The Palestine Chronology

Round of Israeli-Palestinian talks on elections ends in Cairo. PA Planning M Shaath says Israeli submitted its 1st response to PA's proposals for elections submitted 10/25, but does not elaborate. Sides also discuss transportation of goods, Palestinian prisoners. (MENA, RE 12/15, MENA, VOP 12/16 in FBIS 12/16)

Joint Jordanian-Israeli economic comm. announces decision to create subcommittee on investment, industrial cooperation, monetary, banking issues; goal to reach free trade agmt., most favored nation status btwn. 2 countries, based on NAFTA model. (JP 12/16 in FBIS 12/21)

Middle East Arms Control Group ends mtg. in Tunis. Mbrs. agree to form 3 regional security/conflict-prevention centers (Amman, Qatar, Tunis) with main headquarters in Cairo; do not agree on joint declaration defining security relations because of difference over Israel's signing of NPT. Next mtg. scheduled for 6/95. (HA 12/16 in FBIS 12/19)

Refugee Working Group ends mtg. in Ankara, submits proposal for vocational training program for Palestinian refugees. Plan would cost $20 m. over 3 yrs. (TRT Television 12/15 in FBIS 12/19)

U.S. Congressional Research Service reports Iran's Amb. to Jordan Ahmad Dastmalchian might be funding Hamas, Islamic Jihad for Palestine. (MM 12/16; WT 12/19)

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE remove secondary, tertiary boycotts on Israel (imposed 1951) requiring foreign firms trading with Israel be blacklisted; ban on trade btwn. Arab League states, Israel will stand. Decision was reached in mtgs. with U.S. Secy. of State Christopher at the UN in New York. (NYT, WP, WT 10/1; CSM, NYT 10/3; WJW 10/6; JP 10/8)

Palestinian knifes IDF soldier, tries to stab Rabbi Moshe Levinger nr. the al-Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron, is shot and killed by IDF. Curfew is placed on Hebron. (IDF Radio 9/30, QY 10/1 in FBIS 10/3; MEI 10/7)

Joint Israeli-Palestinian patrol is fired upon allegedly by DFLP mbrs. No injuries reported. (WT 10/3)

Secy. of State Christopher presents Syrian counterproposals to Israeli PM Rabin. FM Peres says Syrian ideas received "with great interest." Christopher calls progress "significant," plans to return to region later in month. (CSM, MM, WP, WT 5/3)

Knesset defeats 3 motions of no confidence in Rabin govt. Rabin opens Labor party mtg. on negotiations to public. Opposition posters throughout Israel declare "The nation is with the Golan." Rabin, defending withdrawal proposals in Knesset, observes "Tanks, not settlements, provide security. If people want to rule over a foreign nation, they must know it is going to cost them blood." (MM, NYT, WT 5/3)

Israel and PLO sign formal agreement on TIPH at Danish FMin. TIPH force-90 Norwegians, 35 Danes, and 35 Italians-to deploy in Hebron 5/8. (MM 5/3; CSM 5/4)(see 3/31)

World Bank releases 3-yr., $1.2 b. Emergency Assistance Program for the Occupied Territories. Plan is to be undertaken by PECDAR in coordination with Israel, World Bank, and donor nations. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/3)

International Labor Organization releases report stating overall o.t. unemployment rate at least 25%, over 40% in Gaza. ILO seeks $135 m. for programs to help 12,000 frmr. political prisoners get work, provide 15,000 temporary jobs per month. (MM 5/3; CSM 5/4)

IDF Central Command issues orders restricting use of live ammunition against Palestinians, Maj. Gen. Ilan Biran saying "a new era and a new approach begins." (MM 5/3)

Hamas gunmen attack Ganei Tal in Gush Qatif settlement bloc, Gaza Strip, wounding 2 IDF soldiers. (MM 5/3)

IDF soldier shot dead at Gaza Strip base by fellow soldier who mistakes him for Palestinian assailant. (MM 5/3)

Israel sends 16 delegates, 12 journalists to multilateral Middle East peace talks on arms control in Doha, Qatar, via Cairo. Other delegations only 6 mbrs. (MM 5/3)

PLO-Israel security comm. resumes talks in Cairo to settle details of Gaza-Jericho autonomy plan.  Civilian affairs comm. also expected to resume sessions.  (MENA 2/21 in FBIS 2/22; CSM 2/23)

