The Palestine Chronology

FMs of Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, PLO, conclude meeting in Cairo, issue statement urging UN to give Israel a deadline to repatriate 12/17 Palestinian deportees, imply peace talks in jeopardy. (NYT 12/25)

Chmn. Arafat says "I would have caught the murderer of the soldier [kidnapped 10/13 by Hamas and found dead 10/15] and killed him!" in interview on deportations, peace talks. (Davar 12/27 in FBIS 12/28)

Palestinian-Israeli delegation including MKs and local council heads, makes deportees-solidarity visit to Red Cross HQ in Gaza, which turns into large demonstration. (ITV 12/24 in FBIS 12/30)

FM reps. of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and PLO hold coordination meeting in Lebanon, agree to participate in negotiations beginning 12/7. (MM 12/4; Radio Lebanon 12/4 in FBIS 12/7)

Steering comm. overseeing multilateral talks ends 2-day meeting in London. Progress limited on most contentious isuesgreater Palestinian participation, and formation of working groups on Jerusalem and human rights. The 5 existing working groups are scheduled to meet in February. (MM 12/4)

Al-Fajr reports that the EC has allocated 4 million ECU ($6.5 million) for operation of hospitals in o.t., and will exempt Palestinian agricultural exports from EC states' import duties. (FBIS 12/8)

PFLP leader George Habash urges solidarity with the PLO in statement to Egyptian newspaper. (MENA 12/4 in FBIS 12/4)

Arab FMs from Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and the PLO conclude coordination meeting in Amman, issue statement reiterating commitment to comprehensive peace. (VOL, Radio Jordan 10/18 in FBIS 10/19; MM 10/19)

Palestinians kill 2 suspected collaborators in Gaza Strip. (Qol Yisra'el 10/19 in FBIS 10/20)

Two FRC mbrs. are assassinated on the seashore in Sidon, Lebanon. (VOL 10/18 in FBIS 10/19)

PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazin) plays down Palestinian fears of separate Israeli-Syrian peace, responding to recent reaffirmations by Syria of commitment to comprehensive settlement. Abbas says it is not important ifone track moves slightly ahead of another as long as there is a simultaneous final agreement. (al-Hayat in MM 9/30)

Arab FMs hold annual coordination meeting in New York. Egyptian FM 'Amr Musa says Syria requires a clear Israeli statement of willingness to withdraw from Golan Heights before top-level Israeli-Syrian meetings can take place. FMs of Jordan, Syria, Lebanion, Egypt, and the PLO hold separate meeting regarding the peace process. (MENA, Syrian Arab TV 9/29 in FBIS 9/30; WP 10/1)

Hamas supporters attack house near a "Hamas-controlled" mosque in Khan Yunis, Gaza, prompting retaliation by residents and Fateh-affiliated Black Panthers; 70 are wounded in most serious Fateh-Hamas clash since July. (MM 10/2)

Palestinian man attacks Israeli soldier with an axe north of Jerusalem, is shot dead by another soldier. (MM 10/1)

Qatar reports Saudi attack on border post, killing 2; Saudi Arabia reports Qatari attack on Saudi Bedouin in which 1 Saudi, 2 Qataris die. (WP 10/1)

PM Rabin approves continuing construction on $42-million Gilo-Gush Etzion road linking Jerusalem to W. Bank settlements and bypassing Palestinian villages. (MM 8/21)

Israeli press reports govt. will no longer give loans and grants (usually totalling NIS 50,000) to purchase housing in "political settlements." (Yedi'ot Aharonot, HaAretz, 8/20 in FBIS 8/20; Qol Yisra'el 8/20 in FBIS 8/21)

FMs from Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and the PLO conclude 2-day meeting in Damascus, issue statement reiterating commitments of 7/25 meeting, state their intention to participate in 6th round of talks. (SARR 8/20 in FBIS 8/21; MM 8/20)

FMs of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and Palestine (PLO pol. dept. head Faruk Qaddumi) meet in Damascus at invitation of Syrian FM Faruk al-Shara' to coordinate negotiating strategy. Haydar 'Abd al-Shafi and other Palestinian delegation members also attend talks. Egypt and the Palestinians reportedly support the Israeli-American plan for an autonomy agreement by 10/30; Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan oppose this. (Radio Lebanon, SANA 7/24 in FBIS 7/24; MM 7/24)

King Hussein meets with Pres. Asad in Damascus. (Syrian Arab Republic Radio 7/24 in FBIS 7/27)

Prominent Palestinian Israelis meet in Tunis with PLO officials. (ITV 7/23 in FBIS 7/24)

PLO Exec. Comm. issues memo rejecting Israel's "theatrical step" of cancelling 6,600 o.t. housing contracts that were only imaginary projects of Shamir and Sharon. (Algiers VOP 7/24 in FBIS 7/27)

