The Palestine Chronology

Christmas Eve celebrated in Bethlehem with display of Palestinian flag, message fr. PLO Chmn. Arafat. (NYT, WP, WT 12/25)

IDF It. col. killed, 2 IDF soldiers wounded in ambush by Palestinians, presumed mbrs. of Hamas, in Gaza Strip. In separate incident, masked Palestinian stonethrower killed by IDF in Bayt 'Umar, nr. Bethlehem. (Qol Yisra'el 12/24 in FBIS 12/27; NYT, WP, WT 12/25)

Arab League Sec.-Gen. Ismat 'Abd al-Majid sends letter to U.S. Congress saying boycott of Israel will be lifted only after Israeli withdrawal fr. o.t. (MENA 12/24 in FBIS 12/27)

Israeli kindergarten teacher killed, 3 settlers wounded by Palestinian gunmen in al-Birah. Hamas, DFLP claim responsibility for attack; IDF imposes curfew on al-Birah, Ramallah. Settlers block roads, stone Palestinian cars in retaliation. (MM 12/1; NYT, WP, WT 12/2)

IDF declares Gaza Strip a "closed military area," barring journalists fr. reporting there. (MM 12/1)

Emergency PLO Exec. Comm. mtg. in Tunis called to discuss negotiations with Israel fails to reach quorum due to boycott by Mahmud 'Abbas, Yasir 'Abd-Rabbuh, Sulaiman al-Najab. (MBC TV 12/2 in FBIS 12/3; WT 12/2)

Egyptian and Israeli sources say Egyptian Pres. Mubarak has lifted restrictions on Egyptians travelling to Israel, ending police reviews and questioning. (WP 12/2)

Jordan and Israel initial agreement allowing Jordanian banks in West Bank to reopen. (Qol Yisra'el 12/1 in FBIS 12/3; NYT 12/5)

PLO Chmn. Arafat orders Palestinian forces to prepare to enter o.t. to form Gaza-Jericho police force. (CSM, NYT, WT 11/22)

Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza issues statement pledging "militant direct action" against Israel-PLO DoP, urging settlers to ignore Palestinian police. (NYT 11/22)

Jordan's King Hussein meets in Damascus with Syrian Pres. Hafiz al-Asad to coordinate positions prior to tour by Secy. of State Christopher. 2 sides affirm "necessity of reaching a just and comprehensive peace." (MM, NYT 11/22)

PM Rabin returns to Israel after 10-day tour of U.S., Canada. At press conference, Rabin says Israel will try to meet 12/13 deadline for withdrawal fr. Gaza and Jericho, but says "it's not a holy date." (Qol Yisra'el 11/21 in FBIS 11/22; MM 11/22)

House of Representatives passes 425-1 resolution urging Arab League to lift boycott of Israel. (WJW 11/25)

U.S. Senate approves by voice vote resolution urging Arab League to end boycott of Israel. (WJW 11/25)

Jewish settlerset fire to 8 Palestinian homes in al-Birah, stone Palestinian cars in Ramallah, block West Bank roads in protest over killing of settler Haim Mizrachi by presumed Hamas militants. Settler, abducted 10/29, found stabbed to death in burned car north of Ramallah. Also, Palestinian involved in land sales to Israelis killed by masked gunmen. (NYT, WP, WT 10/31)

Egyptian Pres. Mubarak, Syrian Pres. alAsad hold talks on peace process in Latakia. (SATV 10/30 in FBIS 11/1)

3,000 Palestinian women march in Rafah refugee camp, Gaza Strip, to demand immediate release of all remaining Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. (WP 10/31

PLO and Israeli negotiators in Taba, Egypt, reach agreement on initial release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Release of several hundred prisoners-including women, the ill, and those under 18 or over 50- is first step toward release of the estimated 11-13,000 Palestinians in Israeli custody. Israeli statisticshow 12,500 Palestinians held by IDF and prisons authority. (NYT, WP 10/22)

Fateh official As'ad Saftawi, 58, headmaster of UNRWA school in Burayj refugee camp, shot to death by 2 masked gunmen. Saftawi is 3d Fateh figure killed in Gaza since 9/13 signature of PLO-Israel DoP. "Arab Palestine Organization" claims responsibility for assassination fr. Damascus. Group is apparently made up of former mbrs. of PFLP-GC. (NYT, WP, WT 10/22)

