The Palestine Chronology

Israel, PA close election talks in Cairo without making any progress. (AFP, RMC 2/8 in FBIS 2/8)

U.S. Commerce Secy. Brown, executives fr. 10 American corporations meet in Taba with trade officials fr. Egypt, Israel, Jordan, the PA to discuss setting up regional council for trade, investment, assess results of Casablanca mtg., set ground work for international economic forum in Jordan in spring. Parties say they will work establish free trade btwn. themselves, form 2 economic bodies to develop their economic ties. (WT 2/8; MENA 2/8 in FBIS 2/8)

EU delegation headed by French FM Alain Juppé arrives in Damascus, meets with Pres. al-Asad to discuss EU-Syrian relations, peace process, says EU supports full Israeli withdrawal fr. Golan. (SARR 2/8 in FBIS 2/8; MM 2/9; MEI 2/17)

Reports say that over past few months Israel has brought in 12,000 Thai workers to replace Palestinian laborers in Israel, bring import of new workers fr. South East Asia, Eastern Europe to 50,000 since 3/94. (MEI 2/3, NYT 2/8; MEI 2/17)

Poll released by Strategic Studies Center, University of Jordan, shows that 72.6% of Jordanians polled favor some kind of union with Palestine. (JT 2/8 in FBIS 2/10)

PA says it has arrested more than 100 DFLP mbrs. since 2/6 incident. (QY 2/8 in FBIS 2/8; WP 2/10)

Hamas Amman rep. Muhammad Nazzal says Hamas supports Palestinian state in West Bank and Gaza as first step toward liberating all of Palestine; recognition of or dialogue with Israel is "out of the question." PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Mahmud 'Abbas calls the statement "political chicanery," but "a kind of retreat." (RMC 3/13, 3/14 in FBIS 3/15; MM 3/15)

Fateh issues statement accusing Fateh Revolutionary Council (Abu Nidal) of carrying out assassinations in southern Lebanon and promoting intra-Palestinian discord. Fateh "will not allow this to happen." (RMC, VOL 3/13 in FBIS 3/16)

Pres. Asad meets with Pres. Hirawi in Damascus. (SARA 3/13 in FBIS 3/15)

PM Hariri says Lebanon will not disarm resistance groups fighting Israel in the south until Israel withdraws from Lebanese territory. (Radio Lebanon 3/13 in FBIS 3/16)

IDF fires at car in Hebron, killing 3-year-old Palestinian girl. (Qol Yisra'el 3/14 in FBIS 3/15; WT 3/15)

Poland becomes 3d Warsaw Pact nation to renew full diplomatic ties with Israel, ending 23-year break [NYT 2/28].

D.M. Rabin says Israel is asking U.S. for compensation for U.S. supplying Egypt with surplus M-60 tanks [JDS 2/27 in FBIS 2/28].

Radan Abu-'Ayyash, head of E. Jerusalem Journalists Association, tells reporters that "according to new PLO strategy, the Palestinian right of return will be confined to the borders of the Palestinian state - the West Bank and Gaza Strip" [HAM 2/27 in FBIS 2/28].

PFLP in Damascus announces use of arms in O.T. has now become necessary [RMC 2/27 in FBIS 2/28].

Israeli military extends by 3 months closure order for 7 O.T. universities, now closed until end of May [WP 2/28; JDS 2/ 27 in FBIS 2/28; MET 3/13-19]; prompts student sit-ins throughout O.T. [NYT 2/ 28; HAA 2/28 in FBIS 3/1].

In a speech in Lusaka, Zambia, Nelson Mandela says that Yasir Arafat, who is in attendance, is fighting "a unique form of colonialism and we wish him success in his struggle" [NYT, LAT 2/28].