The Palestine Chronology

Israel offers to allow back 10 Palestinians mistakenly deported. The 10 say they would like to return immediately, but that the only crossing point has been mined by Israel. Israel offers to allow an intl. org. to escort them back through 1 of 3 Lebanese-controlled crossing points. (NYT 1/1; Qol Yisra'el 12/31 in FBIS 12/31, 1/4)

Lebanon rejects 12/30 French proposal to place the deported Palestinians under the provisional care of UNIFIL in Lebanese-controlled territory. PM Rafiq al-Hariri meets with Russian then U.S. amb. to Lebanon. (NYT 12/31; VOL 12/31 in FBIS 1/4)

Al-Quds reports that the Palestinian delegation to peace talks has unanimously rejected PM Rabin's 12/27 invitation to an informal meeting. (al-Quds 12/31 in FBIS 1/5)

Four Palestinian factions (PFLP, DFLP-Hawatima faction, PPSF, PLF) issue statement criticizing Palestinian leadership's 12/27 statement for its lack of a plan of political action to counter the 12/17 deportations. (QPAR 1/2 in FBIS 1/4)

PLO advisor and Palestinian delegation steering comm. head Nabil Shaath says the deportations and the peace process are "two battles which have to be led separately," and the Palestinians may have to "bring it [the deportations] to the table of negotiations." (AFP 12/31 in FBIS 1/4)

Ha'Aretz reports that the o.t. security service Shin Bet initially gave PM Rabin a list of 6 Hamas leaders to be deported, and came up with 1 more name when asked to expand the list. Shin Bet was later surprised at the scope of expulsions the IDF was then ordered to carry out. (WP 1/1; Ha'Aretz 12/31 in FBIS 1/4)

Hamas accepts Chmn. Arafat's 12/19 invitation to attend Palestinian leadership meetings in Tunis beginning today, is prepared to "transcend all previous disagreements" to close Palestinian ranks over the deportations issue. (RMC 12/20 in FBIS 12/21; al-Sharq al-Awsat 12/21 in FBIS 12/23)

PLO begins meetings with Palestinian peace talks delegation in Tunis. PLO issues statement criticizing Israel, the U.S. in the wake of 7 Palestinian deaths. (MM 12/21)

Hamas and pro-PLO UNLU issue firstever joint statement in o.t. canceling their independently called strike days, urging cooperation in "comprehensive escalation" against Israel to ensure return of the 12/17 deportees. Hamas and PLO activists hold joint rally in East Jerusalem. (MM 12/21; AFP 12/20 in FBIS 12/21; WP 12/21; Qol Yisra'el 12/20 in FBIS 12/22)

Ten Palestinian factions and Islamic Jihad issue separate statements condemning the deportations, as well as current peace talks. (QPAR, Voice of the Oppressed 12/20 in FBIS 12/21)

Meretz faction ministers meet with PM Rabin, urge him to open dialogue with the PLO, ease restrictions in the o.t. (WP 12/21)

U.S. Secy. of State Eagleburger terms the deportations "a terrible mistake." (MM 12/21

Ten Palestinian factions meet in Damascus, issue statement rejecting the autonomy plan being negotiated by the mainstream PLO and o.t. delegation, calling for confrontation against it. (Voice of the Oppressed 9/18 in FBIS 9/18; MM 9/24)

U.S. Senate foreign operations subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Patrick Leahy (DVT), approves Pres. Bush's loan guarantees legislation. (JP 9/26)

Dahaf poll of 582 Israelis finds that in return for full peace with Syria similar to Egyptian agreement, 50% favor retention of all Golan territory, 34% favor returning small part, 9% favor returning significant part; 65% favor retention of all Golan settlements, 29% favor removing some, and 6% favor removing all Golan settlements. (Yedi'ot Aharonot 9/18 in FBIS 9/18)

PM Rabin implies Israel is willing to return part of the Golan Heights to Syria, expresses tacit acceptance of "land-for-peace" regarding Golan in speech to Knesset. (NYT 9/10)

