The Palestine Chronology

With all regular ballots in the Israeli elections counted, Netanyahu is ahead by 21,399 votes (0.7 percent); Likud, Labor are losing Knesset seats; religious parties are gaining seats. 150,000 absentee and military ballots, which in the past have gone overwhelmingly to Likud, have yet to be counted. The Israeli stock market drops 5 percent, value of the shekel falls. (MM, WP 5/30; IDF Radio, QY 5/30 in FBIS 5/30; MENA, QY, SARR 5/30, JP, QY 5/31 in FBIS 5/31; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 5/31; MEI, PR 6/7)

Netanyahu says that if he wins he will work to strengthen peace btwn. Israel, "Arab states with whom Israel already has peaceful relations." (QY 5/30 in FBIS 5/31; NYT 5/31)

Aides describe Pres. Clinton as "crestfallen" over Netanyahu's probable win, believing it to be a setback to his image as a peacemaker. Yet, Clinton says that, whatever the results, the U.S. will continue its support for Israel. (MM 5/30; NYT, WP, WT 5/31) (see 5/28)

PA says it will deal with any election outcome; if Likud wins, it must still continue the peace process. (JMCC, ITV 5/30 in FBIS 5/31)

Hamas says Netanyahu win would be a declaration of war against Palestinians, Arabs. (QY, RMC 5/30 in FBIS 5/31; AFP 6/2 in FBIS 6/3)

In Tel Aviv, Labor's M Ehud Barak, Finance M Avraham Shohat, Housing M Binyamin Ben-Eliezer meet to discuss party's future. Some see mtg. as an attempt to oust PM Peres from the party; others see it as an attempt to outflank Interior M Hayim Ramon's bid for party leadership, assuming Peres will resign. Peres is furious with Barak for holding the mtg. (IDF Radio, QY 5/30 in FBIS 5/30; IDF Radio, ITV 5/31, IDF Radio 6/1 in FBIS 6/3; NYT 6/4; IDF Radio 6/5 in FBIS 6/7)

Likud opens unofficial contacts with ultraorthodox parties regarding formation of a coalition government. PM Peres says he would not consider joining a Likud-led coalition; other Labor mbrs. say they would. (QY 5/30 in FBIS 5/31; WP 5/31)

Tsomet leader Rafael Eitan says Oslo agmts. must be reopened, because the winning camp's views differ from those of the previous government. PA denounces his statement. (IDF Radio 5/30 in FBIS 5/30) (see 3/12)

In s. Lebanon, Hizballah detonates 2 roadside bombs, killing 4 IDF soldiers, wounding 7 IDF soldiers, 2 journalists, 1 SLA mbr. (VOL 5/30 in FBIS 5/30; ITV, VOL 5/30 in FBIS 5/31; MM, NYT, WT 5/31; JP 6/8)

FM Peres arrives in Cairo for brief mtg. with FM Musa on NPT issue, stresses Israel will not change position. Musa says Israel's refusal to sign NPT is fueling regional stability; its failure to abide by DOP has caused recent violence; says Egypt will pressure Israel to state a date for troop withdrawal fr. West Bank in emergency summit 2/1. (MENA 2/1 in FBIS 2/2; MM, NYT 2/2)

U.S. State Department releases annual human rights report on Israel and the o.t.; criticizes PA for 11/18 violence; Israel for abusing detainees, treatment of Israeli Arabs. Israelis say report is balanced. (MM 2/2; WJW 2/9)

UN Human Rights Comm. (UNHRC) monitor in Israel, Rene Felber, quits his position; suggests position be eliminated since Israel does not act on his reports, he believes condemning Israel for abuses does not help peace talks. UNHRC expresses shock. (WT 2/4)

Israel, PA reach final agmt. on Gaza port, announce construction will begin within 1 mo. (ITV 2/1 in FBIS 2/6)

Jerusalem Planning and Construction Comm. approves construction of 6,500 houses for new neighborhood in southern Jerusalem. 2,000 dunums of Palestinian land will be confiscated for the project. (QY 2/1 in FBIS 2/1)

1000's of Israelis gather in Tel Aviv to protest continuation of peace process. MKs fr. Likud, Tsomet, Moledet, Yi'ud, Shas participate. (MM 2/2)

IDF raids Hamas charities in West Bank, confiscates files, says charities are funneling money for military operations. (QY 2/1 in FBIS 2/1)

Unknown gunmen wound 3 Israelis in Hebron, West Bank. Leaflet found nearby claims responsibility for 'Izz al-Din Qassam brigades of Hamas. Palestinian residents of Hebron placed under strict curfew by IDF. (MM 2/2; WT 2/6)

