The Palestine Chronology

PA-Israeli subcomm. mtgs. resume for 1st time in 7 mos. with a security subcomm. mtg. in Tel Aviv. Joint Steering Comm. will meet once every 2 wks. to discuss progress of 8 subcomms.(ITV 10/7 in WNC 10/8)

LACC meets in Ramallah. (UNSCO press release 10/26)

In Washington, Pres. Clinton discusses status of peace process with Israeli pres. Ezer Weizman; rejects Weizman proposal for Camp David-style summit, saying sides are too far apart for success. (MM 10/8, WT 10/9; PR 10/10)

In Gaza, Hamas's Shaykh Yasin meets with Arafat; says that suicide bombings could be abandoned under certain conditions, but full truce would require full Israeli withdrawal fr. West Bank and Gaza, removal of settlements; stresses that Hamas is not challenging PA authority. (CSM, NYT 10/8)

In Beirut, Iraq, Lebanon hold talks on expanding trade, economic ties. (RL 10/7 in WNC 10/8)

In response to U.S. dipatch of an aircraft carrier to the Gulf 10/3, Iran announces that 10-day naval exercises involving more than 50 ships will begin 10/11. (NYT, WT 10/8; NYT, WP, WT 10/13; WT 10/14)

In Ramallah, Secy. of State Albright meets with Arafat; says PA must crack down on Islamists in a comprenehsive, relentless, and sustained manner; says that she is encouraged by Arafat promises to do so. Albright then meets again with PM Netanyahu in Jerusalem, calls for a "time-out" on Israeli settlement expansion, land confiscation, house demolitions, confiscations of Palestinian IDs. (MM 9/11; AFP 9/11 in WNC 9/12; CSM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 9/12; MM 9/15; PR 9/19; JP 9/20; MEI 9/26) (see Doc. D1)

Citing Russia's role in helping Iran build missiles and nuclear weapons, PM Netanyahu orders his government to halt talks with Moscow on buying natural gas. (WT 9/13)

U.S. special envoy Ross announces that Israel, the PA have resumed security cooperation, result will make or break long-term peace efforts. (MM 8/12; AFP 8/12 in WNC 8/13; MM, WP, WT 8/13; MM, CSM, NYT 8/14)

In Nablus, 10,000 Palestinians march to protest U.S., Israeli efforts to press Arafat to crack down on anti-Israeli militants in the West Bank, Gaza. Palestinians in Gaza stage a smaller rally. (CSM, WP, WT 8/13)

Syria formally rejects an Israeli proposal for a new formula to resume negotiations. (MM 8/13; YA 8/13 in WNC 8/14; YA 8/14 in WNC 8/15)

MEPFA expires, forcing the PLO to close its office in Washington. The U.S. will continue diplomatic contacts with the PA. U.S. assistance to Palestinian projects will not be interrupted. (NYT, WP, WT 8/13; MM, WP 8/14; PR 8/15) (see 8/1)

PA military court finds 3 Force 17 mbrs. guilty of treason for "spying for the Israeli intelligence service"; condemns 1 to death, 1 to life with hard labor, 1 to 15 yrs. with hard labor. (NYT, WP, WT 8/13) (see 7/19)

Israel eases restrictions on produce crossing fr. the West Bank and Gaza, allowing 3 trucks of eggplants into Israel. (IDF Radio 8/12 in WNC 8/13; WT 8/13)

Nr. Bethlehem, 2 Palestinian cousins sneak through the IDF blockade of the city--1 to get heart medication, 1 to get money owned him by his employer nr. Jerusalem. They are caught, severely beaten by the IDF, sent back to a hospital in Bethlehem. (WP 8/16)

Palestinian woman gives birth at an IDF checkpoint outside Ramallah after soldiers refuses to let her into the PA-controlled city to reach a hospital. (WT 8/13)

SLA vacates 7 Lebanese villages s. of Sidon, turning them over to the Lebanese army. (RL 8/12 in WNC 8/13)

Israel releases Joseph, Jean Nahra, who were kidnapped in s. Lebanon by the IDF 7/9, taken to al-Khiyam prison. Israel has never explained their detention. (WT 8/13) (see 8/7)

EU special envoy Moratinos meets separately with Arafat, Netanyahu. Arafat then heads to Jordan for talks with King Hussein. King Hussein telephones U.S. Secy. of State Albright, Egypt's Pres. Mubarak, PM Netanyahu to discuss mediation btwn. the PA, Israel.  (MM 8/4; AFP 8/4 in WNC 8/5; RJ 8/4, 8/5 in WNC 8/6; MM, WT 8/5; MM 8/8)

