The Palestine Chronology

Palestinian and Israeli peace teams hold a 2d very low-profile meeting in Amman. The sides downplay the meeting, calling them “exploratory sessions,” so as not to raise expectations of a negotiating breakthrough. An anonymous Palestinian official says that the Israelis did not offer anything today that would move the peace process forward. Judeh does not issue a formal statement, and Israel refuses to comment. (NYT, WT 1/10)

The IDF conducts morning patrols in Qalqilya, 2 villages nr. Jenin, and 1 nr. Tulkarm; afternoon patrols in 2 villages nr Jenin (firing tear gas at stonethrowing youths in 1 incident), and 1 nr. Qalqilya; late-night patrols in Tulkarm and nearby Bayt Lid and in 1 village nr. Qalqilya. The IDF also enters ‘Azzoun village nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon to summon for interrogation 3 Palestinians released in the 10/2011 Shalit prisoner swap; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron and nr. Nablus. (PCHR 1/12; OCHA 1/13)

On the day before the New Hampshire primaries, Republican presidential candidates Ron Paul and Rick Santorum both stress that the U.S. must maintain close ties with Israel. Paul, who opposes all foreign aid, says he is against continuing massive assistance to Israel, stating “I don’t believe that I should take money from anybody here and send money to them,” saying it sends the message “we own you.” Santorum stresses the threat from Iran, whereas Paul calls the danger of Iran achieving nuclear weapons “way overblown.” (WT 1/10)

The White House announces that Pres. Obama has tapped his dir. of the Office of Budget and Management, Jack Lew, as his new chief of staff, replacing outgoing chief of staff William Daley. American Jewish organizations praise the selection of Lew, an Orthodox Jew who is very involved in Jewish events in Washington, stating that since Dennis Ross’s departure as Obama’s chief adviser on the Middle East they had worried that there was no one “left to call in a White House that has hemorrhaged top Jews over the last year or so” that could directly weigh in with the pres. on issues of concern to Israel. (JTA 1/10; WJW 1/12, 1/19)

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu begins a 2-day visit to Washington to discuss the peace process, Iran, bilateral relations, and Middle East regional affairs, holding his 1st mtg. with U.S. pres. Barack Obama at the White House. Obama privately presses for a total Israeli settlement freeze and endorsement of a 2-state solution, with Netanyahu demurring. The leaders emerge showing no signs of tensions, instead stressing shared goals of preventing Iran fr. developing nuclear weapons and achieving peace btwn. Israel and the Palestinians. (HA, IFM, WP, WT 5/18; NYT, WP, WT 5/19; NYT, WJW 5/21; WP 5/24; NYT 5/29; JPI 6/4; HA 6/11; see also NYT, WP 5/17)

In the West Bank, the IDF makes a rare daytime incursion into al-Khadir nr. Bethlehem, raiding 2 secondary schools while classes are in session, holding the students for several hours while searching for a wanted person; no arrests are made. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-‘Arub refugee camp (r.c.) and 3 villages nr. Hebron. (OCHA 5/20; PCHR 5/21)

A 5th round of Palestinian national unity talks (5/16–18) ends in Cairo without any progress. (Xinhua–New China News Agency 5/18; NYT 5/20)

U.S. Secy. of State Albright arrives in Saudi Arabia on the 1st leg of her 5-day tour of the Middle East to nudge the peace process forward. (CSM, MM, WP 12/7; WJW 12/9; MEI 12/10)

U.S. special envoy Ross arrives in Israel to prepare for Albright's visit later this wk. He meets with the Israeli, and PA teams to try to bridge the impasse over FRD implementation. (WP, WT 12/7; MM 12/8; MEI 12/10)

PA chief negotiator `Abid Rabbuh cancels the day's planned round of talks, saying the PA will no longer discuss anything with Israel except the settlements. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/7; AYM, al-Quds 12/7, al-Quds 12/8 in WNC 12/9; WJW 12/9; MEI 12/10) (see 12/3)

Iran, Syria sign a media cooperation agmt. (IRNA 12/6 in WNC 12/7)

The U.S. grants QIZ status to the Jordanian industrial city of Dulayl. (JT 12/7 in WNC 12/8)

