The Palestine Chronology

PA intelligence officers detain without charge 7 Palestinians who signed the Petition of the 20. Of the 7, 2 are placed under house arrest, 5 are in PA custody. (LAW 11/28; CSM, MM, NYT, WP 11/29; CSM, MM 11/30; AYM 11/30 in WNC 12/2; MM 12/1; WJW 12/2; MEI 12/10)

Israeli police question fmr. PM Benjamin Netanyahu for 10 hrs. regarding charges that he accepted illegal favors as PM, that he took valuables belonging to the Israeli government when he left office. (MM, WT 11/29; MM 12/7) (see 10/21)

King Abdallah of Jordan meets with Muslim Brotherhood leader `Abd al-Majid Dhunaybat as a gesture of reconciliation in the wake of the deportation of Hamas leaders 11/21 and the end of the Hamas crisis. (SA 12/1 in WNC 12/2)

At the weekly cabinet mtg., PM Barak says that although he still has not found a suitable person to lead the final status team, comprehensive staff work has been done to formulate Israel's position in the political-security sphere and on the subject of economic separation. (MM 10/18; al-Quds 10/19 in WNC 10/20; AYM 10/21 in WNC 10/25; WT 10/23)

Opening of s. safe-passage route, scheduled for today, is delayed for 2d time, because Israeli, PA officials cannot agree on the location of a joint office in Gaza that would hand out travel permits to Palestinians. (WP 10/17; AYM 10/21 in WNC 10/25) (see 10/4)

In Damascus, Syrian pres. Asad receives Jordanian FM Khatib for talks on the peace process, briefing on King Abdallah's mtg. with Pres. Clinton. (GIU 10/18; CSM 10/19; SA 10/20 in WNC 10/21)

Arab Human Rights Organization calls on Jordan to immediately release the 20 Hamas political leaders, activists it has detained since 8/31. King Abdallah says he believes that a "formula" can be reached to resolve the issue. The Muslim Brotherhood is still mediating. (AFP 10/19, JT 10/20 in WNC 10/21; WT 10/20; JT 10/21 in WNC 10/22; MEI 10/29) (see 9/22)

Jordan's Interior Min. says that it has detained 3 Israeli Arabs on charges of selling Palestinian land in Jerusalem to Israelis using forged land-sale affidavits. 3 other men are wanted. (al-Quds 10/19 in WNC 10/21; JT 10/31 in WNC 11/2)

Israeli Interior M Sharansky rescinds the regulation allowing the residency rights of East Jerusalem Palestinians to be revoked on the grounds that their tax, water, electricity, rental, school or enrollment records suggest they may have lived outside the city for some time during the past 7 yrs.; does not say whether Palestinians who had their residency revoked under this law will have their rights restored. (MM, NYT 10/18; al-Quds 10/18, AYM 10/19 in WNC 10/21; al-Quds 10/21 in WNC 10/25; JP 10/29) (see 7/20)

Some 5,000 Jewish settlers, angered by Barak's plans to fully or partially dismantle 12 settlements, protest outside the PM's home. (MM, WP, WT 10/18; AYM 10/19 in WNC 10/21; MEI 10/29)

In Nazareth, a group Muslim Palestinians angry over the city's plans to construct a large plaza next to the Church of the Annunciation on a site that was slated for construction of a mosque attack, slightly injure the town's Christian mayor, Ramiz Jaraisi. Israeli police arrest 2 suspects. (WT 10/18, 10/20) (see 4/20)

A new press and publication law goes into effect in Jordan, replacing the controversial 1998 press law. While the new version lifts the ban on nearly 1,000 books, reduces the amounts that journalists can be fined for violations, and lowers the minimum capital a newspaper must hold to be licensed, the Jordan Press Association cautions that it does not ban the arrest of journalists for political reasons. (JT 10/18 in WNC 10/19; JT 10/30 in WNC 11/2)

In Washington, King Abdallah, Pres. Clinton hold talks on the peace process, bilateral economic ties. Previously, Abdallah said he would bring with him a message for Clinton fr. Iraqi pres. Saddam Hussein (see 10/4); the U.S. says Abdallah brought no message, though one might exist. Some reports maintain that U.S. officials told Jordan that Abdallah should not pass the message to Clinton, since the U.S. was not interested in a dialogue with Iraq. (WP 10/13; DUS 10/13 in WNC 10/15; MEI 10/15; AYM 10/18 in WNC 10/19; WT 10/20; SA 10/20 in WNC 10/21)

