The Palestine Chronology

Rabin tours Capitol Hill seeking Congressional support for peace process, possible future use of U.S. troops as peace monitors. (QY 11/23 in FBIS 11/23; NYT 11/23; CSM 12/2)

Israeli Dep. FM Yosi Beilin meets with Saudi diplomats, businessmen, representatives of other Arab countries and U.S. at conference in Aspen, CO, regarding joint business ventures in light of peace process. Saudi Arabia promise to finance industrial development in Gaza. (MM 11/22, QY 11/22 in FBIS 11/23; MEI 12/16)

Joint Jordanian-Israeli transportation comm. meets in Amman, discusses aviation, tourist transportation, maritime transport for small vehicles btwn. the 2 countries. (RJ 11/22 in FBIS 11/23)

7 Fateh Central Comm. mbrs. meeting in Tunis issue statement critical of Arafat's handling of violence 11/18; statement contradicts Fateh declaration fr. inside o.t. exonerating Arafat. (Al-Sharq Al-Awsat 11/25 in FBIS 11/29) (see 11/20)

IDF demolishes house of family of Hamas mbr. who bombed bus in Tel Aviv 10/19. (QY 11/22 in FBIS 11/22)

Christmas Eve celebrated in Bethlehem with display of Palestinian flag, message fr. PLO Chmn. Arafat. (NYT, WP, WT 12/25)

IDF It. col. killed, 2 IDF soldiers wounded in ambush by Palestinians, presumed mbrs. of Hamas, in Gaza Strip. In separate incident, masked Palestinian stonethrower killed by IDF in Bayt 'Umar, nr. Bethlehem. (Qol Yisra'el 12/24 in FBIS 12/27; NYT, WP, WT 12/25)

Arab League Sec.-Gen. Ismat 'Abd al-Majid sends letter to U.S. Congress saying boycott of Israel will be lifted only after Israeli withdrawal fr. o.t. (MENA 12/24 in FBIS 12/27)

PM Rabin announces he will cut short his visit to the U.S., leaving 3/18, to deal with wave of violence at home. He meets with U.S. congress mbrs., asks them to ask Pres. Asad if he is willing to meet when they travel to Syria. (NYT 3/16; IDF Radio 3/18 in FBIS 3/18)

PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Yasir 'Abd-Rabbuh says warmth of 3/15 Rabin-Clinton meeting "puts the whole peace process in danger." (MM 3/16)

IDF shoots 2 Palestinians dead, wounds 70 in Gaza Strip. IDF wounds, captures 3 masked Palestinians leading march in Jenin. (Qol Yisra'el 3/16, 3/17 in FBIS 3/17; MM 3/17)

Over 1,000 Golan Druze demonstrate in reaction to 3/15 shooting, criticizing Israel and asserting Syrian character of Golan. (IDF Radio 3/16 in FBIS 3/17)

Palestinian reporter Taher Shriteh receives 1993 Freedom of the Press award by the U.S. National Press Club. Shriteh reports from Gaza under constant Israeli harassment, and was 1 of 415 deported 12/17/92, though he was quickly allowed to return. (MM 3/18)

Pres. Bush sends letter to Congress calling on both houses to adopt resolution supporting use of force against Iraq if it does not withdraw from Kuwait by 1/15 [NYT, LAT, WP 1/9].

Chrmn. of House Armed Services Committee, Lee Aspin (D-Wisc.) says if war breaks out in Gulf, U.S. will attack in phases, beginning with air campaign; ground attack would be used as last resort and in final phases of fighting [NYT, LAT, WP 1/9].

F.M. Aziz arrives in Geneva, says he has come for "constructive talks," but would not bow to pressure. Sec. Baker also arrives in Geneva after spending day in successive meetings in European capitals with leaders of France, Italy, and Germany [MEM 1/8; NYT, LAT, WT, WP 1/9].

King Hussein of Jordan visits Germany to discuss Gulf crisis; he is in Bonn at the same time as Sec. Baker, but the two did not meet [NYT 1/9].

Saudi D.M. "categorically denie[s]" that 6 Iraqi helicopter pilots sought refuge in Saudi Arabia on 1/7; allies say entire incident is mix-up [MEM 1/8; NYT, LAT, WT, WP 1/9].