Arab League boycott officials postpone 10/24 meeting to discuss maintaining or widening Arab boycott of Israel after U.S. protests, PLO lobbying against extension of ban on trade with Israel. (WT 10/22)

U.S. envoy Ross travels to Damascus for meetings with Syrian Pres. al-Asad, FM al-Shara' on advancing Israeli-Syrian track of peace negotiations. Egyptian Pres. Mubarak meets in Jeddah with Saudi King Fahd on same issue. (MM 10/21)

PLO Chmn. Arafat arrives in Paris for 2- day visit to meet French Pres. Mitterand, other officials, opposition figures to discuss EC support for DoP. (MM 10/21)

U.S. special coordinator for the Middle East peace process Dennis Ross begins Middle East tour to build on DoP, with visit to Cairo to meet Egyptian, Arab League leaders. (MENA 10/18 in FBIS 10/19; CSM 10/19)

West Bank settlers plan civil disobedience, tax revolt, other measures against Israeli-Palestinian DoP, according to Yechiel Leiter of Council of Jewish Settlements in Judea and Samaria. (WT 10/18)

Fateh, PPP urge boycott of Jerusalem municipal elections by East Jerusalem Palestinians. (MM 10/18)

Arab League FMs endorse DoP, declare the agreement "an important step toward realizing the land-for-peace principle," but that it "must be completed by immediate steps ... to guarantee Israeli withdrawal fr. the entire Syrian Golan." Iraqi FM Muhammad Sa'id Sahhaf refuses to support declaration. (MM, WP 9/21)

Secy. of State Christopher announces U.S. will convene international conference to raise funds to implement PLO-Israel accord. Christopher also announces U.S. will provide $250 m cver 2 years to Palestinian autonomous authority, urges international community to support PLO-Israel accord to produce "tangible improvements in the security and daily lives of Palestinians and Israelis." (MM 9/20; NYT 9/21; CSM 9/22)

PLO Chmn. Arafat flies to Amman to discuss implementation of Israel-PLO agreement with Jordan's King Hussein. Speaking to reporters, Arafat defends accord as "the maximum we could get," predicts "at the end of this year or the beginning of next year, God willing, I expect to go to Jericho-and Gaza." (NYT, WP, WT 9/21)

Israeli delegation arrives in Tunis to prepare for conference on Palestinian refugees, met by Tunisian, PLO officials. (WT 9/21)

PLO Chmn Arafat tells Arab League FMs meeting in Cairo that "the agreement we have reached is nothing but a first step," acknowledges "there can be no final settlement without a solution on all the Arab tracks." (NYT 9/20)

Israeli PM Rabin and Egyptian Pres. Mubarak meet in Alexandria to discuss implementation of PLO-Israel DoP. Rabin complains of Syrian support for Palestinian opposition factions, while Mubarak states, "I think Syria wants peace, genuinely wants to solve the problem and I have heard this fr. President Asad several times." (NYT 9/19, 9/20; MM 9/20; WP 9/23)

Nayif Hawatmah of DFLP, George Habash of PFLP meet in Tripoli with Libyan leader Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi. Libya and Iraq are only Arab states to explicitly oppose PLO-Israel agreement. (NYT 9/16, 9/17)

U.S. Pres. Clinton, in telephone conversation with Jordan's King Hussein, discloses U.S. will release $30 m. in aid to Amman frozen due to Jordan's position in 1990-91 Gulf crisis. Release is due to signing of Jordan-Israel common agenda. Clinton also calls Syrian Pres. al-Asad, urges him to rein in Damascus-based Palestinian factions opposed to PLO-Israel agreement. (NYT 9/16; CSM, NYT 9/17; NYT 9/18)

U.S. joins with Russia, Egypt, and Israel to eliminate, revise, or defer 32 UNGA resolutions critical of Israel. Resolutions to be changed or discarded include those establishing Comm. on Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, criticizing Israeli human rights practices, examining Israeli-South African relations, and calling on Israel to renounce nuclear weapons. (NYT 9/16)