PFLP, PLF, DFLP (Nayif Hawatima wing), and Palestinian Popular Struggle Front reiterate 9/5 rejection of Palestinian autonomy plan in Damascus. (RMC 9/10 in FBIS 9/10)

Israeli undercover forces open fire on group of Palestinians near Janin, kill masked youth reading nationalist statement over a loudspeaker. (MM 9/9)

Gulf Cooperation Council ends 2-day meeting in Jidda, issues final statement strongly condemning Iranian claim of sovereignty over island of Abu Musa, which is UAE property. Statement also criticizes Iraq, offering tacit support of Western imposed "no-fly zone." The 6 GCC members then meet in Doha, Qatar, with FMs from Egypt and Syria to discuss their March 1991 Damascus Declaration. Egypt is taking the lead in calling for an Arab joint military command and rapid deployment force for the Gulf war coalition members. (MM 9/9; SPA 9/9 in FBIS 9/10)

PLO, PNC, and DFLP (Yasir 'Abd Rabbuh wing) strongly condemn 9/5 tripartite rejection of Palestinian autonomy plan. (Sawt al-Sha'b 9/7 in FBIS 9/8)

PM Rabin meets with Golan settlers, refuses to declare that their settlements will not be hurt in an agreement with Syria, says importance of the Golan to Israel's security is not linked to settlements, "whether there are over 30 or half of that." (Qol Yisra'el 9/6, 9/7 in FBIS 9/8; Qol Yisra'el 9/10 in FBIS 9/10)

Annual Arab Economic Report (issued by Arab Monetary Fund, Arab League, and other orgs.) estimates that the Gulf crisis and war cost the Arab world $620 billion. (NYT 9/8)

Amal and Hizballah win 22 of 23 seats in 3rd round of Lebanese elections; Christians largely boycott the elections. (NYT, WP 6/9)

Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek says Palestinians from East Jerusalem should be allowed to participate in the peace talks, and should be given the right to vote for the Palestinian "autonomy council." (Ma'Ariv 8/14 in MM 8/14)

Two katyusha rockets are fired at SLA post in eastern "security zone," Israel responds by shelling Iqlim al-Tuffah region, north of "security zone." (Qol Yisra'el 8/14 in FBIS 8/17)

IDF patrol on Jordanian border shoots, kills 3 armed infiltrators from Jordan. Israel "holds Jordan responsible" for the unauthorized border crossing (Jordan denies); Hizballah-Palestine claims responsibility. Israeli navy fires on, kills 4 "terrorists conducting naval training" off Lebanese coast north of Beirut. Islamic Jihad Org. claims operation. (Qol Yisra'el 8/4 in FBIS 8/4; Radio Free Lebanon, Radio Monte Carlo 8/4 in FBIS 8/5; MM 8/4; Qol Yisra'el 8/6, VOL 8/7 in FBIS 8/7)

Detained and interrogated in a W. Bank jail 8/3, Mustafa Mahmud Abdul Hadi Barakat dies of an asthma attack "brought about by conditions in detention" according to an American examiner present at the Israeli army autopsy. (NYT 8/11)

Israeli Police Min. Moshe Shahal orders Ateret Cohanim mbrs. to move out of 2 East Jerusalem houses settled 18 months ago. (Qol Yisra'el 8/4 in FBIS 8/4)

Israeli Radio announces formation of new radical Palestinian-Israeli group, the National Front for the Struggle Against Zionism, which calls for separating the Arab population from Israeli administration and infrastructure, eventually liberating all lands from Zionist control. (Qol Yisra'el 8/4 in FBIS 8/4)

Red Eagles (close to the PFLP) and Black Panthers (close to Fateh) issue joint communique in o.t. (Algiers VOP 8/4 in FBIS 8/5)

Malta, historically in solidarity with Arab nations, lifts its economic boycott on Israel and South Africa. (Qol Yisra'el 8/4 in FBIS 8/4)