Despite warnings fr. the U.S. that the decision could exacerbate the present situation, Israeli cabinet approves list of retributive measures against the PA drawn up by the inner cabinet 7/31, blocks transfer of $15 m. in tax payments owed the PA. Netanyahu says he will use a "sliding scale," relaxing some of the economic measures as the PA takes steps against Islamists. (MM, NYT 8/5; al-Ayyam [Ramallah], YA 8/5 in WNC 8/6; CSM 8/6; al-Hayat al-Jadida 8/10 in WNC 8/12; WP 8/14)

Israel arrest 29 Palestinians suspected of "terrorist activity," demolishes 5 Palestinian homes allegedly built without permits in East Jerusalem. Since the bombing, Israel has arrested 145 Palestinians. Arafat calls the actions collective punishment meant to humiliate the Palestinians. (IDF Radio, ITV 8/4 in WNC 8/5; LAW, NYT, WP, WT 8/5; MM 8/8)

Iran's Khatami is sworn in as pres. (CSM 8/5)

An elite Israeli Egoz unit is flown n. of Israel's self-declare security zone in s. Lebanon; plants explosives nr. the home of 2 Hizballah cmdrs.; later detonates them by remote control, killing 5 Hizballah mbrs., wounding 2 Hizballah mbrs. and 3 civilians. (MM 8/4; AFP, ITV, RL, RMC 8/4 in WNC 8/5; MM, NYT 8/5; NYT, WT 8/6; Independent [London] 8/6 in WNC 8/7; WJW 8/7; JP 8/16)

In Ramallah, the PC votes (56-1) to urge Arafat to dissolve the EA within 1 mo., appoint a new cabinet. After the session, Israel prevents 18 PC mbrs. fr. returning to their homes in Gaza. (CSM, WP, WT 8/1; LAW 8/7; PR 8/8)

With less than 24-hrs. notice, Syrian Pres. Asad travels to Iran as head of a delegation comprising his VP, FM, several senior military cmdrs.; discusses Syrian-Iranian relations with outgoing Pres. Rafsanjani. (MM 7/31; RMC 7/31 in WNC 8/1; MM 8/1; SATN 7/31, IRIB Television [Tehran] 8/1 in WNC 8/4; MA 8/3 in WNC 8/5; MEI 8/8)

Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan, FM Tarawnah meet with EU special envoy Moratinos. (RJ 7/31 in WNC 8/1)

Following a mtg. with his inner cabinet, PM Netanyahu threatens to send commandos into PA areas to preempt any new anti-Israeli attacks, to halt transfer of all tax revenues to the PA, to jam all Palestinian radio and television broadcasts; calls on the U.S., international donors to halt aid to the PA. (MM 7/31; RMC 7/31 in WNC 8/1; CSM, WP, WT 8/1)

IDF detains 2 Palestinian families fr. the West Bank town of Dahariyya whose sons have been missing for over a yr., but they are unable to identify the 7/30 bombers' bodies. Israeli cabinet orders the arrest of PA's Gaza police cmdr. Brig. Gen. Jabali for encouraging attacks on Israeli settlements (see 7/23). PA police arrest 28 Hamas mbrs., including Rantisi. PA, Israeli security forces hold 2 mtgs. during the day. (MM 7/31; IDF Radio, QY, RMC 7/31 in WNC 8/1; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 8/1)

New York City police seize 5 pipe bombs, arrest 1 Egyptian, 2 Jordanians in a raid on a Brooklyn apartment. Police were tipped to the bombs by a Pakistani, Muhammad Shindli, who believed that his friends, Ghazi Ibrahim Abu Mayzar and Lafi Khalil (who both identify themselves as Palestinian), were planning to bomb the New York subway. Abu Mayzar had stated in his application for asylum in the U.S. that he had been arrested in Israel on charges of "being a mbr. of a terrorist organization." The 3d man, Egyptian `Abd al-Rahman Musabah, is detained as a witness. Hamas denies any connection to the men. (NYT, WP, WT 8/1; RJ 8/1 in WNC 8/4; NYT, WP 8/2; AFP 8/2 in WNC 8/5; NYT, WT 8/3; al-Hadath [Amman] 8/4 in WNC 8/5; NYT 8/5; WJW 8/7; MEI 8/8)