Israeli PM Rabin formally signs letter recognizing PLO as "the representative of the Palestinian people" 10 hours after PLO Chmn. Arafat signs letters of recognition. (NYT 9/11)

U.S. Pres. Clinton lifts ban on U.S. contacts with PLO, saying PLO commitments to Israel "justify aresumption of our dialogue." Move paves way for PLO Chmn. Arafat to attend signing ceremony 9/13. (WP 9/11)

Fateh supporters hold march in Gaza in support of PLO-Israel agreement attended by thousands, with similar march held in East Jerusalem organized by PLO. Hamas leads counter-demonstrations in Gaza City and Rafah. 3 Hamas supporters wounded in clashes with IDF. (NYT 9/11)

PFLP and DFLP (Hawatmah) withdraw reps. fr. PLO Exec. Comm. to protest PLO-Israel agreement. Withdrawal coincides with resignation of PLO rep. in Lebanon Shafiq al-Hut and denunciation of accord by 10 Palestinian opposition factions. (RMC 9/10 in FBIS 9/10; WP 9/11)

Lebanese FM Buwayz rejects working paper submitted to Lebanon by Israel. (RL 9/10 in FBIS 9/13)

PLO Exec. Comm. ends meeting, agrees to present "Gaza-Jericho lst" at 11th Washington round. Palestinian delegation leaves for Washington. (MENA, Tunisian Republic Radio 8/29 in FBIS 8/30)

Jordanian, Lebanese, Syrian delegations leave for Washington talks. (Radio Jordan, VOM 8/29 in FBIS 8/30)

91 PNC mbrs. sign memorandum rejecting "Gaza-Jericho lst," calling for PLO withdrawal fr. peace talks. (Sawt al-Sha'b 8/29 in FBIS 8/30)

Settlers' council denounces DoP as "national treason." (NYT, WP 8/30)

Palestinian negotiating delegation joins PLO Exec. Comm. meeting in Tunis. (MENA 8/29 in FBIS 8/30)

Hamas rejects Gaza-Jericho proposal, urges PLO withdrawal fr. peace talks. (al-Ray 8/29 in FBIS 8/30)

Pro-Arafat rally in East Jerusalem attended by 200 participants. (Qol Yisra'el 8/28 in FBIS 8/30)

Secy. of State Christopher arrives in Jerusalem on 2d leg of Middle East trip, meets with PM Rabin, FM Peres, Palestinian representatives. Negotiator Haydar 'Abd al-Shafi boycotts session. Christopher says Lebanon cease-fire is"an indication of the fact that Israel, Lebanon and Syria are able to work together on a problem and, I think, take a step in trying to ensure that the peace process is not derailed." FM Peres says Israel believes "that Syria and its President made a strategic decision to move toward peace." (NYT, WP, WT 8/4)

Criticism of Israel mounts as "Operation Accountability" enters 5th day. IDF moves reinforcements into Lebanon as shelling rate reaches 9 rounds per minute. Lebanese PM Hariri attends Arab League emergency meeting in Damascus after meeting with Hizballah security chief Hadi Hamadi. UN Secy.-Gen. Butrus-Ghali calls for immediate cease-fire, states "the policy of deliberately forcing people to abandon their homes must be stopped forthwith." Lebanese Health Min. Marwan Hamadeh calls situation a "human catastrophe of tragic magnitude." US efforts to broker cease-fire continue. (NYT, WP, WT 7/30)

Israeli attack on Lebanon enters 4th day as international condemnation mounts. Refugees from south estimated at 500,000; casualties total 90 dead, 400 wounded. UN Secy.-Gen. Butrus Butrus-Ghali calls attack "deplorable" while UN Security Council, renewing UNIFIL mandate, expresses "regret" over loss of life and urges "restraint" on all parties. US State Dept. says "Military activities directed against all civilians should ... stop... The refugees from south Lebanon must be allowed to return to their homes immediately." Secy. of State Christopher telephones PM Rabin, Syrian FM al-Shara', and Lebanese PM Rafiq Hariri, urging Israel to end fighting before Christopher comes to region and Syria not to permit arms to reach Hizballah. PM Rabin vows to "chase down" Hizballah, tells Knesset, "The civilian Lebanese population in southern Lebanon will be distanced-northward-from the villages in which Hizballah terrorists operate." Pres. Clinton says "I think Hizballah should stop its attacks. I think Israel should stop its bombardments. I think that Syria should go from showing restraint to being an active participant to try and stop the fighting, and we ought to do whatever we can to stop the fighting as quickly as possible." (NYT, WP, WT 7/29)