Israel deports to Lebanon 4 Palestinians from Gaza Strip less than 24 hours after they dropped appeals to Supreme Court [IDF 1/8 in FBIS 1/8; MEM 1/8; NYT, LAT, WT, WP 1/9].

Washington Post/ABC News poll finds most Americans want Congress to support more strongly Pres. Bush's Gulf policy (68%), but equally large majority thinks Bush should get authorization from Congress before going to war (66%) [WP 1/8]. 

In move to encourage Iraq to remove its troops from Kuwait, EC endorses French plan promising Baghdad that EC will work to resolve all problems in Middle East if Gulf crisis could be settled peacefully; EC also invites F.M. Aziz to meet with 3 EC ministers on 10 January; Aziz declines [INA 1/5 in FBIS 1/7; NYT, LAT, WP 1/5].

Iraqi F.M. Aziz accepts invitation to meet Sec. Baker in Geneva on 1/9, despite "arrogant statements" he says accompanied U.S. offer; Aziz says he will press for "justice and fairness" for Palestinian cause; Pres. Bush says Iraq's acceptance of talks is "useful step," but insists no compromises will be made and that Sec. Baker will not go to Baghdad [INA 1/4 in FBIS 1/7; NYT, LAT, WP 1/5].

Bus driven by Palestinian collides with car, killing Israeli woman; bus driver is shot to death by Israeli near Gaza Strip. Palestinians and Israelis give entirely different versions of episode [IDF 1/4 in FBIS 1/4; NYT, LAT 1/5].

In nonbinding statement, UN Sec. Council formally rebukes Israel, deploring "recent acts of violence in Gaza" [MEM 1/4; NYT, WP 1/5]; Political circles in Israel criticize statement [JDS 1/4 in FBIS 1/4].

Seeking to avoid battle with Israel's supporters in Congress, Bush admin. postpones 2d part of large arms sale to Saudi Arabia, valued at $13 billion, until after Gulf crisis [NYT, LAT, WP 1/5].

Congressional General Accounting Office (GAO) says Operation Desert Shield will cost U.S. $30 billion this year even if no shots are fired [LAT 1/5].

Details of 12/31 conversation between Faisal Husseini and Mayor Teddy Kollek are published; status of Jerusalem is among topics discussed [MEM 1/4; LAT 1/5].

Washington Post reports that Palestinian fatalities in clashes with Israeli troops are rising sharply in o.t. as IDF steps up patrols and toughens its tactics [WP 1/5].

Secret agreement is reportedly reached in Islamabad between Iran and Turkey that neither will move against Iraq, effectively ruling out ground attack against Iraq from anywhere but Saudi Arabia [WP 1/16].

New York Times reports Iraq is encountering increasingly serious shortages in the gov't. food rationing program; declines of 25% to 50% in amount of basic food items are reported [NYT 1/2].

4 Palestinians are killed in clashes with IDF as many defy curfews to celebrate 26th anniversary of 1st military operation of Fateh [JPD 1/2 in FBIS 1/2; NYT, LAT, WT, WP 1/2; LAT 1/3].

In New Year's speech, Pres. Mubarak warns Saddam Hussein that "the decision for peace rests in your hands" and that wrong decision would mean "sacrificing the lives of hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children" [NYT 1/2]; Iraq rejects Mubarak's warning [LAT 1/2].

In Washington, American Civil Liberties Union and 51 other organizations call on Congress to adopt resolution to prevent Pres. Bush from starting war without congressional approval [LAT 1/2].

Arab League completes its move to permanent headquarters in Cairo (cf. 1/2) [KUNA 1/2 in FBIS 1/3].

Israeli Labor party doves propose initiative calling for unconditional withdrawal of Israel from Gaza Strip within 2 years after approval of plan; Gaza would be handed over to UN or local gov't. [MEM 1/2].

Federal District Court judges rule against 54 Democratic members of Congress who had sought an order forbidding Pres. Bush from going to war without first seeking con- gressional approval, but also rule Congress could force Bush to seek declaration of war if it chooses [NYT, WP 12/14].

Last U.S.-sponsored evacuation flight out of Iraq and Kuwait arrives in Frankfurt, carrying U.S. ambassador to Kuwait and 31 other Americans [AFP 12/13 in FBIS 12/13; ADS, INA 12/13 in FBIS 12/14; NYT, WP 12/4; LAT 12/15].

