The Palestine Chronology

Secy. of State Albright stops briefly in Egypt to meet with Pres. Mubarak before heading to Saudi Arabia for talks with King Fahd, urges both countries to participate in the 11/97 Doha economic summit. (MENA 9/13, RE 9/15 in WNC 9/16; NYT, WP, WT 9/14; al-Thawra 9/14 in WNC 9/17; MM 9/15; WP 9/18; MEI 9/26)

Israel's urban planning commission approves plans by American Jewish developer Irving Moskowitz to build 70 housing units for Jews in the Palestinian neighborhood of Ras al-Amud in East Jerusalem. Under heavy police protection, 50 Jewish settlers (3 families, plus armed guards) fr. the radical group Ateret Cohanim move into 2 buildings, which purportedly were purchased by Moskowitz fr. local Palestinians. Israeli police say the occupation is legal. Netanyau condemns the action but says little can be done to reverse it. (RL 9/13, ITV 9/14, IDF Radio 9/15 in WNC 9/16; LAW 9/14; WP 9/15; WT 9/16; CSM 9/17; WJW 9/18; PR 9/19; MEI, PR 9/26)

After a weekend mtg. with Pres. Asad in Damascus, EU special envoy Miguel Moratinos says that Syria wants to rejoin the peace process. (WT 9/3)

Israel, Turkey, U.S. announce plans to hold joint naval exercises in the Mediterranean 11/15-25. Egypt, Syria protest; Turkey says that they may send observers if they like. (MM 9/4)

In Hebron, Jewish settlers throw stones at Palestinian laborers, lay down in the street to distrupt work on a U.S.-financed project to renovate al-Shuhada street, which was outlined in the Agreed Minute attached to the Hebron Protocol. David Muirhead, the American overseeing the project, says that the Israel police responded to the needs of the settlers only, did not come to the aid of the Palestinians, beat him and others, threw him into a van and detained him until the U.S. Consulate intervened. State Dept. calls on Israel to ensure security for the workers, calls incident"simply unacceptable." (NYT, WT 9/3; PR 9/12; JP 9/13)

In s. Lebanon, an Israeli explosive device detonates, injuring 2 Lebanese civilians. (RL 9/2 in WNC 9/4)

In Gaza, Palestinian Authority (PA) head Yasir Arafat meets with Yitzhak Molho, personal atty. and adviser to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyhau. No details about the mtg. are released. (WT 8/18)

The PA says it will match Israel's freeze (imposed since the 7/30 bombings) on transfers of monies owed the PA with a selective boycott of Israeli goods, calls for national unity talks with Palestinian groups opposed to the Oslo process. (NYT, WT 8/17; CSM, NYT 8/18; PR 8/22)

Jordanian Amb. to Israel Umar al-Rifa`i submits offical complaint to Israel, stating that he, Jordanian writer Nasir al-Din al-Nashashibi were harassed at an Israel checkpoint into Israel. (al-Dustur 8/17 in WNC 8/20)

PA police arrest 3 Palestinian car thieves who murdered an Israeli taxi driver in Jericho 8/14. Within hrs. the 3 men are tried, convicted to long prison terms. Israeli police praise the move, but government says cooperation in criminal matters does not prove that the PA is cracking down on "terrorism." (WT 8/17; NYT 8/18; CSM, WP 8/19; IGPO 8/28 in WNC 9/4)

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attack Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) bases in s. Lebanon, drawing fire fr. the Lebanese army. No injuries are reported. (RL 8/16, 8/17 in WNC 8/20)

U.S. special envoy Ross continues shuttling btwn. Netanyahu, Arafat; says that as the 1st step toward salvaging the peace talks, Israel, the PA must work together to determine the identity of the 2 men responsible for the 7/30 bombings; says some progress has been made toward this end. In the evening, U.S., PA, Israeli security officials meet. (MM 8/11; ITV 8/11 in WNC 8/12; CSM, NYT, WP 8/12; MA 8/12 in WNC 8/12; JP 8/16)

During a brief confrontation, Palestinian youths angry over the closure clash with IDF troops at a checkpoint in Ramallah. (NYT 8/12)

