The Palestine Chronology

PM-elect Barak reiterates his pledge to withdraw fr. Lebanon, seek peace with Syria within a yr.; says he will try to negotiate a s. Lebanon pullout with Syria, rather than withdraw unilaterally. (WP, WT 5/27; MM 5/28)

At a Likud Central Comm. mtg., PM Netanyahu resigns his Knesset seat, formally announces his resignation fr. politics. The comm. picks FM Ariel Sharon as interim head of the party. (WP, WT 5/27; MM, WJW 6/3; JP 6/25; MM 6/28)

In Damascus, Jordan's Chief of the Royal Court `Abd al-Karim Kabariti briefs Syrian pres. Hafiz al-Asad on King Abdallah's recent international tour; discusses possible 5-way summit to coordinate on the peace process; relays request fr. Arafat to visit Damascus, which Syria turns down. (SANA 5/27 in WNC 5/28; MM 5/28; al-Dustur 5/28 in WNC 6/1; MM 6/3)

In Jerusalem, Israeli police clash with Palestinians, Israeli Peace Now activists demonstrating against Ras al-Amud settlement construction. (LAW 5/27; MM 5/28; MEI 6/4) (see 5/18)

In s. Lebanon, 1 Lebanese civilian is wounded by IDF shelling. (RL 5/27 in WNC 5/28)

High-level Israeli, PA security officials discuss ways of facilitating movement of Palestinian goods and people though checkpoints, border crossings. (AYM 5/27, al-Majd 5/31 in WNC 6/1)

Israel's Peace Now says that Jewish settlers have established 3 new settlement enclaves nr. Nablus since 5/17 elections in a race to grab occupied Palestinian land before PM-elect Barak takes office. (NYT, WT 5/26)

Hizballah, South Lebanon Army (SLA) clash in s. Lebanon, leaving 2 Hizballah mbrs. 1 SLA mbr. dead. (AFP 5/26 in WNC 5/27)

PM Netanyahu, his fmr. DM, Mordechai, hold 1st televised debate of the Israeli election campaign. Drawing comparisons to Kennedy in his 1960 debate with Nixon, Mordechai trounces the PM, attacking his person and policy, often leaving the "grand master of television" at a loss for words. As a result, Labor party candidate Barak's decision not to participate lends him the aura of being "above the fray." (MM 4/13; MM, WP 4/14; MM, NYT 4/15; al-Quds 4/15 in WNC 4/19; MEI 4/23)

With government approval, Israeli settlers seize a new West Bank hilltop nr. Tene Oranim settlement, nr. Hebron. Peace Now reports that Israeli building starts in West Bank settlements were up 105% in 1998, while housing starts inside the Green Line were down 20%. (MM, WP, WT 4/14)