As the Knesset begins debate on ratification of the 10/23 Wye River Memorandum, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu suspends the agmt.'s implementation, saying he will not carry out the 1st of 3 stages of further redeployment (FRD) required by Wye until PA head Yasir Arafat retracts his 11/15 threat to stage an uprising against Israel if Palestinian access to Jerusalem is blocked. (MM 11/16; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 11/17; WJW 11/19)

U.S. special envoy Dennis Ross meets with Arafat in Jericho. (ITV 11/16 in WNC 11/18; WT 11/17)

In Cairo, Netanyahu political adviser Uzi Arad discusses Wye agmt. with Egyptian FM `Amr Musa, who criticizes Israeli implementation delays. (MENA 11/16 in WNC 11/17, WNC 11/18)

In Gaza, Israel, Jordan, the U.S. meet to discuss the Irbid industrial zone project. (Petra-JNA 11/17 in WNC 11/19; JT 11/23 in WNC 11/24; Petra-JNA 11/23 in WNC 11/30)

In Cairo, Russia, Egypt hold high-level experts mtg. on defense cooperation. Russian DM hopes deepening military ties "will become an important factor of peace and stability in the Middle East." (Interfax, ITAR-TASS, MENA 11/16 in WNC 11/17; MENA 11/17 in WNC 11/18)

After 3 days of talks, Oman, Iran reach military cooperation agmt. to enhance Gulf security, which will include joint exercises. (IRNA 11/16 in WNC 11/17)

PM Netanyahu announces creation of Birthright Israel program, which will pay for any Jew aged 15+n26 to visit Israel in hopes of rebuilding Jewish identity of youth, who more frequently marry non-Jews, are nonpracticing. The program, expected to cost $300 m., will be funded by the Israeli government, major North American Jewish donors, the Council of Jewish Federations. (NYT 11/16; WJW 11/19, 11/26, 1/7)

Citing Israeli FM Ariel Sharon's 11/15 call for settlers to "grab" disputed West Bank land, 30 settlers fr. Keddumim set up "presettlement" on nearby hilltop. (MM 11/17; MA 11/17 in WNC 11/18; WT 11/19)

Palestinians in al-Khader protest confiscation of land for bypass road. (CSM 11/17)

Israel Defense Force (IDF) convoy triggers roadside bomb in s. Lebanon, killing 3 soldiers, wounding 4. Hizballah claims responsibility. (AFP, ITV, RL 11/16 in WNC 11/17; MM, WP 11/17; WT 11/18; MEI 11/27; JP 11/30)

In Israel's 1st move to expand settlements, DM Mordechai approves placement of 298 government-owned mobile homes in Jewish settlements for public, educational use; admits units will be used primarily as living quarters. PM Netanyahu claims interim agmt. with PA does not prohibit Jews fr. building settlements on occupied land. PA protests. (QY 8/12 in FBIS 8/13; MM, WT 8/13; VOP 8/13 in FBIS 8/13; CSM, MM, WP 8/14; JP 8/24)

Israel demolishes 6 Palestinian homes: 1 in Jerusalem built without a permit, 2 n. of Jerusalem to make way for a bypass road, 3 nr. Ramallah. (PR 8/23) (see 8/6)

Israel's Interior M Eliyahu Suissa says $5 m. will be reallocated fr. local governments to settlements to help Jewish settlers pay expenses resulting fr. the Oslo agmts. (QY 8/12 in FBIS 8/12; MM 8/13; WT 8/14; WJW, WP, WT 8/15; JP 8/24)

PA arrests Adameer Exec. Dir. Muhammad Dahman, accuses him of fabricating 8/11 story of Dahlan's death in custody. (MM 8/15; PR 8/16)

Turkish PM Erbakan signs $23-b. natural gas deal with Iran; says Iran may use the Turkish ports of Trabzon, Iskenderun for trade with foreign countries. U.S. considers this a provocative challenge to its policy on Iran. (CSM, MM 8/12: MM 8/13; Hurriyet [Istanbul], Turkish Daily News 8/13 in WNC 8/21) (see 8/5, 8/11)

Republican National Convention adopts party platform, incl. paragraph on the Middle East. (NYT 8/13)