UN Special Rapporteur Rene Felber tells Geneva mtg. of UN Human Rights Commission killings, torture, and land confiscation in o.t. have continued since 9/13 DoP, says both PLO and Israel should "contain violence." Felber also calls for independent investigation of torture allegations, release of Palestinian prisoners. (WT 2/5)

3 Tsomet MKs leave right-wing party to form "Independent and Democratic Israel," known by acronym of "Yi'ud." 3 charge party leadership with financial mismanagement. (Qol Yisra'el 2/2 in FBIS 2/3; MM 2/3; NYT 2/9; JP 2/12, 2/19)

PLO-Hamas meeting in Khartoum ends with no agreement on 2 basic issues: participation in the peace talks and Hamas inclusion in the PLO. Chmn. Arafat offered Hamas 18 of 452 seats in the PNC, Hamas is requesting 40%. The orgs. agreed to form 3 joint committees: 1 to oversee continuation of their dialogue, 1 to follow up the deportees issue, 1 to coordinate o.t. intifada activities. (MM 1/5; al-Fajr, MENA 1/5 in FBIS 1/6)

Rejectionist "ten Palestinian forces" issue statement calling for repatriation of the deportees, escalation of the intifada. (QPAR 1/4 in FBIS 1/5)

Hamas issues leaflet calling for attacks on Israeli security forces and Shin Bet agentsthe first such call ever. (Ha'Aretz 1/5 in FBIS 1/5)

Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Comm. mbrs. Benyamin Netanyahu (Likud), Moshe Peled (Tsomet), and Avigdor Kahalani (Labor) tour Golan Heights, comment on withdrawal plan being worked out between Israel and Syria. (Qol Yisra'el 1/4 in FBIS 1/5)

PM-designate Rabin appoints Shimon Peres as for. min., but reserves the right to "lead" negotiations on Palestinian autonomy. Rafael Eytan announces he and Tsomet's MKs will not join the governing coalition. (WP 7/12)

Clashes continue between Fateh and Hamas, injuring dozens, in Gaza Strip as Hamas rejects 7/10 "agreement." Opposing rallies are held in camps. Meanwhile, Hamas reps. in Amman praise agreement. Palestinian delegation from W. Bank led by Faisal Husseini arrives in Gaza City to help mediate the conflict. (MM 7/10; ITV 7/11 in FBIS 7/13; Jordan Times 7/12 in FBIS 7/14)

Pres. Mubarak meets with Syrian FM Faruk al-Shara' in Cairo. (MENA 7/11 in FBIS 7/13)

Syrian VP 'Abd al-Halim Khaddam, PM Mahmud al-Zubi' meet separately with Lebanese PM Rashid al-Solh in Damascus, discuss S. Lebanon, bilateral relations, national accord implementation. (Syrian Arab Republic Radio 7/11 in FBIS 7/13)

Labor party Chmn. Yitzhak Rabin forms governing coalition with Meretz and SHAS (Torah Observing Sephardim) parties, for a total of 62 seats in the Knesset (see 6/23). Right wing Tsomet party under Rafael Eytan left out over increasing disagreement with Rabin. (NYT 7/10)

Hamas and Fateh release "joint statement" calling for temporary truce after meeting in Amman. (WP 7/10)

Haydar 'Abd al-Shafi condemns violence in the Gaza Strip, calls on two sides to "immediately and unconditionally" halt attacks, intends to continue mediation in statement on behalf of NRC (see 7/8). (Al-Fajr 7/9 in FBIS 7/9)

EC grants ECU 15 million (about $20 million) for industrial and agricultural development to 4 Palestinian loan institutions in o.t. Agreement was signed in Jerusalem by EC rep. Thomas Dupla and Faisal Husseini, and is part of ECU 60 million package allocated to the o.t. (Al-Fajr 7/10 in FBIS 7/17)

Amnesty International releases report critizing Israel's holding of 2,000 Palestinians in "administrative detention" without charge or trial and its "unjustifiable" killing of 90 Palestinians. Report states about 170 Palestinians, most of them suspected collaborators, were killed by other Palestinians. (WP 7/10)

PLO issues statement rejecting Lebanese plan for refugee resettlement and compensation calling on Lebanon to support Palestinian right to return and settle in their own independent homeland. (VOL 7/9 in FBIS 7/15)

Jersualem Post reports PM Shamir has urged Pres. Bush to free Jonathan Pollard, convicted to life sentence in 1986 for spying for Israel. (WP 7/10)

Bahij Abu al-Hana, head of Biqa' Valley branch of Abu Nidal's Fateh Revolutionary Council, is shot dead near his home in Ta'lbaya, Lebanon. (AFP 7/9 in FBIS 7/9)