Responding to continued financial crisis, PLO closes three departments-information, culture, and social affairs. (al-Sharq al-Awsat 7/28 in FBIS 7/30)

SLA positions at Shumariyeh and Alman, southern Lebanon, attacked with katyushas and mortars. (MM 7/20)

Lebanese army and Hizballah fire SAM-7 missile at overflying Israeli plane. (VOL 7/21 in FBIS 7/21)

Hadashot reports that a secret Israeli envoy has met with the PLO in Tunis in an effort to bridge gaps in Israeli and Palestinian negotiating positions. Both PM Rabin and FM Peres deny the story. (MM 7/20)

10-year-old Izzat Matar, shot 7/18 by IDF, dies of his wounds in Gaza. (MM 7/21)

Kuwaiti govt., responding to confusion and controversy over its adherence to boycott of Israel, issues statemento Kuwait National Assembly saying it obeys boycott, but that "consequences of the Iraqi aggression" required "reexamination" of rules on secondary boycott of foreign companies dealing with Israel. Statement reiterates Kuwaiti adherence to all Arab League and GCC boycott rules, says end of Israeli settlements precondition for ending direct boycott (see 6/7, 6/11). (KUNA 7/20 in FBIS 7/21)

Hizballah fires 3 katyusha rockets at "security zone" in southern Lebanon. (MM 7/19)

Lebanese Pres. al-Hirawi pays first visit as head of state to Mashgara, southern Lebanon, known as a Hizballah center, and pledges continued resistance to Israeli occupation pending implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 425. (see 6/1) (MM 7/19)

Israeli cabinet issues statement warning guerrillas in southern Lebanon that Israel will retaliate for recent attacks in "security zone." Lebanese Pres. al-Hirawi replies that "lf peace is not achieved in the south, the entire Lebanese people will join the resistance in fighting Israel." (Qol Yisra'el 7/18 in FBIS 7/19; CSM, WT 7/19)

Israeli warplanes overfly lqlim al-Tuffah and Beirut as tensions on Lebanon-Israel border mount. (MM 7/19)

IDF wounds 6 Palestinians, including a 10-year-old shot in the head, in clash at Jabalya refugee camp in Gaza. (WT 7/19)

Fateh Central Committee and Revolutionary Council meet in Tunis. (Sawt al-Sha'b 7/20 in FBIS 7/21)

Palestinian delegation head Haydar 'Abd al-Shafi warns that unless Israel concedes Palestinian rights in Jerusalem "it will kill the peace process." (NYT 7/17)

Secy. of State Christopher announces he will travel to Middle East 8/1-5 to pursue "role of honest broker" in peace talks. (USIA Wireless File 7/19)

Dahaf Institute poll indicates 42% of Israelis favor talks with PLO, 57% oppose. (Yediot Aharonot 7/16 in MM 7/16)

Syrian FM al-Shara' rejects Israeli warning to curb guerrilla activity in southern Lebanon. (MM 7/16)

FM Peres proposes Palestinian-Jordanian confederation as way out of deadlock in negotiations. (WT 7/16)

Fateh-Hamas dialogue meeting held in Amman. (al-Rayv 7/16 in FBIS 7/19)

Fateh delegation led by 'Abbas Zaki meets with 7 Palestinian factions opposed to peace process in Damascus. Organizations represented are PPSF, PLF, PFLP, DFLP, PFLPGC, al-Sa'iqah, and Islamic Jihad. Delegation is to proceed to Amman for meeting with Hamas. (Algiers VOP, al-Rayv 7/14 in FBIS 7/15)

FM Peres proposes opening negotiations on final status based on Palestinian-Jordanian confederation in meeting with U.S. envoy Ross. (Ha Aretz 7/15 in FBIS 7/15)

