5/13; NYT 5/14)

Shaykh Ishaq Idris Sakhouta, head of Cairo-based and Saudi-financed World Islamic League, begins visit to Israel and o.t. After praying at al-Aqsa mosque in E. Jerusalem, Sakhouta praises Israel's handling of Islamic shrines in Jerusalem during meeting with Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek [Sakhouta's visit is being financed by an Israeli tourist company which seeks to increase Muslim tourism to Islamic holy sites in o.t.] (MM 5/14)

IDF kill "wanted" Palestinian in Immatin, near Tulkarm. Separate gun battle between IDF and 3 Palestinians leaves 1 Palestinian wounded. (Qol Yisra'el 5/14 in FBIS 5/14

State Dept. says U.S. supports UN Gen. Assembly Res. 194, passed 11 December 1948, which upholds right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes. Israel demands explanation. (NYT 5/13)

Multilateral talks on economic development end in Brussels. (MM 5/13)

Palestinian negotiators Zakariya al-Agha, 'Abd al-Rahman Hamad are denied entry at Rafah border crossing by Israeli authorities after they refuse to submit to a search of documents they were carrying as they returned from recent round of bilateral talks in Washington. (MM 5/15)

As Saudi-Jordanian tension mounts over which country's monarch will assume responsibility for paying for repairs to Islamic shrines in E. Jerusalem, Saudi television reasserts Saudi Arabia's intention [made 4/29] to finance repairs to sites such as al-Aqsa mosque and Dome of the Rock [Jordan has stated it will assume repair costs. See 5/5, 5/11]. (NYT 5/14)

Israeli jets, helicopters attack Islamic Resistance positions in Iqlim al-Tuffah region of S. Lebanon. Raids were first Israeli air attacks in S. Lebanon since 2/16. (Voice of the Mountain, Radio Free Lebanon 5/13 in FBIS 5/13

PLO Central Council concludes meeting in Tunis after heated discussions over whether Palestinians should continue participating in peace process. Council eventually issues resolution expressing support for continuing participation but linking participation in multilaterals with progress in bilateral negotiations. Council also decides that Palestinians will reevaluate participation in the peace process in October 1992. In wake of criticism of PLO leadership, Council also creates committee to study internal PLO structures. Nayif Hawatima, head of one faction of DFLP and who had been pushing for reevaluation of PLO policy toward peace talks and for reforms within PLO, expresses dissatisfaction with results of meeting [DFLP-Hawatima faction, PFLP, Arab Liberation Front voted against the resolution]. (Tunisian Republic Radio, Radio Monte Carlo 5/10 in FBIS 5/11; Voice of Palestine 5/11 in FBIS 5/13; MM 5/11)

Egyptian FM 'Amr Musa states no progress can be made in multilateral talks until bilateral talks lead to peace treaties. (MM 5/11)

King Hussein announces he will personally donate $8.25 million to restore al-Aqsa mosque in E. Jerusalem. Hussein intends to sell a country home in Britain to raise the funds [see 5/5]. (Radio Jordan 5/11 in FBIS 5/13; NYT 5/14; Radio Jordan 5/20 in FBIS 5/21)

Palestinian delegation presents counter proposal in response to 4/27 Israeli suggestion that municipal elections be resumed in o.t. calling for elections for a Palestinian legislative assembly. Delegation also demands abolition of military decrees No. 2 (which granted IDF power to issue laws in o.t.), No. 92 (concerning Israel's control over water in o.t.), and No. 291 (which prohibited registration of land in W. Bank). Delegation also demands Palestinians be given access to public records such as land and population records. Israeli delegation proposes plan which would allow Palestinians to run o.t. hospitals. (NYT, MM 4/30; al-Nahar 4/30 in FBIS 5/1; Qol Yisra'el 4/30 in FBIS 4/30)

Israeli ambassador to U.S. presents compromise proposal to Secy. of State Baker dealing with Israeli objections to participation of diaspora Palestinians in multilateral talks on refugees, economic development [see 4/28]. Under the Israeli proposal, diaspora Palestinians who have residency in other Arab countries would be allowed to participate as members of the delegations from those countries and not as members of the Palestinian delegation. (WP 4/30)

U.S. announces it will give $80 million to Jewish Agency for absorption of immigrants in Israel, nearly double the size of a similar grant extended last year. (MM 5/1)

Classes resume at Bir Zeit University for first time since IDF closed it in January 1988 [see 4/20]. (MM 4/29)

King Fahd pledges to pay costs, estimated at $70 million, of repairing al-Aqsa mosque and Dome of the Rock in E. Jerusalem after receiving reports from UNESCO concerning state of the shrines [team of Egyptian architects recently recommended spending $10 million to repair Islamic monuments in o.t. See 4/26]. Announcement comes in midst of continued poor relations between Saudi Arabia and Jordan, the latter of which has traditionally assumed responsibility for the shrines' maintenance. (Saudi Press Agency 4/29 in FBIS 4/30; MM 4/30; NYT 5/14)

Nazareth court sentences 4 Palestinian citizens of Israel to life imprisonment for 2/15/92 attack on IDF camp which killed 3 soldiers [see 2/26, 3/3, 3/6]. (NYT 4/30)

Undercover units kill 2 Palestinians in Janin area, one in Yamun and second in 'Arraba. IDF claimed both had threatened troops with guns. (MM 4/30