The Palestine Chronology

PLO official Nabil Shaath announces Arafat's visit to Gaza, Jericho advanced to 7/1 fr. 7/2.  Israel's chief's rabbis had complained that a Saturday visit would force Israeli soldiers to desecrate the Sabbath.  (MM 6/30; CSM, NYT, WP 7/1)

Israeli PM Rabin warns right-wing opponents he will take strong action to prevent violence by protestors against Arafat's visit to Gaza Strip, Jericho area rescheduled to start 7/1.  Settler leaders offer $30,000 bounty for Arafat's capture; others urge his assassination.  (NYT, WSJ, WT 7/1)

2 IDF soldiers wounded in Gaza Strip.  Caller to news agency claims responsibility for Hamas, calling attack "salute" to Arafat's visit.  Hamas repudiates attack after Palestinian police condemn it; Islamic Jihad claims responsibility.  (NYT, WP 7/1; JP 7/9)

PLO announces Chmn. Arafat will make 3-day visit to Gaza, Jericho starting 7/2.  Arafat will arrive at Rafah crossing with 70-80 PLO officials, according to Nabil Shaath, M of planning and international cooperation in Palestinian National Authority.  Right-wing Israelis plan protests in Jerusalem, Jericho, elsewhere against visit.  (NYT, WP, WSJ, WT 6/30)

Israel releases over 300 Palestinian prisoners fr. Qetziot ("Ansar 3") prison, transfers them to Gaza Strip at Nahal Oz crossing.  (Qol Yisra'el 6/29 in FBIS 6/30; WSJ 6/30)

PLO-Israel autonomy talks resume, PLO negotiator Nabil Shaath saying PLO Chmn. Arafat to come to Jericho in mid-7/94, Israelis saying they are ready to discuss expanding Palestinian self-rule in West Bank.  (MM 6/28; CSM, NYT, WSJ 6/29)

"Fateh official" in Tunis says 1st elections in self-rule areas to be held 10/94.  (WT 6/29)

PM Rabin quoted as recommending increase in defense budget if no agreement reached with Syria in 3 yrs.  (WT 6/29)

2 PFLP guerrillas killed by SLA 2 mi. fr. Israeli border.  3d guerrilla captured, says mission was to take hostages in northern Israel.  In separate incident, Lebanese soldier killed nr. Nabatiya by howitzer shell fired fr. "security zone."  (WP 6/24)

Hamas mbr. kidnapped day before found dead in Bayt Lahiya, Gaza Strip, presumably killed by family mbrs. of collaborators he had killed.  (MM 6/23; TJT 7/1; JP 7/2)

PLO Chmn. Arafat sets new conditions for his move to Jericho.  (WSJ 6/24)

18 dunams confiscated fr. Waljah village, nr. Bayt Jala, for construction of 18,000 housing units for Israelis.  (TJT 7/1)

Israeli FM Peres, on Israeli radio, says new proposals to Syria include "security, peace, and withdrawal."  Peres says contacts must take place "away fr. the eye of the media."  PM Rabin, on IDF radio, says Israel ready for "painful compromises" with Syria, criticizes rightists who claim Arabs lack military option by referring to 1973 war.  (CSM 6/24)

U.S. Pres. Clinton offers to sponsor Washington summit mtg. btwn. Israeli PM Rabin, Jordan's King Hussein.  (WSJ 6/24)

Frmr. Saudi diplomat Mohammed al-Khilewi, who defected to U.S. 6/14, claims to have documents proving Saudi support for Hamas, Saudi surveillance of U.S. Jewish groups, including JDL.  (WSJ 6/24)[defected 6/1--WT 6/2][filed for asylum 5/31--WT 6/4]

Palestinian police in Gaza Strip arrest 10 PLO activists, including frmr. Fateh Gaza office head Sami Abu Samhadanah, for blocking road to Israeli settlement.  (WT 6/22)

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons start hunger strike to protest continued detention, lack of PLO pressure for their release.  Palestinians claim only 3,500 prisoners released of 5,000 promised to be freed under 5/4 agreement.  (Qol Yisra'el 6/20 in FBIS 6/21; WT 6/22; TJT 6/24)

