The Palestine Chronology

In Paris, U.S. special envoy Ross, UN Coordinator Terje Larsen open 2 days of mediation aimed at scheduling a Netanyahu-Arafat mtg., reaching a firm timetable for Israeli redeployment in Hebron (see 8/22). Ross also meets with Netanyahu adviser Gold, Egypt's Baz. (MM 8/27; MA, YA 8/27 in WNC 8/30; MM 8/28; HA, QY 8/28 in IL 8/28; NYT, WP 8/29; WT 9/5; JP 9/7 WT 9/10)

Israeli police hoist bulldozer over Old City walls into East Jerusalem, demolish Palestinian building which they claim was being constructed without a permit. Israel says building was to be a social club for the PA. Palestinians say it was to be a clinic for the disabled, home for the elderly, funded by $30 m. fr. Canada, Sweden. (LAWE, MM 8/27; NYT, WT 8/28; MM, NYT, WP 8/29; MM 8/30; MEI, PR 9/6; PR 9/13)

Israel approves construction of new 1,806-unit neighborhood inside the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Sefer. 1st stage of construction will incl. 900 housing units and bring as many as 15,000 new settlers. (MA 8/27 in WNC 8/30; CSM, MM, NYT, WT 8/28; NYT, WP 8/29; PR 8/30; MEI 9/20)

PA released al-Damir Exec. Dir. Muhammad Dahman, who was arrested 8/12 on charges of fabricating a news story about the death in custody of Naher Dahlan 8/11. (PR 8/30)

In Beirut, U.S. Amb. to Lebanon Richard Jones, Israel-Lebanon Monitoring Group (ILMG) U.S. coordinator David Greenlee meet with Lebanese Speaker Nabih Birri to discuss Lebanon's assessment of the 1st ILMG sessions 8/8, 8/15. (RL 8/27 in WNC 8/29; RL 8/29 in WNC 9/3)

In Beirut, fmr. Lebanese Forces leader Samir Ja`Ja` is charged with killing PM Rashid Karami in 1987. (NYT 8/28) (see 7/13)

Delegation led by Iranian Trade M Yahya Al-e-Eshaq begins 3-day visit to Syria. (IRNA 8/28, 8/29 in WNC 9/3) (see 8/18)

In Izmir, Turkey, Iraq discuss developing trade, industrial cooperation. (INA [Baghdad] 8/27 in WNC 8/30) (see 8/22)

FM Barak meets with NSA Anthony Lake, senior mbrs. of Congress, then heads to New York to meet with the CPMAJO. (MM 1/23; WJW 1/25; MM 1/30)

Arafat calls elections important springboard for establishing a Palestinian state that will unite with Jordan in a confederation, says he is waiting for "a sign" fr. King Hussein to begin the confederation process. (VOP 1/23 in FBIS 1/23)

PSF arrests Hebron lawyer Hussayn Shuyukhi for "spreading false information and claiming that the elections were rigged." Earlier, Shuyukhi had claimed that 49 ballot boxes were lost for 36 hrs. before being found unattended in various places in Hebron. The independent Palestinian Domestic Monitoring Comm. confirmed his allegations. (MEI 2/2)

PM Peres tells Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Comm. that the PA has been exerting admirable efforts to stop attacks fr., collect weapons in the self-rule areas. (QY 1/23 in FBIS 1/24)

Fmr. Arafat aide Bassam Abu-Sharif returns to the West Bank after 28 yrs. in exile. (ITV 1/23 in FBIS 1/24; CSM 1/25)

Lebanese First Military Investigating Judge Tali` seconds death sentence for SLA Cmdr. Lahd. (RL 1/23 in FBIS 1/24) (see 1/18)

Amir trial on charges of assassinating PM Rabin begins in Tel Aviv. (QY 1/23 in FBIS 1/23; NYT 1/24) (see 12/5)