The Palestine Chronology

PLO Chmn. Arafat and Israeli PM Rabin meet in Cairo but fail to reach agreement on Israeli withdrawal fr. Gaza and Jericho, due to begin 12/13. The 2 leaders agree to meet again in 10 days, and say delay does not endanger DoP or 4/13/94 deadline for end of withdrawal. (NYT, WP, WT 12/13)

Lebanese Pres. al-Hirawi meets Syrian Pres. al-Asad in Damascus to discuss Secy. of State Christopher'secent tour and coordinate positions for next round of talks with Israel. (RL, VOL, SARR 12/12 in FBIS 12/13; MM 12/13)

U.S. officials say Morocco and Israel have reached a package of agreements, including El Al flights to Morocco and Royal Air Maroc flights to Israel, direct Moroccan-Israel telephone and postalinks, exchanges of visits by religious and business leaders, joint banking arrangements, and more frequent direct political contacts. (NYT 12/13)

Morton Klein, an opponent of Israel-PLO accord, elected pres. of Zionist Organization of America by vote of 144-127, and his slate of 10 candidates elected to top ZOA posts. Observers call election "clear victory for opponents" of DoP. (MM 12/14; WJW 12/16)

Palestinian gunmen attack Israeli bus in Hebron, West Bank, seriously wounding its driver. (NYT, WT 12/13)

Libyan leader Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi publicly invites Sabri al-Banna ("Abu Nidal") and Ahmad Jibril of PFLP-GC for a conference in Tripoli. (WT 12/13)

PLO Chmn. Arafat, in Brussels, accuses Syria of "giving a free hand to the [Palestinian] opposition . . . fanatical groups and all extremists." (MM 11/9)

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators meeting in Cairo release statement saying progress being made on Israeli withdrawal agreement, talks to resume next week. (WP 11/10)

Gaza Strip settlers block main road to Israel to prevent Palestinians fr. going to work, burn tires until dispersed by IDF. (WP 11/10)

Israeli Arab Sulayman al-Hawashla killed by presumed Muslin militants when his car rammed by hijacked garbage truck in Gaza City. (NYT, WP 11/10)

PLO official in Lebanon Zaid Wahba, personal envoy of Chmn. Arafat, shot and wounded by unknown assailant in Sidon. (CSM, WT 11/10)

Israeli PM Rabin meets with West Bank settlers, sets up joint settler-govt. comm. to address settlers' security concerns. Knesset defeats motions of no confidence in Rabin govt. by vote of 57-46, Shas party abstaining. (MM 11/9; NYT 11/10)

U.S. Trade Rep. Mickey Kantor announces International Trade Commission will investigate costs to U.S. business of Arab boycott of Israel. (MM 11/9)

PLO Chmn. Arafat meets Israeli Dep. FM Yossi Beilin in Tunis, presses for progress toward Israeli-Syrian accord. (WT 10/14)

Palestinian and Israeli negotiators open meeting in Taba, Egypt, as Palestinian-Israeli DoP enters into force. PLO delegation headed by Nabil Shaath; Israeli, by IDF Dep. Chief of Staff Amnon Shahak. Talks center on size of Jericho autonomous region, size and powers of Palestinian police force, redeployment of Israeli troops, control over water resources, and security of Israeli settlers in o.t. Palestinians contend Jericho includes entire 133 sq. mi. Jericho district, while Israelis assert only town of Jericho, about 10 sq. mi., is to be handed over to Palestinians. PLO security official Amin al-Hindi excluded fr. Palestinian delegation over Israeli protests he was responsible for murder of Israeli athletes at 1972. Munich Olympics. Simultaneously, Israeli FM Peres and PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Mahmud 'Abbas meet in Cairo, agree on 5 steps for future negotiations including setting up liaison comm. and ministerial-level economic comm. Two sides urge "early resumption" of Arab-Israeli talks in Washington. (NYT, WP 10/14)

PLO Chmn. Arafat dismisses Fateh cmdr. in Lebanon Munir al-Maqdah, who had been critical of DoP and called for Arafat's resignation (see 8/23). (VOL 10/14 in FBIS 10/18)

General strike in o.t. called by Palestinian factions opposed to DoP observed throughout West Bank and Gaza Strip with exception of Jericho. (MM 10/13; CSM 10/15)

Lebanese FM Faris Buwayz, in interview with WT, faults DoP for not affirming Palestinian right of return, says "It is not fair to solve the Palestinian problem to create a Lebanese one.... implanting 400,000 Palestinians in Lebanon will create political, confessional, religious problems." (WT 10/13)

Israeli PM Rabin, in Beijing, admits Israel has sold arms to China, denies Israel broke U.S. laws against technology transfers and disputes CIA estimate that Israel-China arms trade amounts to billions of dollars a year, saying 1992-93 trade totaled $60 m. Rabin says "we have never done anything against American law" and asserts, "We are not stupid enough to endanger" U.S. aid to Israel. Rabin's 4-day visit to China includes meeting with Chinese DM Chi Haotian, tours of Chinese arms plants, and visit to Shanghai. (NYT, WT 10/14)