Israeli Dep. FM Yossi Beilin tells U.S. reporters Israel sees no progress in talks with Syria unless U.S. becomes more involved.  Beilin specifically calls for visit to region by Secy of State Christopher.  PM Rabin, touring Golan IDF bases, says he expects Christopher in June or July, urges "higher level" Syrian-Israeli negotiations, proposes mtg. with Jordan's King Hussein.  (WP, WT 6/22)

Jordan's King Hussein tells reporters in Washington Jordan will pursue peace treaty with Israel irrespective of Syrian position, saying Jordan's progress with Israel "has nothing to do" with "any other track" of peace process.  Hussein says a mtg. with Israel's PM Rabin possible before treaty reached.  (NYT, WSJ, WT 6/22; WP 6/23)

PLO official Nabil Shaath, visiting Jericho, postpones trip to Jerusalem's Haram al-Sharif in move interpreted as showing PLO reluctance to provoke Israeli right on Jerusalem issue.  (MM 6/20; NYT 6/21)

Jerusalem Waqf authorities stop Israeli bulldozers digging tunnel nr. Haram al-Sharif.  (TJT 6/24)

IAF airstrikes on Jabal al-Raffih in southern Lebanon wound 2 Hizballah guerrillas.  Raid follows Hizballah firing on 2 SLA positions. Incident is 22d IAF airstrike in Lebanon in year. Later, Hizballah ambush of IDF patrol in "security zone" kills 3 Israeli soldiers, wounds 3, according to Lebanese security sources.  IDF sources say only 1 killed.  Artillery and rocket duels erupt btwn. SLA, Hizballah.  (MM 6/20; CSM, WP, WSJ, WT 6/21; JP 7/2)

Syria deliberates on supplying Hizballah with SA-14 and SA-16 antiaircraft missiles in reaction to increased Israeli air raids, according to "diplomatic sources."  (WT 6/21)

Jordan's King Hussein, Secy of State Christopher meet in Washington.  Hussein says he hopes for high-level mtg. with Israel.  (MM 6/21; CSM, WP 6/22)

PLO official Nabil Shaath meets Israeli negotiator Amnon Shahak at Gaza-Israel border to discuss "all unfinished business fr. the Gaza-Jericho agreement," PLO Chmn. Arafat's arrival in Jericho.  Talks are to include extension of Palestinian self-rule throughout West Bank.  (MM, WP, WSJ 6/20)

PLO Econ. Dept. head and PNA Finance M Muhammad al-Nashashibi arrives in Jericho, 1st PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. to return to self-rule areas. (MET 6/27-7/3)

Israeli cabinet approves additional 10,000 work permits for Palestinians seeking jobs in Israel.  (WSJ 6/20)

IDF reseals "terrorist's" home in al-`Izzariya, nr. Jerusalem, opened 6/18 by PCSNV.  IDF vows legal action against unsealing campaign.  (WT 6/22)

IAF rockets Hizballah bases nr. Mlita, southern Lebanon.  No casualties reported.  Raids do not disturb observances in Nabatiya of `Ashura.  (WT 6/20)

Israel lifts arms embargo on South Africa, following cancellation of UN military embargo.  (WT 6/20)

PLO rep. in Italy Nimr Hamad announces PLO to establish bureau in Vatican.  (MET 6/27-7/3)

Israel issues revised prisoner-release figures, saying a total of 3,400 Palestinians released under 5/4 accord with PLO.  1,300 kept in prison for refusing to renounce violence.  320 released 6/16, 229 of them going home, 91 transferred to Palestinian custody.  100 "criminals" opt to stay in Israeli prison rather than Palestinian jails in Gaza.  (WT 6/18)

IDF shoots and wounds 4 Palestinians, arrests 5 in clashes in Hebron.  (WT 6/18)

Palestinian Center for the Study of Non-Violence (PCSNV) starts campaign to reopen Palestinian homes sealed by Israel.  Group opens 40 homes in West Bank, denounces sealing as a "cruel and evil policy."  (WT 6/22; CSM, MEI, TJT 6/24)