UN holds talks in Geneva with France, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom on training Palestinian police force.  (MM 2/24)

FM Peres, speaking to Knesset Economics Comm. names Egypt, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, and Tunisia as Arab countries working to end Arab boycott of Israel.  Peres observes "the Arab boycott is the Arab world's problem, no less than ours."  (MM 2/21; Qol Yisra`el 2/21 in FBIS 2/24)

Syrian Interior M Muhammad Harba, speaking to Damascus conference on drug trafficking, says Syria rejects Israeli proposal for secret negotiations, calls Israeli proposal for referendum on Golan Heights an obstacle to peace.  (MM 2/21)

Settlers block West Bank roads with rocks, burning tires in continuing protests over killing of Zipporah Sasson.  Blockade coincides with "rush hour" of Palestinians going to work in Israel.  IDF prevents clashes by turning away Palestinian cars before they reach settler roadblocks.  Ballistics tests reportedly link weapon in Sasson killing to killing of Shin Bet officer previous week and 4 Israelis in 12/93.  (MM 2/21; CSM 2/22)

Lawyer for imprisoned Hamas leader Shaykh Ahmad Yasin says his client's "life is under threat," but Israeli Prisons Authority spokesman says "there is no deterioration" in Yasin's condition.  Yasin is serving 15-yr. sentence in prison nr. Netanya for ordering killings of collaborators.  (MM 2/21)

Hamas issues leaflet warning Druze, Bedouin citizens of Israel to leave IDF "which has killed the sons of your people."  Hamas claims IDF replacing Jewish units in Gaza with Druze- and Bedouin-manned units.  (MM 2/21)

PLO Chmn. Arafat, Israeli FM Peres open talks in Cairo aimed at implementing Palestinian autonomy in Gaza and Jericho. Both sides report progress. (MENA 2/7, 2/8 in FBIS 2/8; WP, WT 2/8)

Israeli Dep. FM Yossi Beilin meets in Washington with Qatari, Omani officials to discuss Qatar-Israel natural gas deal, multilateral mtg. on water set for 4/94 in Muscat. (MM 2/9)

Hizballah guerrillas ambush IDF patrol in southern Lebanon, killing 4 IDF soldiers and wounding 5. Ambush triggers IAF strikes on 3 villages, SLA, IDF shelling. (MM 2/7; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 2/8)

Meretz MKs Naomi Chazan and Benny Temkin demand that PM Rabin, in capacity as DM, ban travel of 40 IDF elite force veterans to Congo to act as military trainers. Leftist legislators view veterans as mercenaries being used to support Brazzaville regime. (WT 2/10)

Knesset recognizes "Yi'ud" faction made up of frmr. Tsomet MKs. (see 2/2) (MM 2/7)

Sens. Connie Mack (R-FL) and Alfonse D'Amato ask Pres. Clinton to withdraw nomination of Strobe Talbott as dep. secy. of state because of his "extreme views" on Israel, which "go beyond common criticisms to a systematic attack upon the foundations of America's close relationship with Israel." (WT 2/8)

PLO official Nabil Shaath says Israel-PLO talks in Cairo getting to detailed level, reports progress and exchange of drafts on security arrangements. (WP 1/27)

King Hussein meets Secy. of State Christopher in Washington, D.C. At news conference marking end of U.S. visit Jordanian ruler calls for "interfaith dialogue" on Jerusalem's holy places, reiterates that East Jerusalem should be restored to Arab rule. Hussein also says he hopes to meet Israeli PM Rabin "before too long." (NYT, WP, WT 1/27)

Qatari FM Shaykh Hamad bin Jassim alThani, visiting U.S., says Arab states have "been discussing" boycott of Israel and "are ready to take some action" on phasing it out. Al-Thani also confirms Israel and Qatar discussing supply of Qatari natural gas to Israel. (MM, NYT 1/27)

Resident of Jabaliya camp, Gaza, killed, presumably for collaboration with occupation. (Qol Yisra'el 1/27 in FBIS 1/28)

Company for Developing Old Jaffa announces agreement with Vatican on setting up Vatican embassy in Franciscan church in Jaffa, 1st embassy in Israel in historically Arab city. (MM 1/26)