At news conference with Saudi FM Prince Saud al-Faisal in Jidda, Secy. of State Baker praises Israel's partial freeze of new settlement construction but says U.S. will need to decide whether the action meets conditions for granting loan guarantees. (NYT 7/25)

Israeli jets raid Hizballah targets in Jabal Safi, Iqlim al-Tuffah regions, S.Lebanon, following up 7/24 attacks. (Qol Yisra'el 7/24 in FBIS 7/24; MM 7/24)

Fateh Revolutionary Council blames Mossad in collaboration with PLO in 7/23 killing of Walid Khalid (Al-Anwar 7/24 in FBIS 7/28)

Lebanese govt. sets dates for first general elections in 20 years, despite Christian opposition to holding the vote before Syrian withdrawal. Regional elections rounds will be held 8/23, 8/30, and 9/6. (WP 7/25)

PM-designate Rabin announces new cabinet to the Labor party Cent. Comm. He named himself DM, Mordechai Gur dep. DM (in charge of "day-to-day" affairs), Avraham Shochat fin. min., Benyamin Ben-Eliezer construction and housing min., Shulamit Aloni education min. Labor has 13 minister portfolios, Meretz 3, and Shas 1-interior. (NYT 7/13)

Labor issues separate letters of commitment on social and political matters to HADASH (Democratic Front) and Arab Democratic Party, two Arab parties supporting but not part of new coalition who have a total of 5 Knesset seats. (ITV 7/12 in FBIS 7/13)

Chmn. Arafat meets with Pres. Mubarak in Cairo. (MM 7/13)

PLO political advisor and delegation advisory comm. mbr. Nabil Shaath says Egypt is "the" Arab state capable of restoring Arab solidarity and boosting Palestinian negotiating strength, aswell as materially aiding the Palestinan people. (MENA 7/12 in FBIS 7/14)

Palestinian delegation spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi is detained for several hours upon crossing the Allenby bridge from Jordan, regarding the delegation's 6/18 public meeting with PLO Chmn. Arafat. (Qol Yisra'el 7/12 in FBIS 7/13; NYT 7/13)

Israel, SLA heavily shells Iqlim al-Tuffah region in S. Lebanon, reportedly in retaliation for bomb attack on Israeli patrol. (MM 7/13)

UNLU issues addendum to call no. 84 (issued 7/4) commending and supporting efforts to end intra-Palestinian violence in Gaza Strip.

IDF further eases restrictions on Gaza Strip as number of workers entering Israel grows substantially, still far short of normal 30,000/day. (MM 6/10)

Slain PLO leader Atif Basaysu is buried beside his mentor Salah Khalaf (Abu lyad) in Tunis, after Egypt reportedly turndown his mother's request that he be buried in Cairo. (MM 6/11)

Amid thousands of mourners, IDF troops force their way into Basaysu's home in Gaza, remove pictures from the walls. (MM 6/10)

U.S. amb. in Beirut Ryan Crocker announces U.S. will donate $3 million to help rebuild American University of Beirut's College Hall, which was destroyed ina car bomb attack 11/8/91. (MM 6/10)

Israel and China sign memo of understanding on economic relations in Beijing, prelude to a trade agreement to be signed when Chinese officials make reciprocal visit to Israel. (Qol Yisra'el 6/10 in FBIS 6/11)

Seminar on negotiating strategies opens in Cairo, attended by Palestinian delegation to peace talks, members of delegation's advisory committee, PLO officials, and Egyptian diplomats who negotiated the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty of 1979. (MENA, Republic of Egypt Radio 4/11 in FBIS 4/14; MM 4/13)

PLO issues open statement by Chmn. Arafat to the Palestinian people in which he defends peace talks, urges Palestinians to support the peace delegates. (MM 3/11)

Israeli diplomats in Cairo indicate FM Levy recently told Egyptian FM 'Amr Musa that Egypt should either charge 4 Israeli citizens held in Egypt for espionage or release them [3 Arabs of Libyan origin and 1 Jew, were detained in early February. Israel has denied spying on Egypt]. (AFP 3/10 in FBIS 3/11)

Detainee Muhammad 'Abd al-Fattah al-Hawrani, member of the steering committee of the Palestinian delegation to peace talks who was detained in February, is released from Ketziot-Ansar 3 detention camp [see 2/17]. Commander of Ketziot announces 300 prisoners will be released early during coming week to mark Islamic holy month of Ramadan. (MM 3/11; al-Nahar 3/11 in FBIS 3/12)

IDF kills Palestinian in Gaza City after he accidentally ran into army checkpoint. (MM 3/10)