1 Israeli injured in the 7/30 bombing dies, bringing death toll to 16, including the 2 bombers. (WP 8/12)

In Jerusalem, 150 Conservative, Reform Jewish men, women attempt to pray together at the Western Wall. They are jeered by Orthodox Jews, who call them "terrorists," "Hamas," "Christians"; are forcibly removed fr. the wall by Israeli police. (NYT 8/12)

Israel encourages Germany to take action against Hamas supporters suspected of operating in Berlin, Aachen. Israel charges that some 70 Hamas supporters have been fundraising in Germany since 1994. (Der Spiegel 8/11 in WNC 8/12)

Fmr. Jordanian FMin. official Muhammad al-Khalili announces the founding of Voice of Peace, a new newspaper to be published in Arabic, English, Hebrew. Israeli authors will be among the contributors. (al-Quds 8/11 in WNC 8/14)

IDF prevents an Amnesty International team fr. visiting al-Khiyam prison in s. Lebanon. (RL, VOL 8/11 in WNC 8/12)

After 40 hrs. of talks, ILMG recesses without taking a decision, plans to resume discussions 8/12. (RL 8/12 in WNC 8/13)

U.S. special envoy Ross, PM Netanyahu meet in Tel Aviv. Later, Arafat refuses to meet Ross, stating that he is unhappy with the U.S. mediating role, Israeli delay tactics; sends letter to Pres. Clinton, asking him to intervene personally to save the peace process. Israel accuses Arafat of manufacturing a crisis. (IDF Radio 5/15 in WNC 5/16; PR 5/16; AFP 5/16 in WNC 5/19; NYT, WP, WT 5/17; JP 5/24)

In Jerusalem, Norwegian FM Godal meets with PM Netanyahu. (QY 5/15 in WNC 5/16)

Israeli police detain 2 Palestinians, one of whom is a PA police officer, in connection with Bashiti's murder 5/9. (IDF Radio, QY 5/15 in WNC 5/16; IGPO 5/15 in WNC 5/19; NYT 5/16; JP 5/24)

3 IDF soldiers are killed, 7 are wounded in a clash with Hizballah in s. Lebanon. 2 Hizballah mbrs. also are killed. (AFP 5/15, IDF Radio, VOL 5/16 in WNC 5/19; MM, WT 5/16; NYT 5/17)

FBI begins investigating whether a "senior U.S. government official" has been passing highly sensitive information to Israel. U.S. officials say that in 1/97, the National Security Agency intercepted a transmission btwn. 2 Israeli intelligence officers in Washington and Tel Aviv, discussing a request by Israeli Amb. to the U.S. Eliahu Ben-Elissar to activate a alleged mole code-named Mega to obtain the secret letter of assurances fr. fmr. Secy. of State Christopher to Arafat, which was attached to the Hebron protocol and has never been made public. The transmission suggests that Mega has provide information to Israel in the past. Israel denies spying. (WP 5/7; NYT, WP 5/8; MM 5/8; IDF Radio, ITV, YA 5/8 in WNC 5/9; MM, WP, WT 5/9; SANA 5/12 in WNC 5/13; MEI 5/16; JP 5/17)

Arafat, Israeli pres. Weizman meet in advance of U.S. special envoy Ross's arrival 5/8. (MM, WT 5/6; ITV 5/6 in WNC 5/7; CSM, MM, NYT, WP 5/7; AFP, YA 5/7 in WNC 5/8; WJW 5/8; JP 5/10; MM 5/12)

After Arafat-Weizman mtg., an Israeli-PA-U.S. security mtg. is held to discuss resuming coordination. (MM 5/7; ITV 5/7 in WNC 5/8)

Egyptian pres. Mubarak accepts Iran's invitation to attend the 12/97 OIC mtg. in Tehran but says that Egypt is not considering resuming diplomatic relations with Iran (severed after Egypt signed its peace treaty with Israel in 1979). (WT 5/7)

Iran's FM Velayati arrives in Beirut for mtg. with FM Buwayz. (VOL 5/6 in WNC 5/7; IRNA 5/7 in WNC 5/8)