Unnamed Gulf diplomats reveal that Sidi al-Madani al-Ghazi Mustafa al-Tayyib, financial director for Saudi dissident and alleged "terrorist financier" Osama bin Laden, has been in custody in Saudi Arabia since 5/97. Saudi authorities have passed some of Tayyib's revealed information to the CIA, FBI to track militant groups in Detroit, New York. (WT 8/1)

Lebanese court sentences 5 Japanese Red Army mbrs. to 3 yrs. in jail on charges of forging official stamps, illegal entry into Lebanon, forging passports. (VOL 7/31 in WNC 8/1; CSM, WP 8/1) (see 7/29)

In Ramallah, Arafat holds mtg. with Netanyahu atty. Molho discuss Israeli arrest of 3 PA policemen 7/15, resumption of security coordination, hopes for resumption of negotiations. (MA 7/22 in WNC 7/23)

At EU special envoy Moratinos's invitation, Israeli FM Levy, PA Planning M Shaath meet to discuss possible confidence-building measures as part of EU bid to advance the stalled peace process ahead of a mtg. of EU FMs 7/22. The pair also discusses Israeli allegations regarding 3 PA policemen (see 7/17). (WT 7/21; JP 7/26)

Israeli cabinet approves legislation (opposed by Arabs, human rights groups) to block compensation to Palestinians wounded by the IDF, the families of those killed during the intifada. The Knesset must now vote on the measure. (WT 7/23; MEI 7/25; MM 7/29)

Israeli Infrastructure M Sharon proposes amendment to the direct-election law that would reduce fr. 80 to 61 the number of MKs needed to oust the PM without dissolving the Knesset. Netanyahu denounces the proposal. (ITV 7/20, QY, YA 7/21 in WNC 7/22; MEI 7/25) (see 7/18)

On Arafat's orders, the PSF arrests 4 PA policemen--including Col. Jihad Musaymi, Col. Nafiz Musmar--based on Israel's claim that Musaymi, acting on orders fr. Gaza police chief Brig. Gen. Ghazi Jabali, sent squads under his command to carry out unspecified anti-Israeli attacks. (AFP, MA 7/20 in WNC 7/22; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/21; MEI 7/25; JP 7/26)

Abington returns to Washington after 4 yrs. as U.S. consul gen. in Jerusalem. Jason Walles will serve as acting consul gen. until a new person can be appointed. (WT 7/21)

In Amman, University of Jordan students stage an on-campus procession to denounce the 7/19 Daqamsa verdict, settler provocations in Hebron. (MM 7/21; JT 7/21 in WNC 7/22)

A 2d Palestinian accused of selling land to Israelis, Harbi Abu Sara, is found slain nr. Ramallah. The PA, which declared 5/5 that any Palestinian who sells land to Jews would face the death penalty, denies any involvement. (ITV 5/18 in WNC 5/22; NYT, WP 5/19; IDF Radio 5/19 in WNC 5/21; WP 5/20; LAW 5/21; WJW 5/22, 5/29; JP 531) (see 5/9, 5/11)

9 days after his murder, slain Palestinian land dealer Farid Bashiti is secretly buried. His family had been unable to find a place to bury him earlier due to allegations that he had sold Palestinian land to Jews. (NYT, WT 5/19; LAW 5/21) (see 5/11)

In a Jerusalem court, Israel's most-wanted Hamas mbr. Hassan Salameh, who was captured by the IDF 5/17/96, pleads guilty to 46 counts of murder resulting fr. suicide bombings he plotted. (WP 5/19) (see 7/4/96)

Jordanian journalists issue statement, vowing to oppose King Hussein's new press law. All mbrs. of the Jordan Press Assn., governing mbrs. of the Jordanian Professional Assns. threaten to resign if the law is not revoked. (RMC 5/18 in WNC 5/22; MM, WT 5/19; JT 5/19, 5/20 in WNC 5/21) (see 5/17)

U.S. special envoy Ross holds separate mtgs. with Israeli DM Mordechai, PA's Arafat; makes no progress. (AFP 5/9 in WNC 5/12; MEI 5/16)

PSF, Shin Bet, CIA representatives meet in Tel Aviv to discuss resuming Israeli-PA security cooperation. Shin Bet head Ami Aylon refuses to attend the mtg. in anger over PA claims that the Shin Bet was behind 2 suicide bombings 4/1 (see 5/4). (AFP, IDF Radio 5/9 in WNC 5/12; MM 5/13; NYT 5/17)