PLO Chmn. Arafat complains to U.S. Amb. to Tunisia John McCarthy that $42 m. allocated by international donors for establishing Palestinian admin. is an inadequate "pittance."  (WT 6/22)

Likud cofounder and frmr. Irgun mbr. Yohanan Bader, 93, dies in Jerusalem.  (NYT, WP 6/18; JP 6/25; WJW 6/30)

Klausenberg Rebbe, Rabbi Yekutiel Yehuda Halberstam, 90, dies in Netanya, northern Israel.  (NYT, WP 6/20)

Israel releases 170 Palestinian prisoners, including 2 Hamas leaders, but keeps 650 Hamas, Islamic Jihad prisoners in custody for refusing to sign pledges renouncing violent opposition to Israel-PLO agreements.  IDF Brig. Gen Yomtov Samya, Israeli delegate to Israel-PLO security comm., says more than 4,900 prisoners released, fulfilling 5/4 agreement.  (MM 6/16; CSM, MM,  NYT, WP, WSJ 6/17)

PLO Chmn. Arafat informs Tunisian govt. PLO move to Jericho due to lack of funds to be postponed, PLO to retain 32 buildings in and around Tunis.  (WT 6/22)

Palestinian police chief Gen. Nasr Yusuf, special security unit head Col. Jibril Rajub reportedly feud over authority, Rajub refusing orders fr. Yusuf.  PLO Chmn. Arafat calls special mtg. of Fateh leadership to deal with dispute.  (WT 6/18)

LF cmndr. Samir Ja`ja` indicted for 1990 murder of rival Dany Sham`un.  Ja`ja was charged 6/13 in 2/27 bombing of church in Zuq Mikhail.  (RL 6/16 in FBIS 6/17; MM 6/17)

Multilateral working group on economics meets in Rabat, Morocco.  5th session of group involves delegations fr. 46 countries.  (MAP 6/16 in FBIS 6/20)

Saudi Fund for Development, International Development Association sign memorandum of agreement to fund $30 m. in West Bank/Gaza Strip development projects.  Agreement is part of $67.5 m. allocated out of $100 m. Saudi grant to Palestinians.  (Saudi embassy release 6/16)

Vatican, Israel announce agreement signed 6/14 to establish full diplomatic relations, implementing 12/30/93 agreement.  Ambs. to be exchanged soon.  (MM 6/15; NYT, WP, WSJ, WT 6/16; JP 6/25)

Sens. Arlen Specter (R-PA), Richard Shelby (D-AL) set up "Middle East Peace Accord Monitoring Group" to track PLO compliance with 5/4 agreement with Israel.  (MM 6/16; Forward 6/17)

Israeli PM Rabin, during tour of Jericho area, accuses PLO of violating 5/4 agreement by arresting Gaza Strip collaborators.  Rabin says arrests could affect timetable for releasing Palestinian prisoners.  (WSJ, WT 6/15)

PLO official Nabil Shaath arrives in Gaza "to stay."  (MM 6/15)

Palestinian police officer in Gaza shot late 6/13 dies, 1st such casualty since start of self-rule.  Officer allegedly shot accidentally by another officer, but circumstances unclear.  (MM 6/14; WT 6/15; TJT 6/17)

Ha'Aretz reports Jerusalem municipality is contemplating placing liens on Orient House, unofficial PLO HQ in Jerusalem, for unpaid local taxes.  (MM 6/14)

Human Rights Watch-Middle East issues report accusing Israel of systematic torture of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.  Report says torture and ill-treatment persist despite peace agreements with PLO.  (MM, WT 6/15; CSM 6/17)

Syrian Pres. al-Asad, Lebanese Pres. Hirawi hold summit in Damascus, agree to step up coordination of positions in negotiations with Israel.  (MM 6/15)

Mohammed al-Khilewi, frmr. 1st secy of Saudi UN mission, applies for political asylum in U.S.  Al-Khilewi accuses Saudis of supporting Hamas, spying on U.S. Jewish organizations.  (WSJ 6/15)