U.S. delegation holds 2d meeting with Israeli leadership. Official statements are terse, but it is speculated discussions included tensions between Israel and Syria following escalation of violence in southern Lebanon. (MM 7/13)

2d U.S.-Palestinian meeting held at U.S. consulate in Jerusalem. (Qol Yisra'el 7/13 in FBIS 7/14)

Israeli rights group B'Tselem says 232 Palestinians under 17 killed by IDF since start of intifada, 38 in last 6 months. IDF calls such deaths "unavoidable," claims intifada casualties have declined, saying 166 Israelis, 1,859 Palestinians killed since outbreak of uprising. Report also states 100,000 Palestinians detained, 60,000 incarcerated over same period. (MM 7/13; Qol Yisra'el 7/13 in FBIS 7/15; WT 7/14)

Israeli police arrest 4 teenage members of "Kahane Lives" for the 11/92 grenade murder of a Palestinian in Jerusalem. (NYT 7/14)

Palestinian motorist shot dead by Border Police, second wounded in Hebron. (ITV 7/14 in FBIS 7/15)

PLO reconciliation meeting held in Damascus grouping representatives of Fateh, PFLP, and DFLP (Hawatmah faction). (al-Dustur 7/13 in FBIS 7/13)

PLO joins with Bangladesh, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Tunisia, and Turkey in offer to send peacekeepers to Bosnia. (WP 7/14)

Likud Knesset delegation submits no-confidence motion against government. Likud motion and those submitted 7/6 by Tsomet and NRP to be debated 7/12. (Qol Yisra'el 7/7 in FBIS 7/7)

Egyptian Pres. Mubarak meets with Syrian Pres. al-Asad in Latakia, Syria to discuss peace process. (SANA 7/7 in FBIS 7/8)

Arab info. mins. open 2-day meeting at Arab League H.Q. in Cairo. (MENA 7/6 in FBIS 7/9)

IDF shoots Hamas mbr. dead near Gaza settlement amid series of attacks on IDF positions in the Strip. (Qol Yisra'el 6/27 in FBIS 6/28)

IDF helicopters fire rockets at houses in Zawtar al-Sharqiyya, Lebanon. (VOL 6/27 in FBIS 6/30)

Arab League expresses "deep sorrow" over civilian casualties in 6/26 U.S. attack on Iraq. Israeli cabinet says PM Rabin "expressed support" for action in talk with Pres. Clinton. (WP 7/28)

IDF kills 21-year-old Palestinian in Gaza City after a stone-throwing incident. (Qol Yisra'el 6/9 in FBIS 6/10; MM 6/9)

12-year-old Palestinian killed and 10 injured by IDF in raid on al-Burayj refugee camp in Gaza. (Qol Yisra'el 6/9 in FBIS 6/10)

Fateh official Ahmad Muhammad alMakhzumi shot dead in 'Ayn al-Hilwa refugee camp, Sidon, Lebanon; Fateh accuses Fateh Revolutionary Council (FRC-"Abu Nidal" faction) of the assassination. (RFL, VOL 6/10 in FBIS 6/10)

4 Lebanese civilians killed in Zillaya by IDF missiles during clashes in southern Lebanon between IDF, SLA, and Lebanese resistance. (AFP 6/8 in FBIS 6/10)

GCC FMs meeting in Riyadh "renew" their "full support" for the peace process. (SPA 6/8 in FBIS 6/9).

Libyan pilgrims' spokesman Daw Salim al-Tajuri tells Cairo news conference decision to visit Jerusalem "personal," that delegation "does not represent any official party," and that trip does not constitute recognition of Israel. (MENA 6/3 in FBIS 6/4)

U.S. State Dept. announces plans to fund $14m o.t. job-creation program. (MM, WT 5/5; WP 5/6)

At econ. devt. multilateral meeting in Rome, Palestinian delegate Samir Hulayleh says World Bank is studying a $ lb. o.t. aid package, to be implemented as part of autonomy agreement. (MM 5/4, 5/5; Ha'Aretz 5/5 in FBIS 5/6)