Israeli police forcibly evacuate 30 Jewish settlers fr. a shack they had set up nr. Nablus in an attempt to expand Yitzhar settlement. (MM, NYT 5/7; IDF Radio 5/7 in WNC 5/8; PR 5/16)

IDF demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Jerusalem, Ramallah for being constructed without a permit. (LAW 5/6; PR 5/16) (see 5/5)

A bomb explosion in s. Lebanon blamed on Israel kills 2 civilians, injures 2. A 2d bomb at the same site is dismantled. In a separate incident, Israeli planes attack suspected Hizballah targets in the Biqa` Valley, injuring 1 civilian. (RL, VOL 5/6 in WNC 5/7; WP 5/7)

The UNGA passes (134-3, with 11 abstentions) a resolution condemning Israeli settlement construction. (NYT, WT 4/26; ITV 4/26, SANA 4/27 in WNC 4/29; MM 4/28, 4/29; MEI 5/2)

In New York, Hamas political leader Abu Marzuq signs an agmt. that he will not contest the terrorism charges against him, will give up his residency status; in return, the U.S. will drop exclusion proceedings, release him to Jordan, which has agreed to grant him asylum. (AFP, RJ 4/30 in WNC 5/1; NYT, WP 5/1; NYT 5/2; WP 5/9) (see 4/22)

Israeli police find bodies of 2 Israeli women in a West Bank nature reserve nr. Jerusalem, suspect Palestinian assailants, but offer no proof. (WP 4/26; MM 4/28; WJW 5/1; JP 5/10)

Israeli court extends by 10 days the remand of businessman Manbar while it considers whether to charge him with selling arms to Iran. (ITV 4/25 in WNC 4/28) (see 3/27)

For 3d time, Iraq violates the U.S. no-fly zone to ferry pilgrims fr. Saudi Arabia to Iraq. (WP 4/26; CSM, MEI 5/2) (see 4/23)

In Miami, Palestinian refugee fr. Lebanon who hijacked an Iberian plane fr. Madrid to Miami on 7/26/96 is found guilty of federal air piracy charges, will be sentenced 8/11/97. (WT 4/26) (see also 7/30/96)

2 IDF soldiers are wounded by mortar fire nr. the Israeli, s. Lebanon border. IDF claims soldiers were hit while in Israeli territory; Lebanon, SLA claim soldiers were in s. Lebanon. (MM 4/25; RL 4/26 in WNC 4/29)

Israeli police formally call for PM Netanyahu's indictment on charges of "fraud and breach of trust" in connection with the Bar-On affair. Israeli state atty. Edna Arbel, atty. gen. Elyakim Rubinstein must now decide whether to file the charges. Labor leader Peres urges Netanyahu to step down, call new elections. (MM 4/16; IDF Radio, ITV 4/16, IDF Radio, MA, YA 4/17 in WNC 4/18; ITV 4/16 in WNC 4/29; MM, NYT, WP, WP 4/17; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/18; WT 4/19; WP 4/20; MEI 5/2) (see 4/15)

U.S. special envoy Ross meets with PM Netanyahu, who rejects his suggestion that Israel make gestures toward the Palestinians to regain their confidence, demands PA show proof it is fighting "terrorism." (NYT, WT 4/17; IDF Radio 4/18 in WNC 4/21)

On the 1st leg of his regional tour, Russian dep. FM Posuvalyuk meets with Lebanese PM Hariri in Beirut, discusses the peace process. (RL 4/16 in WNC 4/17)

Israel reseals the West Bank after warning of possible Palestinian attack. (WT 4/16)

IDF demolishes home of a relative of suicide bomber Ghanimat in Surif, leaving 12 people homeless. (WP 4/17; LAW 5/6) (see 3/31)

Death toll in Mina fire (see 4/15) rises to 343. (NYT, WP 4/17)

SLA mbr. wounded in the 4/13 attack dies. (RL 4/16 in WNC 4/17)