WP reports U.S. concern with North Korean nuclear-weapons program motivated in part by CIA assessment of potential danger to Israel from missile exports to Iran, Libya, and Syria, possible sales of nuclear arms to terrorist groups.  (WP 6/14)

PLO Chmn. Arafat, addressing OAU summit in Tunis, criticizes "serious delay" in international aid to Palestinian National Authority, continuing Israeli settlement in East Jerusalem.  Arafat orders most PLO offices in Tunis to close, leave for Jericho.  (WT 6/14, 6/15)

FRC ("Abu Nidal" group) mbr. Yusuf Sha`ban, on trial in Beirut for 1/94 murder of Jordanian diplomat, claims responsibility for 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.  U.S. officials doubt claim; evidence in case points to Libya.  (CSM, NYT, WP, WSJ, WT 6/14)

Lebanon indicts Lebanese Forces (LF) cmndr. Samir Ja`ja`, 7 other LF mbrs. for 2/27 bombing of church in Zuq Mikhail, nr. Juniya.  (MM 6/13; NYT 6/14)

Donors' mtg. in Paris awards $42 m. to Palestinian National Authority, fully funding Palestinian admin. through 8/94.  Amount is less than $70 m. sought by PLO.  Saudi Arabia grants $10 m., ending taboo on cooperation with PLO and opening way for donations fr. other Gulf Arab states.In compromise with Israel, PECDAR agrees to establish offices in Gaza and Jericho, not Jerusalem, and Israel agrees to grant 10,000 additional work permits to o.t. Palestinians for labor in Israel, increasing total to 45,000.  (NYT, WP, WT 6/11; MM, WP, WT 6/13)

Palestinian police refuse to accept more prisoners released by Israel for at least 2 days until sides can agree where to send those recently released.  150 Gaza residents among 287 prisoners released 6/9 allowed to stay in Jericho area for 48 hrs.  (MM 6/10; NYT 6/11)

Libyan leader Col. Mu`ammar al-Qadhafi, in interview with JANA, says Sabri al-Banna ("Abu Nidal") may be dead.  Al-Qadhafi bases assumption on failure of al-Banna to respond to appeal to come to Libya for conference.  (WT 6/15)

IDF shoots and wounds 3 Palestinians in Rafah, Gaza Strip, after youths stone IDF post in Rafah, fled into self-rule area where IDF pursued and fired.  (WP 6/8)

IDF declares Wadi Shubash, nr. Janin, closed military area, sealing off 32,000 dunams (approx. 7907 acres) of farmland belonging to West Bank villages of Maghir, Raba.  (TJT 6/17)

PLO Chmn. Arafat meets U.S. Amb. to Tunisia John McCarthy, discusses international aid to Palestinians.  (Algiers VOP 6/7 in FBIS 6/8)

U.S.-Jordanian-Israeli Trilateral Economic Comm. concludes mtg. in Washington, opening negotiations on boundaries, cooperation in economics, tourism, and civil aviation.  Jordan and Israel also agree in principle to build highway to link Aqaba, Eilat, and Taba, Egypt, establish joint cultural park on common border.  U.S. agrees to consolidate Israeli, Jordanian plans for Jordan Valley development.  (MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/8; JP 6/18)

Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum, head of 25,000-mbr. NY-based anti-Zionist Hasidic sect that considers State of Israel sinful, arrives in Jerusalem on 14-day visit.  Teitelbaum, who arrives with 2,000 followers, is greeted by 10s of 1,000s.  (MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/8; JP 6/18)

Fateh gains 43.6%, Hamas 42.3% of vote in student council elections at al-Najah University in Nablus.  Vote gives Hamas 11 seats on council.  (MM 6/8)

Israeli FM Peres acknowledges letter of assurances to PLO on Jerusalem, claimed by PLO Chmn. Arafat in Johannesburg speech 5/10 but denied by Israel.  Letter, sent to then-Norwegian FM Johan Jørgen Holst 10/11/93, promises to preserve status quo of "all the Palestinian institutions" in East Jerusalem.  Text of document printed in all Israeli newspapers.  (MM, WP 6/7; WJW 6/9; JP 6/18) 