At World Jewish Congress mtg. in New York, Pres. Clinton announces trade ban on Iran, saying it threatens peace in the Middle East. Israeli FM Peres warns Islamic fundamentalism "like Communism adopted the Machiavellian slogan that ends justify means, which is a license to lie, to subvert, to kill." After mtg., Clinton, Peres discuss U.S. intervention in Syrian track; Clinton says U.S. will offer proposals only if asked by both sides. (NYT, WP, WT 5/1; QY 5/1 in FBIS 5/1; MM 5/2; WT 5/4; HA 5/5 in FBIS 5/5; MM 5/5; MEI 5/12)

Israeli government approves construction of 7,500 new units for Jewish settlers on 450 acres of in East Jerusalem. (ITV 4/30 in FBIS 5/1; MM 5/1; CSM 5/3; ITV 5/3 in FBIS 5/4; WJW 5/4)

PM Rabin tells VP Gore Israel will not discuss a Middle East nuclear-free zone until it has peace agmts. with all its neighbors, Iran; hints Israel will not meet 7/1 deadline on elections talks with PA (see 3/9) if Arafat does not prevent incidents like 3/19 shooting, 3/21 truck incident. PA Planning M Shaath says he "never believed that date in the first place." (MM 3/23; QY 3/23 in FBIS 3/23; IDF Radio, QY 3/23, HA 3/24 in FBIS 3/24; MM 3/24; NYT, WP 3/25; MEI 3/31; JP 4/1)

Arafat meets with Pres. Mubarak meet in Cairo to discuss peace process, asks him to relay message to Pres. Clinton regarding impediments to implementing DOP. Arafat then meets with U.S. Foreign Relations Council delegation, discusses economic aid. (MENA 3/23 in FBIS 3/23; MENA, VOP 3/23 in FBIS 3/24)

Syrian FM al-Shara`, Egyptian FM Musa meet in Cairo to discuss Syrian-Israeli negotiations. (MENA 3/23 in FBIS 3/23; SATN 3/23 in FBIS 3/24)

Arab League passes resolution supporting indefinite NPT renewal but saying 22 mbr.-states are free to vote how they will; does not link renewal with Israel's joining NPT. U.S. official says "if the Egyptians were lobbying [against renewal], the Arab League resolution would never have passed." (AFP 3/22, 3/23 in FBIS 3/23; MENA 3/23 in FBIS 3/24; WT 3/31)

Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert says PA has violated Israeli authority over the city by taking control of all 20 Waqf schools (previously run by Jordan). PA funding for schools is part of $27 m. raised by Arafat advisor Husseini fr. Saudi Arabia. Remaining money is slated for Jerusalem housing (see 3/13). (JP 3/24 in FBIS 3/27; JP 4/1; WJW 5/5; JP 5/13)

To date, 93 senators have signed on to Sen. Alfonse D'Amato and Sen. D. Patrick Moynihan's letter, calling on the pres. to move the U.S. embassy in Israel fr. Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. (WJW 3/23) (see 2/3)

IDF, Hizballah exchange fire in s. Lebanon, leaving 1 civilian dead, 1 wounded. (AFP, RL 3/23 in FBIS 3/24)

Russia agrees to $800 m. deal to complete work on Iranian nuclear power plant, raising criticism fr. Israel, U.S. (WP 1/9; ITV 1/9 in FBIS 1/10)

U.S. Defense Secy. William Perry arrives in Israel for 2-day visit; meets with PM Rabin, FM Peres; discusses China issue (see 1/6). Says Middle East should curb spread of atomic, nuclear weapons; Israel should join NPT; Iran could become nuclear power in 15 yrs. (WP 1/8; MENA 1/8 in FBIS 1/9; ITV 1/9 in FBIS 1/10; MM 1/9, 1/10; JP 1/14; MEI 1/20)

Jordan's newly-appointed PM Shakir announces new government designed "to strengthen the foundations of peace." 3 of 31 mbrs. are Palestinian-Jordanians; none are leftists or mbrs. of Islamic Action Front, the 2 groups opposed to treaty with Israel. (JTV 1/8, JT 1/9 in FBIS 1/9; Jordan Information Bureau, MM 1/9; WJW 1/19; MEI 1/20)