The Palestine Chronology

At the close of a 2-day NATO summit in Madrid, Pres. Clinton says that his administration is working on new ideas to restart the Israeli-PA talks, gives no specifics. (MM 7/10, 7/11; ITV 7/17 in WNC 7/18)

Israeli FM Levy sends letter to Pres. Clinton, Secy. of State Albright asking the U.S. to foil any proposal by the Arab states to act against Israel at the UN. (YA 7/11 in WNC 7/14)

UNRWA launches an emergency appeal for an additional $11 m. for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, saying its current budget is insufficient to meet refugees' basic needs. (UNRWA press release 7/10)

Angered by a speech made by UK Secy. of State for Overseas Development Clare Short sympathizing with the plight of the Palestinians, Israel asks Labor MK Beilin, in London on a visit, and the Israeli amb. to London to cancel a planned mtg. with her. Beilin goes through with the mtg., but the amb. does not. (Independent [London] 7/11 in WNC 7/14)

Clinton administration loses case for deportation against 1 Kenyan, 7 Palestinian immigrant PFLP supporters when the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals of San Francisco rejects arguments that the new antiterrorism law voids the constitution right to recruit mbrs., raise humanitarian aid when such activity provides "material support" to a terrorist group. The government effort to have the 8 deported has gone on for 10 yrs. (WP 7/11)

Turkey resumes border trade with Iraq for the 1st time since 1991. (WT 7/12)

Hizballah stops paying salaries of mbrs. who follow Tufayli or are committed to his Revolution of the Hungry. (al-Nahar 7/10 in WNC 7/16) (see 7/4)

Fmr. IDF Chief of Staff Ehud Barak wins Labor party elections for party leader, defeating MKs Yossi Beilin, Shlomo Ben-Ami, Ephrahim Sneh; says he would not join a unity government with Likud. Fmr. PM Shimon Peres did not run or endorse any of the candidates, though he is considered Beilin's mentor. (MM, WT 6/3; MM, WP, WT 6/4; ITV 6/4 in WNC 6/9; IDF Radio, YA 6/4 in WNC 6/5; MEI 6/13) (see 5/13)

Unnamed Palestinian sources say that the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) have not received any money fr. Libya since 1982; Fatah Uprising, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC), Popular Struggle Front still receive approximately $50 m./yr., which is less than what they received in the 1980s. (al-Dustur 6/3 in WNC 6/5)

After the funeral in Hebron of 1 of the 3 men killed 4/8, 1,000s of Palestinians throw stones and molotov cocktails at IDF soldiers, who firing rubber bullets, tear gas at protesters, injuring 31. PA police form cordons, block streets with trucks, man rooftops to prevent riot fr. spreading. 3 IDF soldiers, 2 PA policemen are also injured. (MM 4/9; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 4/10; PR 4/11)

Israeli officials release on bail the 2 yeshiva students who shot, killed a Palestinian man 4/8. PA Local Government M Erakat accuses Netanyahu of giving "the green light to settler terrorism." (WT 4/10)

Birzeit University holds student council elections. Fatah wins 22 of 51 seats; Hamas wins 20 seats, PFLP-Palestine People's Party lists wins 8 seats; Islamic Jihad wins 1 seat. (MEI, PR 4/18; JP 4/19)

Iraq defies the southern U.S. no-fly zone by transporting a planeload of elderly pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj. (RMC 4/9 in WNC 4/10; MM 4/14; WT 4/23; MEI 5/2)

Israel, Hungary sign anticrime cooperation agmt. (MTI (Budapest) 4/9 in WNC 4/10; Kossuth Radio [Budapest] 4/9 in WNC 4/11)

2 SLA mbrs. are wounded in an explosion in s. Lebanon. (RL 4/9 in WNC 4/10)

PM Netanyahu arrives in Washington for AIPAC conference, holds talks with Pres. Clinton, Secy. of State Albright (MM 4/7; MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/8; ITV 4/8 in WNC 4/9; CSM, NYT 4/9; MA, La Repubblica [Rome] 4/9 in WNC 4/10; al-Thawra [Damascus] 4/9, RE, RL 4/10 in WNC 4/11; PR 4/11; al-Ahram [Cairo] 4/11 in WNC 4/17; WJW 4/17; MEI 4/18; MM 4/28)

In Amman, Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan, Arafat dep. Mahmud Abbas discuss Jordanian-PA coordination on political, economic issues. (RJ 4/7 in WNC 4/8)

In preparation for trial, Jordanian military team visits Israel to interview victims of the 3/13 Daqamsa shooting. (JT 4/9 in WNC 4/10) (see 3/27)

