The Palestine Chronology

Israel, PA hold talks on elections in Jericho, agree Palestinians will vote separately for autonomy council and council's president when they hold self-rule elections. No progress is made on redeployment. (QY, VOP 2/13 in FBIS 2/14; WT 2/15: PR 2/20)

Jordan says it will give priority to "stranded" Palestinians--the 60,000-80,000 Palestinians caught in Jordan after the 1967 war because their reentry visas expired--in upcoming talks with Israel on refugees. (JT 2/13 in FBIS 2/15)

Jordanian FM al-Kabariti, U.S. Secy of State Christopher meet in Washington; discuss bilateral issues, peace process. (RJ 2/13 in FBIS 2/14)

Israeli press reports that Israeli Druze soldier killed in 1/31 clash with Hizballah was in fact accidently killed by his own troops when he was mistaken for a hostile Arab during a "kill verification" to assure all enemy forces were dead. PM Rabin denies IDF soldiers are allowed to kill wounded gunmen but says that in clashes with Arabs "if something moves, you shoot it." (WT 2/14) 

Israel agrees to resume fuel deliveries to Gaza suspended 2/7 via Erez checkpoint, will begin laying pipe lines nr. Nahal Oz, Rafah checkpoints so fuel can be delivered without using Israeli trucks. (MM 2/13; QY 2/13 in FBIS 2/14)

Palestinian police arrest 4 Palestinians, incl. frmr. leader if Fateh Hawks in Rafah, for allegedly shooting at Israeli targets. (Ma'ariv 2/13 in FBIS 2/14)

Arafat, PM Rabin meet at Erez checkpoint; agree on recognition of Palestinian passports, release of prisoners, routes linking autonomous areas. Men over 50, women over 35 will begin using safe-passage routes. (MM 1/9; AFP, QY, VOP 1/9 in FBIS 1/9; QY 1/9 in FBIS 1/10; NYT, WP, WT 1/10; CSM 1/12; PR 1/15; MEI 2/3) (see 1/6)

Israeli-PA talks on procedures and mechanisms for elections, expanding self-rule reopen in Cairo. Parties defer discussion on redeployment, review events of previous 8 mtgs. (MM 1/9; MENA 1/9 in FBIS 1/9; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 1/10; RE 1/9, MENA 1/10 in FBIS 1/10; MENA 1/10 in FBIS 1/11)

PA holds conference on settlements in Jericho. Participants, incl. 4 PA mbrs. and Hamas mbrs., call on PA to suspend talks, step up protests, reconsider peace process in light of Israeli settlement violations. (MM 1/9; QY 1/9 in FBIS 1/10; NYT 1/10; Al-Quds 1/10, QY 1/11 in FBIS 1/11; CSM 1/12; PR 1/15)

PA, German officials meet in East Jerusalem to discuss development projects. Israeli FMin. complains it did not receive prior notice of mtg. (QY 1/9 in FBIS 1/10) (see 12/26)

U.S. Defense Secy. Perry receives briefing on Golan fr. IDF, say U.S. anticipates being asked to provide monitors for the area (as opposed to security forces). (MM 1/9; AFP, JP, QY 1/9 in FBIS 1/9; ITV 1/9 in FBIS 1/10; WP, WT 1/10; CSM 1/11; MEI 1/20; JP 1/21)

Poll released by Center for Palestine Research Studies shows that majority of Palestinians favor suspending (31.5%) or completely halting (20.6%) talks with Israel. (MM 1/9)

HA reports Iraq is ready to recognize Israel since Israel has reconciled with PLO, has asked Morocco to mediate; claims Iraqi official Ismat Katani visited senior FMin. official Yitzhak Lior in Israel. Lior admits mtg. took place but says Israeli-Iraqi relations were not discussed. (HA 1/9 in FBIS 1/9; WT 1/10)

Rigged donkey cart explodes in Gaza as bus of Jewish settlers passes. No injuries, no one takes responsibility. (NYT, WT 1/10)

IDF soldiers, Palestinian police exchange gunfire across Gaza border at Erez checkpoint; 2 Palestinian police officers, 2 Palestinian civilians wounded. (MM 1/4; QY 1/4 in FBIS 1/5; NYT, WP, WT 1/5; WP 1/6)

FM Peres tells Knesset Israel is demanding a 4-yr. interim period btwn. implementation of 1st and 2d stages of withdrawal fr. Golan in talks with Syria . (MM 1/5; JP 1/5 in FBIS 1/6; JP 1/14)

Egypt, Jordan, Israel hold 1st tripartite mtg. on regional security in Elat to discuss prevention of cross-border infiltrations. (Ma'ariv 1/11 in FBIS 1/12)

Israeli Housing Min. Dir. Gen. Arye Mizrahi approves expansion of Ma'ale Adumin settlement toward Jerusalem, increase in number of houses fr. 5,000 to 18,000, movement of IDF roadblock marking Green Line so settlement would fall inside Green Line; says decision does not violate any agmts. because government already considers the settlement part of central Israel. (Yedi'ot Aharanot 1/5 in FBIS 1/5)

Lebanese FM Buwayz says idea for sending Palestinian refugees fr. Lebanon to Gaza, Jericho to serve as policemen has been debated for past 3 mos.; says Interior M Michel al-Murr drafted motion after 11/25 events, inviting PA to recruit policemen fr. camps, agreeing to send recruits with any light armor they possess as way of getting armed Palestinians out of country. (AFP 1/4, RL 1/5 in FBIS 1/5; MM 1/6) (see 12/19)

U.S. State Dept. confirms it is conducting investigation into reports Israel illegally sold China military technology. (WP, WT 1/5; HA 1/5 in FBIS 1/5; CSM 1/6; MEI 1/20) (see 1/3)

Israeli undercover agents kill 4 Palestinian supporters of PFLP in West Bank, nr. Ramallah; 1 agent wounded. Israel says men were wanted in attacks on collaborators. (QY 1/4 in FBIS 1/5; MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/5; WJW 1/12)