The Palestine Chronology

World leaders, incl. Egyptian Pres. Mubarak, Jordanian King Hussein, Omani FM Bin-`Alawi, Qatari Culture M Hamad Bin `Abd al-Aziz al-Kuwari, attend PM Rabin's funeral. Arafat--who Israel officials stressed was "not welcome" at the funeral, held in Jerusalem--does not go. (CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/6; FBIS supplement, MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/7; CSM 11/8)

After Rabin's funeral, Pres. Clinton holds separate mtgs about continuing the peace process with Mubarak, King Hussein, Acting PM Peres, Pres. Weizman. Peres holds private mgts with King Hussein, Pres. Mubarak, Omani FM Bin-`Alawi to discuss bilateral relations, peace process. (IDF Radio, QY 11/6, RJ, QY 11/7 in FBIS 11/7; WP 11/7; MM 11/8; HA 11/8 in FBIS 11/9)

After repeated requests fr. the PA, the Arab League permanent representatives hold a discussion on the congressional decision to move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem; consider convening mtg. of all Arab FMs. (MENA 11/6 in FBIS 11/8) (see 10/26)

In Washington, Arafat, PM Rabin sign the Oslo II agmt. Syria, Lebanon send no representatives. (BT, CSM, MM, WJW 9/28; VOP 9/28 in FBIS 9/28; CSM, FT, MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/29; WJW 10/5; JP 10/7)

Israeli FM Peres, Jordan's King Hussein, Arafat confirm that they have been discussing establishment of a confederation btwn. Jordan, self-rule areas. (IL 10/2)

Israel, EU initial cooperation and commerce agmt. (IL 10/2)

PM Rabin meets with representatives of American Jewish groups, warns them that lobbying against Israeli government policies would cause a serious rift in Israel's relations with the American Jewish community. (QY 9/29, 9/30 in FBIS 10/2; NYT 9/30; WJW 10/5; JP 10/7)

Israel closes borders with West Bank, Gaza until 10/1 to curb any Palestinian attacks on Israel in protest over Oslo II signing. In Hebron, 1,000 Jewish settlers protest the accord. (CSM, NYT 9/29)

In Cairo, Israel, PA sign pact, giving PA control over 8 spheres of West Bank administration. (VOP 8/20 in FBIS 8/21; MM 8/21; QY 8/20 in FBIS 8/22; MENA, VOP 8/27 in FBIS 8/28; WP, WT 8/28; CSM, MM 8/29; JP 9/2; WJW 9/7)

Jordan's King Hussein meets with Israeli PM Rabin, FM Peres in Aqaba to discuss Iraqi defections. (IL 8/28; Al-Aswaq 8/28 in FBIS 8/28)

In Damascus, German Economics M Spranger meets with Pres. Asad. (SANA, SATN 8/27 in FBIS 8/28)

Israel demands extradition of Dudin, Khatib in connection with 12/24/94 Jerusalem bombing, vows to keep closure on Jericho (begun 8/22) in place until pair is turned over. For 1st time, IDF stops journalists fr. entering Jericho while under closure. In continuing crackdown in the West Bank, IDF arrests 12 alleged Hamas mbrs, says recent arrests have prevented 2 bombings, a plan to kidnap IDF soldiers. (QY 8/27, JP 8/28 in FBIS 8/28; MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/28) (see 8/25)

Israeli police release Fatah's Ghunaym. (Al-Quds 8/28 in FBIS 8/30) (see 8/21)

IDF lifts closure on West Bank, but says closure on Jericho will remain in place through 8/30. (QY, VOP 8/27 in FBIS 8/28)

In Cairo, PA, Israel open 3 days of talks on transfer of authority, focus on electricity, communications, water, public works. PA says it will accept phased Israeli withdrawal fr. West Bank within framework of agmt. that includes specific timetable. (MENA 6/20 in FBIS 6/21)

Multilateral Working Group on Water meets in Amman, then  convenes joint mtg. with working group on environment. Syrian, Lebanese representatives reportedly meet with Israeli delegate behind scenes. (IGPO 6/19; QY 6/30 in FBIS 7/5; MBC 7/15 in FBIS 7/17)

Under terms of 10/26 Jordan-Israel treaty, water pipeline fr. Lake Tiberias to Israel begins operating. (RJ 6/20 in FBIS 6/28; NYT 6/21)

PM Rabin, FM Peres, Environment M Sarid, IDF officers tour West Bank n. of Jerusalem to view plans for redeployment of IDF troops outside Palestinian towns. (QY 6/20 in FBIS 6/21)

Israeli FMin. deems PA's 1st "active" year "reasonably successful," Arafat "a dominant and indispensable figure" who successfully handled his opposition. (MA 6/20 in FBIS 6/20)

East Jerusalem Municipal Council, formally reactivated by Arafat 6/12, holds 1st mgt. (HA 6/26 in FBIS 6/27) (see 5/30)