Palestine Broadcast Authority conducts 1st experimental TV broadcast in Jericho, showing test pattern in Arabic and English, Palestinian flag.  (MM 6/7; TJT 6/10)

Palestinian leaders fr. o.t. meet at Orient House in Jerusalem, issue statement asserting rights to live, work, in Jerusalem, reject Israeli "political cordon" around city.  (MM 6/7)

Trilateral U.S.-Israel-Jordan economic talks resume in Washington.  (MM 6/6)

Palestinians clash with IDF in Hebron, Ramallah.  (WT 6/6)

IDF closes 4 entrances to Nur Shams r.c., nr. Tulkarm.  (UNRWA News 6/15)

Nabil Shaath says world community "moving very, very slowly" on aid to Palestinian self-rule areas, PLO needs "bridging measures."  $7 m. received of $2.4 b. in aid pledged, according to Shaath.  (Qol Yisra'el 6/5 in FBIS 6/6; WT 6/8)

GCC foreign ministers issue statement "welcom[ing]" 5/4 Cairo Agreement as "positive step" toward "comprehensive" solution to Arab-Israeli conflict.  (Saudi TV 6/5 in FBIS 6/6)

Conservative Labor MKs form "3d Way" lobby group to limit amount of o.t. land ceded to Palestinians.  Group includes Agriculture M Yaacov Tsur, Dep. DM Mordechai Gur, 19 of 44 Labor MKs.  Lobby opposes Palestinian state, return to 1967 borders.  Group's outline of future o.t. settlement resembles "Allon Plan" of 1970s.  (WT 6/6; WJW 6/9)

Official Lebanese sources say Syria, Iran pressuring Hizballah to cease firing katyushas at Israel.  Reports follow 6/4 visit of Iranian FM Ali Akbar Velayati to Damascus.  (WT 6/6)

Arab League, Organization of the Islamic Conference condemn recent Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon.  (MENA, SPA 6/5 in FBIS 6/6)

Russian Chief of Staff Col. Gen. Mikhail Kolesnikov opens 3-day visit to Syria. (WT 6/21)

IDF helicopters (4), IAF fighter-bombers (6) attack Hizballah base at `Ayn Kawkab, nr. Ba`albak, killing at least 26, as many as 45, and wounding 30 (up to 80), most teenagers in their beds.  Hizballah fires 20 katyusha rockets at Israel in retaliation, 7 landing nr. Nahariya.  Lebanon, Syria denounce attack.  UN S.G. Butrus Butrus-Ghali expresses "concern" over attack. (RL 6/2 in FBIS 6/2; MM 6/2, 6/3; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 6/3; JP 6/11)

PLO Chmn. Arafat cancels appointments, reportedly suffering fr. "mild angina."  (MENA, RL, MBC TV 6/2 in FBIS 6/3; NYT, WP 6/3)

Protests continue in Ramallah, 2 Palestinians wounded as Justice M David Liba'i visits.  (JP 6/11)

Mtg. of UNRWA donors grouping 24 countries, European Union (EU) concludes in Amman.  (UNRWA News 6/15)

Israeli FM Peres meets Morocco's King Hassan during stopover in Rabat on return fr. visit to Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina.  (MM 6/3)

Palestinians protesting 5/31 killing in al-Ram attack police station in Ramallah with rocks and bottles.  IDF fires tear gas, rubber bullets, live ammunition in response, wounds 17 Palestinians, 1 critically.  (MM 6/1; NYT, WP, WT 6/2)

PLO Chmn. Arafat meets in Tunis with U.S. Senators Paul Simon (D-IL), Russell Feingold (D-WI), and Harry Reid (D-NV), says he will delay entry into Jericho until promised adequate funds for local admin.  (Algiers VOP 6/1 in FBIS 6/2; WT 6/2)

Informal mtg. of UNRWA donors opens in Amman.  (UNRWA News 6/1)