American official says U.S. wants to keep some UN sanctions against Iraq in place even if Saddam withdraws from Kuwait; sanctions would continue to ensure Saddam "can't keep up his massive military machine" [NYT 12/14]; U.S. officials accuse Saddam of stalling on setting dates for talks [WP 12/14].

New York Times/CBS News poll finds 45% of respondents believe U.S. should start military actions against Iraq if it does not leave Kuwait by 1/15; 48% say U.S. should wait for sanctions to work; 62% say sending troops to Saudi Arabia was correct thing to do [NYT 12/14].

Concluding 2-day meeting, OPEC ministers in Vienna agree to maintain present production levels and reinstate production ceiling of 22.5 million barrels per day once Gulf crisis is over [IRNA, AFP 12/13 in FBIS 12/13].

French F.M. Roland Dumas says Iraqi pledge to leave Kuwait would not be enough to satisfy UN, but it could move Gulf crisis towards peaceful solution [MEM 12/14].

Tel Aviv military court convicts Col. Yaacov Sadeh of causing death by negligence of Palestinian teenager during clash 17 months ago [MEM 12/14].

Labor party leader Shimon Peres says P.M. Shamir's gov't. has moved into W. Bank and Gaza hundreds of new trailer homes imported to ease housing shortage [JTS 12/13 in FBIS 12/14; MET 12/25].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Jewish settlers open fire on demonstrating secondary school students in Gaza Strip; 1 schoolgirl is killed [WP 11/11]. Police arrest 2 Galilee Arabs on suspicion of murdering Israeli soldier [FJ 11/15].

Arab World: PLO Chairman Yasir Arafat meets with King Hussein of Jordan in Amman [FJ 11/15].

Other Countries: Israeli Pres. Chaim Herzog holds talks with U.S. Pres. Reagan and Sec. of State Shultz, addresses U.S. Congress [WP 11/11].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli troops use tear gas, live ammunition to disperse Islamic University students protesting murder of schoolgirl; 2 students are reported injured [WP 11/11]. Israeli soldiers and border guards uproot 1,200 olive trees from Negev land owned by al-Nassarah tribe; 3 tribe members are injured [FJ 11/15].

Military Action:

First PLO units to be evacuated to Syria publicly welcomed in Tartus (Israeli claim that overland evacuation "postponed" at Syrian request denied in Damascus); IDF tanks head north from Beirut; PLO, Syrians fortify positions in Bekaa; two PLO groups leave Beirut for Syria, Sudan following massive public farewells (PLO overland evacuation to Syria postponed again, for "technical reasons"); Sharon allows Syrians to send trucks to remove heavy vehicles from Beirut; US Marines land at Beirut and US officer meets with PLO leadership to discuss guarding port area; IDF forces "thinned" near Beirut.

Casualties: 1 IDF soldier dies after being shot by sniper in Galerie Semaan (333rd IDF soldier killed); mine kills 4 Lebanese villagers near Jouayeh; Bekaa front quiet; 9 civilians killed, 27 wounded accidentally in farewell fusillades by LNM forces.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Temritories: Sharon meets with West Bank Village League heads concerning their participation in "autonomy" talks (later states opposition to Palestinian state because "it already exists" in Jordan); grenade hurled at IDF vehicle in Gaza Strip (fourth such incident in Occupied Territories in one week); Union of Palestinian Women's Committees from West Bank visit Palestinian and Lebanese victims of Israeli invasion in Haifa hospitals; Begin calls for resumption of autonomy talks with Egypt, claims "war" with PLO in West Beirut over; government announces 7 more settlements planned for West Bank, Golan Heights; Sharon says he expects Lebanon to sign peace treaty with Israel; Peres calls for establishment of commission of inquiry to examine government conduct of Lebanese war.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Opposition to Gemayel presidency among Lebanese Muslims remains strong.

Arab Govemments: Syria warns Gemayel against signing peace treaty with Israel; Saudi Prince Saud meets Assad in Damascus (Saudis reportedly involved in negotiations with US on withdrawal of forces from Lebanon); Saudi King Fahd donates $500 m. to repair damage to Sidon.

US and Other Countries: Habib, in Tel Aviv, asks Sharon to allow French soldiers to safeguard section of Beirut-Damascus road during evacuation and to restrain Phalange attacks; 3 US congressmen meet Begin in Israel; Reagan assures Congress of Marines' noncombat role in Lebanon in notification required under War Powers Act.