The Palestine Chronology

In Washington, Syria, Israel reopen negotiations with military advisers. Israel ask Syria to make several confidence-building gestures, but Syria rejects taking such measures before signing an agmt. (FT, MM, WP, WT 6/28; SARR, 6/27, MA 6/28 in FBIS 6/28; WT 6/29; MEI 7/7; MEI 7/21)

In Cairo, PA, Israeli talks on transfer of authority reopen. Sides say Arafat has agreed to accept partial Israeli troop pullback in the West Bank, to be followed by elections and further withdrawal but is still calling for binding timetable. 1st pullout would be fr. Jenin, followed by Nablus, Tulkarm, Qalqiliyya by 11/15. Elections would be held within 22-35 days. 2d stage of withdrawal covering Ramallah, Bethlehem would take place 4-5/96. Areas of IDF, PA control would follow 6/17 zones proposal. No agmt. reached on size of proposed council. (JT, MENA 6/28 in FBIS 6/28; VOP 6/28, MENA, QY 6/29 in FBIS 6/30)

Likud head Binyamin Netanyahu submits to the Knesset what he claims to be a copy leaked to him of Israeli position paper on the Golan to be given to the Syrian delegation in talks in Washington. PM Rabin, FM Peres believe text to be a working paper drafted by the army, not given to Gen. Shahak. (MM 6/27; QY 6/27, 6/28 in FBIS 6/28; MM 6/28; ITV 6/28, QY 6/29 in FBIS 6/29; MM 6/29)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinian general strike marking Day of the Land is nearly total inside the green line and in occupied territories [CSM 3/31]. Thousands of Palestinians inside the green line attend large rallies in northern Israel: estimated 40,000 Palestinians march in northern Israel town of Sakhnin. In Kafr Kanna, close to 6,000 chant slogans, march in streets. In Rahat, in Negev, several hundred rally. More than 5,000 carry signs, chant nationalist slogans in Taybah, in the Triangle [WP 3/31; FJ 4/3]. Israel closes Palestine Press Service for 6 months [WP 3/31]. Israeli High Court upholds army order banning media from occupied territories [CSM 3/31].

Other Countries: Benjamin Netanyahu resigns as Israeli ambassador to UN [WP 4/1].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Dayr Abu Mash'al, near Ramallah, villagers use rocks, bottles, iron bars, and axes to attack soldiers searching for alleged attackers; soldiers open fire, wounding 4, 1 of whom bleeds to death. In Hebron-area village of Shuyukh, troops open fire on Palestinian protesters blocking roads, throwing stones; at least 5 Palestinians are wounded by gunfire. Israel reports 2 other Palestinians killed in W. Bank, 1 in Yamun village and 1 in Burqa, village near Nablus; army also says 45 W. Bank Palestinians are injured (30 from live ammunition and 15 by tear gas or beatings) and 15 Gaza Strip refugees are injured by tear gas or beatings [WP 3/31]. Violent clashes are reported in Ramallah [CSM 3/31]. Palestinian sources report protester is killed by army gunfire in Dayr Ubzay', near Ramallah; 1 is shot, killed in Jenin clash [FJ 4/3].