The Palestine Chronology

Russian FM Primakov arrives in Amman for 3-day visit, meets with Jordanian FM Tarawnah, then leaves for unscheduled visit to Syria. (ITAR-TASS [Moscow], SANA 10/27, MBC, RMC 10/28 in WNC 10/29; WT 10/28; MM 10/29; RL 10/29 in WNC 10/30; MEI 11/7; JP 11/8)

PM Netanyahu gives address to opening of the Knesset's winter session, which is interrupted frequently by hecklers; calls for peace with Arabs based on firm security, self-defense; vows to prevent creation of Palestinian state or return of Golan and to build more settlements. Labor Chmn. Barak gives speech, urging Netanyahu's resignation. (ITV 10/27 in WNC 10/29; MM, NYT, WT 10/28; WJW 10/30)

Yemen announces plans to send low-level delegation to Doha economic summit; says it delegation will attend only to visit "a sisterly country . . . , not to hold talks with the Israeli government." (JTV 10/27 in WNC 10/29)

Israel warns Holland that it may expel diplomat Ferdinand Schmidt if he does not stop criticizing Israel in the media. (IDF Radio 10/28 in WNC 10/29)

In Beirut, 2 bombs, one at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and one at a newly completed bus station, explode, causing no injuries. The bombing at AUB, which occured just hrs. after a reception for AUB's new pres., marks the 1st attack on a foreign institution in Lebanon in 4 yrs. (NYT 10/28; MBC, RL, RMC, VOL 10/28 in WNC 10/29; MM 10/29; RL  10/29 in WNC 10/30; al-Quds al-`Arabi 10/29, RL 10/30 in WNC 11/3; WP 10/30)

Palestine Observer Mission at the UN announces plans to introduce a resolution in the UN General Assemby (UNGA) by early 11/97 that would deny Israel's right to represent East Jerusalem, Golan Heights, meaning credentials for Israeli reps. would have to be issued fr. Tel Aviv, symbolically cutting Israel's territory back to pre-1967 lines. The mission will also try to have its observer status upgraded to "special observer," so that reps. can participate in plenary session, on comms. and working groups. (WT 10/14, 10/17; NYT 10/24)

Jordan, Syria end 2 days of mtgs. on  water; sign minutes of mtg., agreeing to go ahead with construction of al-Wahda dam on the Yarmuk River in Syrian territory. (RJ 10/13, JT 10/14 in WNC 10/15)

After Canada receives an official apology fr. Israel for using forged Canadian passports in Mishal attack 9/25, Canadaian amb. returns to  Tel Aviv. (Radio Canada International 10/13 in WNC 10/15) (see 10/2)

Israel releases 2d batch 9 Jordanian detainees, flies them to Amman. (JTV 10/13 in WNC 10/15; CSM, WT 10/14; NYT 10/15) (see 10/6)

4,000 Palestinians attend rally in Nalbus to celebrate Shaykh Yasin's return to Gaza. (WT 10/14) (see 10/6)

Turkey begins pulling troops out of n. Iraq after its latest incursion against the PKK, which began on 9/21. (WT 10/14)

In Gaza, Arafat opens 2-day national dialogue mtg., meets with Hamas leader `Abd al-Aziz Rantisi, warns that Israeli actions in response to the 7/30 bombings could lead to another uprising. Islamic Jihad mbrs. also attend. (CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/21; RMC 8/21 in WNC 8/22; MM, NYT, PR, WT 8/22; RE 8/22 in WNC 8/25; PR 8/29; CSM 8/30, 9/8) (see 8/16)

In Amman, a 2-day "popular conference for the defense of Jerusalem" opens. (al-Dustur, JT 8/21 in WNC 8/22; JT 8/23 in WNC 8/26)

In Bethlehem, PA police beat Palestinian Salih Musa during a traffic dispute, take him to Bethlehem hospital. 6 policmen are later arrested in connection with the incident. Bethlehem is still under the internal closure imposed by Israel following the 7/30 bombings. (LAW 8/21)

In retaliation for Hizballah's 8/19 shelling, Israeli air force (IAF) strikes far n. of the self-declared security zone, hitting a Hizballah base, an area nr. the Lebanese army unit that took part in the 8/18 shelling, a power station, injuring 2 Lebanese civilians. ILMG holds an emergency mtg. to discuss the deteriorating situation. Israel says that strike on power station was meant to show the Lebanese government that "a situation in which Israeli citizens cannot live peacefully while the Lebanese continue to live their lives normally will not be tolerated." (MM 8/20; AFP, RL, VOL 8/20 in WNC 8/21; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/21; WT 8/25)