Israel presents Palestinians with proposal for mutual water usage, which head delegate Haydar 'Abd al-Shafi terms "an encouraging opening." (MM 5/5)

Four Nablus notables close to Fateh meet with Israeli Police Min. Moshe Shahal to discuss o.t. police force, recommend Jordanian-based Palestine Liberation Army for the job. (IDF Radio 5/4, Hadashot 5/5 in FBIS 5/5)

Israel presents Lebanon with first-ever proposal linking withdrawal according to UNSCR 425 with a peace treaty. Political powers are proposed for the joint military workingroup (a long-standing Israeli request). (MM 5/5; Davar 5/12 in FBIS 5/12; al-Safir 5/11 in FBIS 5/17)

UNLU calls on Palestinians to seal off o.t. from Israelis and settlers in retaliation for the unilateral cosure, in call no. 95. (Al Hamishmar 5/5 in FBIS 5/6)

DFLP chief Nayif Hawatima and Pres. Saddam Hussein meet in Baghdad, discuss opposition to Arab-Israeli peace talks. (RMC 5/5 in FBIS 5/6; Sawt al-Sha'b 5/9 in FBIS 5/10)

IDF shoots 3 Palestinians dead, wounds over 40, in the Gaza Strip. (MM 5/4; NYT, WP 5/5)

Israel, SLA shell Lebanese villages. (RFL, VOM 5/4 in FBIS 5/4)

Chmn. Arafat meets with advisors, PNC and delegation mbrs. in Amman to decide on resumption of talks. (MM, WP 4/21)

Arab League Ministerial Council ends 2- day meeting in Cairo. (MENA 4/18 in FBIS 4/20)

IDF destroys 4 houses, shoots armed Palestinian dead in Gaza Strip. (MM 4/20; NYT 4/21; WP 4/22)

Islamic Resistance clash with IDF, SLA in 4 separate attacks, killing 2and kidnapping 2 SLA gunmen in "security zone." Israel, SLA shell villages north of zone. (Radio Lebanon, VOL 4/20 in FBIS 4/21)

At Arab FMs meeting in Damascus, Syrian FM Faruq al-Shara' receives call from Secy. of State Christopher. FMs delay decision on resuming talks until after Arab League meeting 4/20. PM Rabin tells Israeli delegation to delay departure for Washington. (AFP, MENA, SANA 4/17 in FBIS 4/19; NYT, WP 4/18)

"Hundreds" of Druze in Majdal Shams, Golan Heights, demonstrate on Syrian independence day. Stonethrowers wound 11 Israeli police, dispersing the crowd with tear gas. (Qol Yisra'el 4/17 in FBIS 4/20)

Hizballah, Amal shell SLA positions in "security zone," killing 1 SLA soldier. Israel, SLA shell villages. (NYT 4/18)

PLO Exec. Comm. ends 4-day meeting, issues statement. (Algiers VOP 3/6 in FBIS 3/8)

Expressing his "joy" over PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Mahmud 'Abbas' visit to Saudi Arabia 1/9-11 (when he "apologized" for PLO stance during Gulf war), Chmn. Arafat says "we view this event with great satisfaction because it was a Palestinian decision" in interview with al-Hayat. (MENA 3/6 in FBIS 3/8)

Israeli embassy officials in London reveal U.S. is encouraging U.K. to upgrade its PLO contacts, reportedly so that U.S. can receive reliable info. on the PLO from friendly sources (see 3/7-9). (HaAretz 3/7 in FBIS 3/8)

Israel charges UNRWA official with failing to alert IDF soldiers after seeing an Israeli stoned and shot to death in the Gaza Strip 3/2. UNRWA denies the charge. (Qol Yisra'el 3/6 in FBIS 3/8; NYT 3/8)

IDF helicopters attack PFLP-GC marine base, striking also refugee camps, in 'Ayn al-Hilwa, Lebanon, wounding 4. Fatah official is shot dead in 'Ayn al-Hilwa. (IDF Radio, QPAR 3/6 in FBIS 3/8; NYT 3/7)

U.S. State Dept. issues statement describing Iran as the world's "most dangerous state sponsor of terrorism." (NYT 3/7)