PM Rabin appoints Housing Min. Benyamin Ben-Eliezer to serve also as labor and social affairs min., Tourism Min. Uzi Baram to serve also as religious affairs min. (Qol Yisra'el 8/4 in FBIS 8/4)

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)

Fifth round of Arab-Israeli peace talks open in Washington. Israeli proposes agreement for municipal elections in selected o.t. localities. Israel insists such a plan is not a substitute for continued negotiations regarding Palestinian autonomy. Israeli-Jordanian talks center on water use. (MM 4/28; WP 4/29; NYT, MM 4/30; Jordan Television 4/28 in FBIS 4/29)

U.S., Russia issue invitations for upcoming third round, multilateral talks. Meetings dealing with five different topics are scheduled to be held in May in different world capitals: arms control, 5/11 in Washington; economic development, 5/11 in Brussels; water, 5/12 in Vienna; refugee problems, 5/13 in Ottawa; environmental issues, 5/18 in Tokyo. (NYT 4/29)

State Dept. announces Syria has informed U.S. it has lifted travel ban and restrictions on purchase and sale of property formerly applied to Syrian Jews [see 4/13]. (NYT, MM 4/28)

Israeli state comptroller issues report criticizing mismanagement, waste, and corruption in numerous government agencies. Report recommended criminal investigations in several instances of corruption within housing ministry, headed by Ariel Sharon [atty. gen. began investigating housing ministry 4/26 after comptroller informed him in advance of report's findings]. (NYT, MM 4/28)

Supporters of Hamas win all 10 seats in elections for student council of a teachers' academy in Ramallah. Hamas also calls on merchants in o.t. to observe strike in protest of resumption of peace talks. Strike observed in some localities in Gaza; in W. Bank, only shops in Hebron were closed. (MM 4/27, 4/29)

IDF states it has apologized for disturbing church services in Ramallah 4/24, but continues to dispute priests' account of what happened [see 4/24]. (MM 4/27)

Palestinian Popular Struggle Front's Central Committee ends meeting in Damascus [begun 4/25] in which it deposed Secy. Gen. Samir Ghawsha and replaced him with Khalid 'Abd al-Majid. (Radio Free Lebanon 4/28 in FBIS 4/29; al-Quds Palestinian Arab Radio 4/29 in FBIS 4/30; Sawt al-Kuwait 5/1, al-Hayat 5/2 in FBIS 5/8; INA 5/3 in FBIS 5/4)

Secy. of State Baker tells Congress that U.S. will not comply with Israeli requests for aid if it feels the aid would be used to further policies the U.S. opposes. (NYT, WP 2/7)

19 Knesset members send letter to PM Shamir demanding inquiry into 2/4 death of Palestinian detainee Mustafa 'Akkawi. Demand notes that as a carrier of Israeli identity card, 'Akkawi should have been detained inside Israel and not in the o.t. (MM 2/6)

Concerned over possibility that peace talks could lead to Palestinian autonomy in o.t., Council of Jewish Settlements in o.t. passes resolution urging permanent IDF presence and continuation of settlement activity in o.t. (Ha'Aretz 2/7 in FBIS 2/11)

Following several corrections of the information it originally issued, IDF admits to Israeli press that bus fired on by IDF soldier 2/3 in Gaza was actually several kilometers from the checkpoint it supposedly failed to observe and that it could not explain why the soldier had shot at it, killing a Palestinian passenger. IDF also suspends the officer commanding the soldier's unit after it determined the soldier "did not observe regulations". (MM 2/6)

Dir. gen. of International Atomic Energy Agency arrives in Syria to secure Syrian ratification of IAEA safeguards treaty, which provides for IAEA inspection of nuclear facilities. IAEA decided to discuss the treaty with Syria following disclosures that China has agreed to sell a 24-megawatt reactor to Syria. Syria has not signed the safeguards treaty because it did not possess any nuclear facilities and because of Israeli refusal to allow IAEA inspection of its own nuclear facilities. (Radio Monte Carlo 2/6 in FBIS 2/10; WP 2/11)