House approves antiterrorism bill similar to that passed in the Senate 6/7 by vote of 23-12. Differences between the two must be worked out in committee. (WT 6/21) (see 8/4)

256 mbrs. of Congress send letter to Secy. of State Christopher in support of moving U.S. embassy fr. Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Letter is a companion to the one sent by 93 senators 3/95. Christopher sends letter to Dole dissuading him fr. voting for bill. (Near East Report 7/3)

In Damascus, Egyptian FM Musa meets with Syrian FM al-Shara`, transmits message fr. Pres. Mubarak to Pres. al-Asad on bilateral coordination, consultation on peace process, regional issues. (SARR 5/2 in  FBIS 5/2; RE 3/2 in FBIS 3/3)

In Gaza, Arafat meets with EU delegation, U.S. Consul Gen. Edward Abington to discuss outcomes of Paris donor's mtg. 4/27-28. (VOP 5/3 in FBIS 5/4)

PA invites Canada, EC, Egypt, Japan, Jordan, Norway, Russia to participate in 1,000-mbr. elections observer force. Arafat opens Palestine Central Elections Comm. headquarters in Gaza. (ITV 3/2 in FBIS 3/3; JP 5/13)

PA says direct phone line btwn. Arafat, Rabin has been set up so they can make rapid decision as problems arise, esp. concerning IDF, police, border issues. (YA 5/3 in FBIS 5/4)

U.S. Amb. to the UN Albright meets with Israeli PM Rabin, FM Peres, PA Local Government M Erakat, PA Information M `Abid Rabbu; discusses settlements, new U.S. trade ban on Iran, terrorism. Rabin gives support for U.S. dual containment policy; heads to Jordan for mtg. on peace process with Crown Prince Hassan. (WT 5/2; JP, QY 5/2 in FBIS 5/2; JTV, RJ, VOP 5/2 in FBIS 5/3; MM 5/3)

PA military court gives 1st death sentence to Palestinian police officer for killing 2d officer, gives him 14 days to appeal. (ITV 3/2 in FBIS 3/3; NYT 5/3; WT 5/15) (see 4/24)

Masked Israeli border policemen raid Makassed hospital in East Jerusalem in search of "Palestinian activists"; prevent ambulance workers fr. admitting patients. (WT 5/3)

Israel closes o.t. for 4 days, over Remembrance Day holiday. (QY 4/30 in FBIS 5/1)

FM Peres, Arafat hold positive mtg. at Erez; agree to open safe passages immediately, halt land confiscation and financing expansion of existing settlements, speed process at border crossings, increase number of Palestinian workers in Israel to 21,000, discuss releasing prisoners, hold regular mtgs. to exchange security information; announce agmt. to try to reach consensus on elections, Israeli withdrawal by 7/1. (MM 3/9; VOP 3/9 in FBIS 3/9; QY, VOP 3/9, VOP 3/10 in FBIS 3/10; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/10; VOP 3/10 in FBIS 3/13; WJW 3/16; MEI 3/17; JP 3/18; WT 3/19)

Secy. of State Christopher holds friendly mtg. with Pres. Mubarak in Cairo but fails to reach compromise on NPT issue, then heads to Israel, meets with PM Rabin, FM Peres to discuss Syrian track. Rabin gives Christopher "serious proposal" to hand Syrian Pres. al-Asad, reportedly offering to withdraw fr. all of Golan in stages if Syria begins normalizing relations. Rabin also blames Syria, Egypt for urging Gulf states to slow normalization. Christopher then meets with Likud leader Netanyahu to asses opposition's stance. (MM 3/9; MENA 3/9 in FBIS 3/9; IDF Radio, ITV 3/9, QY 3/10 in FBIS 3/10; FT, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/10; ITV, QY 3/10, HA, RMC 3/12 in FBIS 3/13; MA 3/12 in FBIS 3/14; HA 3/15 in FBIS 3/15; JP 3/18; MEI 3/31; NYT 4/1; MEI 4/14)

Task Force for Economic Development in the Middle East meets in Washington. U.S. presents proposal for regional bank with $5 b. base capital to do project lending only. EU gives counterproposal for "financial intermediation organization" without its own capital base to put together private sector deals, financing. 30 countries, organizations attend, incl. Egypt, Jordan, PA, Saudi Arabia, excl. Lebanon, Syria. (MM 3/10, 4/27)

FM Peres says Israel has lifted its naval blockade on s. Lebanon in honor of Secy. of State Christopher's visit, as a good will gesture. (HA, RL 3/10 in FBIS 3/10; VOL 3/10 in FBIS 3/13; NYT, WP 3/11; MEI 3/17; MEI 3/31)

PM Rabin, King Hussein meet in Aqaba, discuss difficulties on Syrian track. Rabin tells king he asked Secy. of State Christopher to forgive Jordan's debt. (JTV 3/9, QY, RJ 3/10 in FBIS 3/10; MM 3/10)