Barak orders 15 of the 42 unauthorized settlements constructed after the Wye accord to be dismantled; allows 11 others to stay; says remaining 16 may remain for now, but new building is forbidden. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/13; JT, MENA 10/13 in WNC 10/15; CSM 10/14; AYM, al-Quds 10/14 in WNC 10/18; JP 10/22) (see 10/10)

Israel says it will let DFLP head Hawatimah into the occupied territories now that he has expressed support for the peace process. (WP 10/13; MEI 10/29)

The Israeli High Court rules that Muhammad Abbas, head of the Palestine Liberation Front, is immune from trial in Israel for the 1985 Achille Lauro hijacking during which hijackers shot dead U.S. citizen Leon Klinghoffer. (WP 10/13)

In Ramallah, Palestinian nationalist and Islamist organizations (including, ALF, DFLP, Fatah, FIDA, Hamas, the Palestine Liberation Front, PFLP, PPP, PPSF) hold unity talks aimed at drawing up a list of principles for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Participants call on Arafat to approve the PC's law on the independence of the judiciary, release political detainees fr. PA prisons. (al-Quds 10/14 in WNC 10/18)

On the 6th anniversary of the Oslo I signing, Israel, the PA hold ceremony at Erez crossing to mark official resumption of final status talks. PA chief negotiator Abbas, Israeli FM Levy host the event. U.S. special envoy Dennis Ross, Russian FMin. dir. for the Middle East Alexander Saltanov, EU special envoy Miguel Moratinos attend. (MM 9/13; XIN 9/13 in WNC 9/14; NYT, WP, WT 9/14; ITAR-TASS, SA, al-Wafd 9/14 in WNC 9/15; VOA 9/15 in WNC 9/16; WJW 9/16; MEI 9/17; JP 9/24)

While the Erez ceremony is taking place, Barak convenes ministerial comm. on Jerusalem to discuss consolidating Israel sovereignty over Jerusalem "especially in this year of intensive discussions on the permanent status agreement." (MM 9/14)

PA Culture and Information M Yasir `Abid Rabbuh says that the PA will not unilaterally declare a Palestinian state before the end of the 1-yr. period allotted under Wye II for completion of a final status agmt. (AFP 9/14 in WNC 9/15; WT 9/15; VOA 9/15 in WNC 9/16)

King Abdallah of Jordan arrives in Lebanon for 2 days of talks, meets with PM Salim al-Huss. Abdallah focuses on expanding Jordan's economic and political relations with Lebanon and Syria, says the 3 countries have a "strategic interest" in coordinating their positions on the peace process, especially on refugees, water. (MM 9/13; RL 9/13 in WNC 9/14; JT, RL, VOL 9/14 in WNC 9/15; NYT 9/15)

Muslim Brotherhood head `Abd al-Majid Dhunaybat meets with Jordanian PM `Abd al-Rauf al-Rawabida to mediate a reconciliation btwn. Hamas, the Jordanian government. (MM 9/13; al-Istiqlal 9/16 in WNC 9/26; SA 9/21 in WNC 9/24; AFP 9/25 in WNC 9/27; WT 9/26) (see 9/4)

Before attending the Wye II signing, Secy. of State Albright makes a quick trip to Damascus for talks with Pres. Asad on resuming negotiations with Israel. (AFP, MENA, RL, VOL, XIN 9/4, JT, MENA, SA, XIN 9/5, Interfax 9/6 in WNC 9/7; NYT, WP, WT 9/5; MM 9/6; RL 9/7 in WNC 9/8; al-Nahar 9/8 in WNC 9/9; MM 9/9; MEI 9/17)

On her way fr. Damascus to Sharm al-Shaykh, Secy. Albright stops in Lebanon, where she reportedly presents Pres. Emile Lahoud with a draft proposal on s. Lebanon. (AFP, MENA, RL, VOL, XIN 9/4, JT, MENA, SA, XIN 9/5, Interfax 9/6 in WNC 9/7; NYT, WP, WT 9/5; MM 9/6; RL 9/7 in WNC 9/8; al-Nahar 9/8 in WNC 9/9; MM 9/9; al-Ittihad 9/11 in WNC 9/13; MEI 9/17; al-Watan al-Arabi 9/17 in WNC 9/25)