In Ramallah, Farid Bashiti, an East Jerusalem Palestinian accused of selling Arab homes and land to Jews, is found dead. Israeli police open an investigation. At Friday prayers at al-Aqsa, the PA-appointed mufti of Jerusalem, Ekrima Sabri, says Bashiti must not be prayed over or buried in a Muslim cemetery. (NYT, WP, WT 5/10; WT 5/11; IDF Radio 5/11 in WNC 5/13; WJW 5/15; MEI, PR 5/16; WJW 5/22) (see 5/5)

IDF destroys the foundations of a new UNRWA school in Abu-Dis, says the building permit was granted by mistake. The construction project is funded by donor countries. (PR 5/16)

In Amman, PM Majali, Iraqi dep. PM Aziz discuss bolstering bilateral relations, forming a united Arab stand on the peace process. (al-Dustur 5/10 in WNC 5/13)

In Beirut, a Lebanese court sentences Samir Ja`Ja` to life with hard labor for the attempted murder of Michel al-Murr in 3/91. 3 accomplices are each given 20 yrs. with hard labor. 2 others are acquitted. (RL 5/9 in WNC 5/13)

In Cairo, Arab League FMs' mtg. opens to discuss a response to Israeli settlement policies, ways of aiding the PA. (WT 3/30)

During the 10th day of wide-spread Palestinian demonstrations, a Palestinian is shot and killed, another is wounded by live ammunition in a clash with the IDF nr. Ramallah. 1,000 Palestinians rally at the youth's home in a show of solidarity. (NYT, WP, WT 3/30)

In Amman, Jordan, PA hold talks on bilateral relations, peace process. (RJ 3/29 in WNC 4/1)

The wife of 3/21 suicide bomber Musa Ghanimat suffers a nervous breakdown, is hospitalized in Hebron. Although the IDF admits she is not suspected of any involvement in the bombings, the IDF has sealed her home for demolition; confiscated her money, car, valuables; interrogated her. The Israeli High Court rejects a petition to cancel the house demolition order; says IDF's actions are a legitimate form of deterrence against future attacks, the results of the actions are "unfortunate but irrelevant." (LAW 3/30)

In s. Lebanon, Amal kidnaps a Lebanese civilian, Qasim Rammal, who allegedly works for Israeli military intelligence. (RL 3/29 in WNC 4/1)

Netanyahu proposes that Israel, the PA bypass the 3 stages of FRD and hold Camp-David-style negotiations. Arafat refuses (ITV 3/19, IDF Radio 3/20 in WNC 3/21; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/20; ITV 3/20, MA 3/21 in WNC 3/24; CSM, MM 3/21; PR 3/28; JP 3/29)

Peaceful Palestinian protests continue at Har Homa, as IDF soldiers continue to deploy in force to guard construction workers. 200 Palestinians march in Ramallah, are kept away fr. Israeli checkpoints by PA security forces. (MM 3/19; NYT 3/20)

After receiving notice that their detentions had been extended without cause, 220 Palestinian administrative detainees being held without trial in Israel's Megiddo prison riot for 6 hrs. IDF soldiers fire tear gas, tents catch on fire, entire section of prison burns down. (LAW 3/23; PR 3/28, 4/18)

King Hussein accepts PM Kabariti's resignation, replaces him with fmr. PM `Abd al-Salam Majali, swears in new cabinet. Majali will lead a caretaker government until the 11/97 general elections. (MM 3/19; al-Dustur, JT, RJ, RMC 3/19 in WNC 3/20; JTV 3/19, al-Dustur, JT 3/20 in WNC 3/21; CSM, MM, NYT, WP 3/20; JT 3/20 in WNC 3/24, 3/25; al-Majd 3/24 in WNC 3/28; MM 3/25; JT 3/31 in WNC 4/1)

Jordan's Arab Organization for Human Rights, Islamic Action Front party, Jordan Bar Association separately announce that they have set up legal defense teams to represent Pvt. Daqamsa. In addition, more than 200 independent lawyers have volunteered to defend Daqamsa. (JT 3/19 in WNC 3/20) (see 3/18)

Cyprus, Lebanon sign extradition agmt. (RL 3/19 in WNC 3/21)

Hizballah attacks an IDF patrol in s. Lebanon, killing 1 soldier, wounding 3. (RL 3/19 in WNC 3/20; SATN 3/19 in WNC 3/21;MM 3/20)