Vatican says that it has reached a critical stage in its relations with Israel, that Israel should renew its commitment to peace for normalization to progress further. (WJW 4/17)

In Moscow, Lebanese PM Hariri, Russian PM Viktor Chernomyrdin, Dep. FM Yevgeny Primakov discuss peace process, bilateral relations. (RL 4/7 in WNC 4/8; RL 4/8 in WNC 4/9)

In Manhattan, federal prosecutors for the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) open exclusion proceedings against Hamas political leader Abu Marzuq. Abu Marzuq is willing to withdraw his application to reenter the U.S. and agree to exclusion (i.e., immediate deportation), but INS says he cannot do so without either conceding or contesting the terrorism charge, otherwise he could be detained indefinitely. Abu Marzuq refuses to concede; contesting the charge could take yrs. The exclusion proceeding is closed; the INS does not have to reveal the sources of its evidence. (MM 4/8; NYT 4/13; WJW 4/17; MEI 4/18) (see 4/3)

The Knesset Finance Comm. agrees (by vote of 6-5) to demand that the PA detail the use of funds in its Bank Leumi account. Some MKs suspect the account is a secret petty cash fund. (Globes [Internet] 4/7 in WNC 4/9)

In Kharbata village nr. Ramallah, a Jewish settler opens fire with an M-16, handgun on Palestinians who stone his car, wounding 2. Villagers say the settler is known for intimidating local Palestinians, driving through the village instead of using the Jewish-only bypass road. (MM 4/7; WT 4/8)

Islamic University of Hebron holds student council elections. Hamas-Islamic Jihad list wins 19 of 35 seats; pro-Arafat Fatah lists wins 15 seats; PFLP 1 seat. (WT 4/8; MEI, PR 4/18; JP 4/19)

The Kuwaiti government denies the Comm. for the Defense of Islamic Issues permission to stage a rally outside parliament to protest Israel's policies on Jerusalem, U.S. support for Israeli actions. (AFP 4/7 in WNC 4/8)

SLA exchanges 3 Hizballah mbrs. being held at al-Khiyam prison in s. Lebanon for 1 SLA soldier held by Hizballah. (RL 4/7 in WNC 4/8)

PC holds the 1st mtg. of its 2d session. Mbrs. reelect (62-20) Ahmad Qurai` as PC speaker. (PR 3/28)

In Cairo, Pres. Mubarak holds separate mtgs. with Arafat, Israeli PM Netanyahu's adviser Dore Gold, Lebanese PM Rafiq Hariri, Syrian FM Shara` on the Har Homa situation and Netanyahu's 3/19 proposal for skipping the interim negotiations. (MM 3/20; RE, RL 3/20 in WNC 3/21; SATN 3/20 in WNC 3/21; WP 3/21; RE 3/21 in WNC 3/24)

In Bethlehem and Bayt Omar, 100s of stone throwing Palestinians protesting the Har Homa construction clash with IDF troops, who respond with rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannons, sound grenades. PA security forces sporadically attempt to hold back demonstrators, beating them with batons. (WP, WT 3/21; NYT 3/22)

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) holds a large rally in al-Yarmuk r.c. in Damascus to protest Israeli construction in East Jerusalem. (QPAR 3/20 in WNC 3/21)

5 Jewish families seize, move into a Palestinian building in Silwan under the protection of heavily-armed private security guards. The Israeli government says it is legal for settlers to "acquire" home in the area. 9 Palestinian homes have been taken by settlers over the past 6 yrs. (PR 3/28)

The PA rejects Israel's 9% redeployment plan as insufficient, unacceptable. Israel says it will redeploy unilaterally. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/10; NYT, WP, WT 3/11; WP 3/12; PR 3/21; JP 3/22; PR 3/14)

Jordan's King Hussein sends accusatory letter to Israeli PM Netanyahu. (YA 3/11 in WNC 3/14; MM 3/12; NYT, WP, WT 3/12; MM, NYT, WJW, WT 3/13; CSM 3/14) (see Doc. B1)

Arafat meets with senior DFLP, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) political leaders to discuss concerns regarding Israeli violations of Oslo agmts. (WT 3/24; MM, WT 3/25; MA 3/25 in WNC 3/27; NYT 3/26; MM 3/27)

Iranian FM `Ali Akbar Velayati arrives in Syria on the 1st leg of a 10-nation tour, meets with FM Faruq al-Shara`. (Kayahan International [Tehran] 3/10 in WNC 3/15)

IDF, Hizballah clash in s. Lebanon, leaving 1 IDF soldier wounded. (WP 3/10)