PLO rep. in Jordan Tayib 'Abd al-Rahim announces that 2 plots to kill PLO Chmn. Arafat have been foiled. 1 attempt was by Arafat bodyguards suborned by FRC ("Abu Nidal"), 2d by unidentified group that sought to bomb Arafat's plane. (WT 10/10)

2 Israeli hikers fr. Jerusalem stabbed and shot to death in Wadi Qilt, near Jericho in the West Bank. "Al-Aqsa Brigade" of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, in statement released in Amman, claims responsibility, says 3 killed. Statement declares, "We will never surrender or accept any concessions on the land of Palestine which will become a graveyard for the Jews." PFLP also claims responsibility. (NYT 10/10; MM, NYT, WT 10/11)

PFLP guerrilla killed by Israeli soldiers as he sails jet ski off Lebanese coast near Israeli border. UN sources report 2 killed, not 1. (NYT 10/10, 10/11)

Palestinian factions opposed to DoP-including DFLP (Hawatmah faction), PFLP, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad-announce in Damascus establishment of National Islamic Front to counter PLO. Alliance fails to call congress to elect new PLO leadership due to reluctance of Islamic groups to identify with secular PLO. Front's declaration calls Palestinian police to be set up under PLO-Israel accord "a traitor force, and an oppressive enemy force." (CSM 10/14)

Jordan denounces 9/23 Israeli court ruling on status of Haram al-Sharif, says it will continue with restoration work on Dome of the Rock regardless of Israeli stance. (MM 10/11)

PLO Chmn. Arafat arrives in Algiers accompanied by Faisal Husseini for talks with head of state Ali Kafi, PM Redha Malek. (MM 10/5)

Hamas mbr. Kamal Bani Odeh, 20, of Tamoun, West Bank, drives car bomb into Israeli commuter bus outside IDF hq. in Beit El, West Bank. Attack kills Odeh and wounds 30 Israelis. Beit El settlers hold prayer protest at attack site until IDF forces them to leave. (NYT, WP 10/5)

Funeral of Israeli Druze leader Amin Tarif attracts "tens of thousands" of mourners, including 1,300 Druze fr. Lebanon and Syria. PM Rabin appeals to foreign visitors to be messengers of peace." (MM 10/4)

Israel reestablishes diplomatic relations with Cambodia, Burkina Faso (Upper Volta). (MM 10/5)

800,000 Palestinians in West Bank hold commercial strike to protest arrest of "Black Panther" leader Ahmad Ikhmail. Technical Comms. head Sari Nusseibeh calls arrest "a provocative action," says it "creates an explosive situation." (MM 9/30)

Lebanese PM Hariri, speaking to UNGA, says DoP may "remain an isolated step" if not followed up, warns Lebanon "cannot provide a solution to the Palestinians who have been uprooted fr. their land," says international community bears responsibility for Palestinians' return. (MM 10/1)

Secy. of State Christopher meets in New York with reps. of GCC, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, asks for immediatend to Arab boycott of Israel. Arab officials say action premature and public opinion against lifting boycott. Arab side also defers action on reversing UNGA resolutions critical of Israel. (WP 10/1)

PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. 'Abd Allah Hurani resigns in protest of DoP, Israel-PLO recognition, calls for emergency PNC meeting. (MENA 9/11 in FBIS 9/13)

IDF shoots 2 Palestinians dead, wounds 8 in Ramallah during PFLP/Hamas-led march against Israel-PLO agreement. Other Palestinians wounded in clashes during demonstrations in Gaza, Jerusalem. 20,000 participate in 4 demonstrations in support of accord. (NYT, WP 9/12)

World Bank releases 6-volume report, prepared at request of Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, saying West Bank and Gaza Strip require at least $3 b. in aid over next decade. (NYT 9/12)

White House announces Israeli PM Rabin, PLO Chmn. Arafat will attend 9/13 signing of DoP. (NYT 9/12)

Pres. Clinton speaks by telephone with Saudi King Fahd, Syrian Pres. al-Asad, Jordanian King Hussein, and Israeli PM Rabin in effort to secure support for agreement. Clinton pledges Israel "additional guarantees" for its security, in part to keep Israeli public opinion supportive of peace process. (NYT, WP 9/12)

Damascus-based Palestinian opposition factions call for general strike in o.t., Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria 9/13 to protest Israel-PLO accord. Demonstrations against accords held in al-Wahdat, al-Baq'a refugee camps in Jordan. Jordan Times 9/11 in FBIS 9/13; NYT 9/12)

Secy. of State Christopher returns to Damascus for further meetings with Syrian leadership, tells press conference he is "more encouraged than I thought I would be" for progress in peace talks. (MM 8/6)

Hizballah again fires on SIA positions in "security zone." IDF retaliatory fire causes several hundred refugees to flee toward Tyre. U.S. amb. Ryan Crocker signs agreement with Lebanese health min. for $1 m in U.S. medical assistance to victims of "Operation Accountability." (WP, WT 8/7)