After separate 2-hr. mtgs. with Arafat, King Hassan in Rabat, Morocco, U.S. special envoy Ross heads to Israel where he holds 3-hr. talks with PM Netanyahu, gives no details of the mtgs. (MM, WT 3/27; ITV, SANA 3/27 in WNC 3/28; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 3/28; MA 3/28 in WNC 3/31)

Israel sends tanks, troop reinforcements to surround PA self-rule areas in the West Bank. Palestinian protests throughout the territories continue. (MM 3/27; ITV 3/27 in WNC 3/28; NYT, WT 3/28; NYT 3/30)

Jordan's military investigation comm. into the 3/13 shooting of 7 Israeli girls concludes its interrogation of Pvt. Daqamsa, turns the case over to the military court. Daqamsa's lawyer claims that Daqamsa opened fire on the spur of the moment after the girls laughed at him while he was praying. (WP, WT 3/28; al-Dustur, al-Ra'i 3/28 in WNC 3/31) (see 3/22)

2 explosive devices are found in a drainage pipe nr. al-Aqsa Mosque, are disarmed by Israeli police. No one claims responsibility. (PR 4/4)

Israel arrests Israeli businessman Nahum Manbar on suspicion of selling chemical weapons parts to Iran. In a 12/95 interview, Manbar admitted selling arms to Iran, but denied that he sold any weapons that could harm Israel. (WT 4/17; NYT 4/18; JP 4/26)

Syrian VP Khaddam, FM Shara` arrives in Saudi Arabia on the first leg of a Gulf tour to urge the Gulf states to lobby the U.S. in support of Syria's negotiation position toward Israel, to not move ahead with normalization. (MM 1/27; AFP, SA 1/27 in WNC 1/29)

Israel says that multilateral talks will resume at a steering comm. mtg. that will be held in Moscow in 4/97. (IDF Radio 1/26 in WNC 1/28; MM 1/31)

In Israel, FM Levy meets with Russian Dep. FM Viktor Posuvalyuk. (IDF Radio 1/26 in WNC 1/28)

In Israel, EU special envoy Moratinos meets with Israeli FM Levy. (AFP 1/27 in WNC 1/28)

The Israeli Ministerial Comm. on Jerusalem Affairs grants the Jerusalem Municipality a $40-m. budget supplement for building infrastructure (e.g., roads, sewage and water systems) to connect East and West Jerusalem. The PA says such construction would prejudice the outcome of final status negotiation. The Prime Minister's Office declares that Jerusalem is, will always be united under Israeli sovereignty; the grant is meant "to align this declaration with reality." (IDF Radio 1/26 in WNC 1/28)

Israeli police open investigation into Bar-On's appointment as atty. gen. (NYT, WP, WT 1/27; MM 1/28; WT 2/3; MEI 2/7) (see 1/24)

In Amman, King Hussein undergoes orthoscopic surgery on both knees. (RJ 1/26 in WNC 1/28; JTV 1/27 in WNC 1/29; JP 2/15)

The PA hardens its position on Hebron deal after 1/1 shooting, demands Israel commit to a deadline for withdrawing troops fr. rural West Bank areas. (HA, IDF Radio, QY 1/2 in WNC 1/6; CSM, NYT, WT 1/3; NYT 1/4; JP 1/11)

Israeli Internal Security M Avigdor Kahalani warns that "the Jews in Hebron must be protected. They are in great danger, despite Noam Freidman's shooting spree." (MEI 1/10) (see 1/1)

Israeli police detain IDF soldier Yuval Jibli on suspicion that he knew of Friedman's plans to attack the Hebron market 1/1. IDF reinforces troops in the city. (NYT, WT 1/3; JP 1/11)

The Washington bureau of the London-based Saudi daily al-Hayat receives 5 letter bombs, which are detected before they explode. 2 similar bombs are sent to the federal penitentiary in Levenworth Kansas, where Jordanian Muhammad Salameh is serving time for his part in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Though all bombs are postmarked Alexandria, Egypt, authorities believe that they were mailed domestically. (MM, WP, WT 1/3; MBC 1/3 in WNC 1/7; SA 1/8 in WNC 1/9; MEI 1/10)