In Sharm al-Shaykh, Egypt, Arafat, Barak sign Wye II accord. Secy. of State Albright, Pres. Mubarak of Egypt, King Abdallah of Jordan also sign as witnesses. Palestinian opposition groups denounce the agmt. for containing more "gratuitous concessions" to Israel, further weakening the Palestinian negotiating position. (NYT, WP, WT 9/5; MM 9/6; AYM 9/6 in WNC 9/10; WJW 9/9; JP 9/10; AFP 9/11 in WNC 9/13; MEI 9/17)

In Amman, Jordan arrests 4 mbrs. of the Muslim Brotherhood--including Islamic Action Front parliament mbr. Muhammad Khalil Aqil--attending a mtg. expressing solidarity with Hamas. (AFP 9/13 in WNC 9/14)

Pres. Asad receives Jordanian chief of the royal court Kabariti, who was sent to Damascus by King Abdallah to assess the Syrian position on the peace process in advance of the king's mtg. with Israeli PM Barak on 7/13. (SATN 7/12 in WNC 7/13; WP 7/13; al-Bayan 7/14 in WNC 7/15)

Unnamed sources in Amman claim that the Jordanian government has begun cracking down on Hamas, aiming to end its political presence in the kingdom. The move reportedly comes in response to Hamas attempts to take control of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood in a power play against the less radical Hamas leadership in Gaza. Others say that Jordan is clamping down on Hamas, the Brotherhood in anticipation of confederation talks with the PA in the wake of a final settlement btwn. the PA, Israel. Hamas leaders do not comment. (MM 7/12; al-Ittihad 7/12, QA 7/16 in WNC 7/19; MM 7/16; al-Majd 7/19 in WNC 7/20; YA 7/25 in WNC 7/26; WA 7/26 in WNC 8/2)

Student demonstrations continue in Iran for the 5th day. Iranian police, Ansar-e Hezbollah mbrs. beat protesters, injuring 50. 24 senior Iranian military officers send letter to Pres. Khatami, warning him that they are running out of patience with his reformist agenda, blaming him for student protests. (MM 7/12; CSM, GIU, NYT, WP, WT 7/13; MEI 7/16; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/21; WP 7/22)

A roadside bomb explodes in s. Lebanon, injuring an SLA mbr. (VOL 7/12 in WNC 7/13)

The Abu Dhabi daily al-Ittihad reports that Arafat has asked King Abdallah to intervene with Fatah mbrs. in Jordan to dissuade them fr. taking part in an "internal conspiracy." Arafat reportedly alleges that senior Fatah leaders in Amman, Cairo, Damascus, Tunis have begun a serious movement, supported by Hamas and Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood, to overthrow Arafat for having made too many concessions to Israel. PA denies the report. (al-Ittihad 6/14 in WNC 6/15; al-Ittihad 6/18 in WNC 6/21) (see 6/10)

In Damascus, Iranian, Syrian officials discuss cooperation in water, electricity industries. (IRNA 6/14 in WNC 6/15)

Iraq sends delegation to Iran to discuss accelerating the release of POWs fr. the 1980+n88 war. (WP 6/15)

U.S. emb. in Israel confirms that Amb. Walker has set up an apartment in Jerusalem in an effort to stave off congressional pressure to move the entire emb. fr. Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. State Dept. denies that the apartment serves as the amb.'s "secondary residence." (WP, WT 5/15) (see 5/12)

In Damascus, Syrian pres. Asad, Iranian pres. Khatami hold 2d round of talks. Khatami also meets with Damascus-based Palestinian opposition leaders, a Hamas delegation fr. Jordan. (MM 5/14; IRIB Television, RMC 5/14, Tehran Times 5/15 in WNC 5/17; NYT, WP 5/15)

King Abdallah arrives in Washington on his 1st trip to the U.S. as head of state. (State Dept. press briefing 5/14)

Syria begins pumping water to Jordan to help ease drought. (al-Dustur 5/14 in WNC 5/17; NYT 5/15; JT 5/15 in WNC 5/17; JT 5/17 in WNC 5/18; MEI 5/21) (see 5/2)