3 Palestinian gunmen open fire at IDF roadblock at Dayr Balut in West Bank, killing 2 Israeli soldiers. 1 gunman killed, 2d wounded in exchange of fire. 3d gunman escapes by car. Another Israeli soldier, kidnapped 8/5 near Ramallah, is found dead. (NYT, WP, WT 8/7)

Palestinians protest Israeli delays in fulfilling promises by cutting its delegation to 3 and suspending 3 working groups (see 4/29). Faisal Husseini and Haydar 'Abd al-Shafi both boycott talks. Palestinians present U.S. with 10-point draft joint statement of principles on self-rule. Israel allows immediate return of 25 more Lebanon deportees, for a total of 126 (see 2/1); Palestinians reject offer. PLO is also displeased that Saudi Arabia has not yet honored its recent financial promises (see 4/19). (RMC, AFP 5/10 in FBIS 5/11; MM, WP 5/11; NYT 5/12; RJN 5/12 in FBIS 5/12)

UN Devt. Program (UNDP) releases report citing grave environmental damage in West Bank and Gaza Strip (MM 5/11)

Kuwait announces it is holding 16 suspects, mostly Iraqis, charged with attempting to assassinate former Pres. Bush during his visit 4/14-16. (MM 4/11)

IDF shoots 3 Hamas mbrs. dead in same Gaza-Egypt border region as those killed 4/8. (Qol Yisra'el 5/12 in FBIS 5/12; MM 5/12)

Pres. Asad meets with Chmn. Arafat, PLO officials, and delegation mbrs. in Latakiafirst Asad-Arafat meeting in over a year. PLO group then travels to Amman. (WP, WT 4/20; RJN, SARR 4/20 in FBIS 4/20)

Peace Now calls on PM Rabin to seize the moment for peace, presents 10 principles. (MM 4/19)

Ten Palestinian rejectionist factions issue statement condemning current diplomacy seeking to resume peace talks. (QPAR 4/19 in FBIS 4/20)

Palestinian dentist, an UNRWA and Red Crescent official, is assassinated in Sidon, Lebanon. Fateh blames FRC, Mossad. Two FRC mbrs. are found dead in Sidon. (RFL 4/19 in FBIS 4/20; Voice of the PLO [Baghdad] 4/20 in FBIS 4/21)

Saudi FM Prince Saud Faisal calls on Gulf states to release funds to PLO, including the 5% "PLO tax" on Palestinian workers halted after the Gulf war. King Fahd pledges a contribution to the Jerusalem Fund. (MM 4/20; WT 4/20; SPA 4/19 in FBIS 4/20)

IDF undercover units shoot 1 Palestinian dead in West Bank, 1 in Gaza Strip. (MM 4/20)

Hamas Amman rep. Muhammad Nazzal says Hamas supports Palestinian state in West Bank and Gaza as first step toward liberating all of Palestine; recognition of or dialogue with Israel is "out of the question." PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Mahmud 'Abbas calls the statement "political chicanery," but "a kind of retreat." (RMC 3/13, 3/14 in FBIS 3/15; MM 3/15)

Fateh issues statement accusing Fateh Revolutionary Council (Abu Nidal) of carrying out assassinations in southern Lebanon and promoting intra-Palestinian discord. Fateh "will not allow this to happen." (RMC, VOL 3/13 in FBIS 3/16)

Pres. Asad meets with Pres. Hirawi in Damascus. (SARA 3/13 in FBIS 3/15)

PM Hariri says Lebanon will not disarm resistance groups fighting Israel in the south until Israel withdraws from Lebanese territory. (Radio Lebanon 3/13 in FBIS 3/16)

IDF fires at car in Hebron, killing 3-year-old Palestinian girl. (Qol Yisra'el 3/14 in FBIS 3/15; WT 3/15)

Faisal Husseini and 40 delegation associates visit area in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip, where homes were leveled by IDF 2/11 to offer sympathy, rally support for negotiations. Hamas and PLO supporters chant allegiance. (MM 2/17)

Pres. Mubarak meets with Chmn. Arafat in Cairo. (WT 2/20; MENA 2/17 in FBIS 2/17)

Israeli Aircraft Industries announces U.S. Def. Dept. has awarded them and American co. TRW a $240m contract to build 56 unmanned airplanes. Sen. Daniel Inouye (DHI) announces U.S. has budgeted $57m to improve Haifa port, which will serve as U.S. Navy's major regional anchorage. But as chmn. of Senate def. appropriations subcomm., he tells Israeli officials that they should prepare for a possible cut in U.S. foreign aid. (MM 2/17; WT 2/18)

Jordan appoints Shaykh Sulayman al-Jabari Mufti of Jerusalem. (MM 2/19)

Israeli justice min. announces that Shin Bet agent in charge when Mustafa 'Akkawi died under 2/4/92 interrogation has been disciplined. (WT 2/18)

IDF shoots 2 Palestinian youths dead in West Bank; another shot dead, while fleeing, 10 minutes after curfew, in Gaza City. (NYT 2/19)

Hizballah and Israeli, SLA forces engage in largest artillery battle of the year, killing 3 Islamic fighters, 2 other Lebanese. Israel shells up to 30 villages, including Nabatiyya. (MM, NYT 2/18)