The Palestine Chronology

In Geneva, Israeli FM Levy assures UN Secy.-Gen. Annan that Israel will withdraw fr. s. Lebanon in 7/00 in coordination with the UN. Annan says that he will discuss with the UN Security Council (UNSC) possibly expanding UNIFIL's 4,500-mbr. force. (MM 4/4; MM, WP, WT 4/5; WJW 4/6; MM 4/7)

In Amman, U.S. Defense Secy. Cohen, King Abdallah discuss cooperation efforts to modernize the Jordanian army, improve living conditions in the kingdom. Cohen also complains about the violation of the embargo on Iraq by an Italian plane that departed Amman on 4/3. (MM 4/4)

At Haifa University, a fist fight breaks out btwn. several Israeli Arab and Right-wing Jewish students over insults by the Jewish students regarding an Israeli Arab demonstration on campus 4/3. Israeli police intervene, detain 1 Arab and 1 Jewish student for questioning. Irate students attack the police, sparking a riot that lasts 2 hrs. (HA [Internet] 4/5)

In Amman, Jordanian police clash with University of Jordan students protesting a decision by the school administration to appoint half of the 80 student council mbrs. so as to reduce the influence of pro-Islamist student groups. (WT 4/5; JT 4/7 in WNC 4/11; MM 4/12; MEI 4/21)

PC grants Arafat's request to give him until 7/25 to appoint a new cabinet. (WT 7/15; PR 7/17) (see 6/24)

State Dept. announces that despite fact that gaps on FRD have not narrowed, senior Israeli, PA officials have agreed to meet soon face to face for the 1st time in mos. to renew peace talks. Washington will not host the talks, and Secy. Albright is not optimistic about the outcome. (MM, USIS Washington File, WP, WT 7/14; al-Akhbar, YA 7/14 in WNC 7/15; WJW 7/16; PR 7/17)

King Hussein discusses peace process with fmr. Israeli PM Shimon Peres, who is in Amman to attend an international leadership conference. (RJ 7/13, JT 7/14 in WNC 7/15)

UNSC issues nonbinding statement urging Israel to not implement the plan or take any other steps which would prejudice the outcome of the peace process. (MM, NYT, WT 7/14; MENA 7/14 in WNC 7/15; WT 7/15; IRNA 7/15 in WNC 7/16; al-Ba`th 7/15 in WNC 7/20; PR 7/17; JP 7/25) (see 6/30)

A bomb explodes 100 feet from Orient House in East Jerusalem, slightly injuring 1 Palestinian. No one claims responsibility, although Jewish extremists are suspected. (IDF Radio 7/13 in WNC 7/15; WP 7/14; PR 7/17)

 In s. Lebanon, 1 Lebanese civilian, 2 UNIFIL soldiers are injured by IDF shelling. (RL 7/13, 7/14 in WNC 7/15)

In Cairo, Mubarak adviser Baz is briefed by Israeli Cabinet Secy. Nave, Netanyahu adviser Uzi Arad on Netanyahu's mtg. with Secy. of State Albright and, separately, by PA Local Government M Erakat on Arafat's mtg. with Albright. Erakat then heads to Amman to brief Jordanian FM Tarawnah. (JTV, MENA, RE 2/2 in WNC 2/4; IGPO 2/3)

In Damascus, EU special envoy Moratinos, Syrian FM Shara` discuss peace process. (SATN 2/2 in WNC 2/4)

Palestinian Nasir al-Hurub dies in PA custody just hours after his arrest. He is at least the 16th Palestinian to die in PA custody. (LAW 2/3; WT 2/4; MEI, PR 2/13)

Palestinian clashes with IDF continue at entrance to Bethlehem. (NYT 2/3)

After 7 hrs. of talks with Secy. of State Albright, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdallah agrees only to say that if the U.S. strikes Iraq, it would be Saddam Hussein's fault. (MM, NYT, WP 2/3; MEI 2/13)

UN Secy. Gen. Annan asks the UNSC to raise to $5.2 b. fr. $2 b. the amount of oil Iraq is allowed to sell in the next 6 mos. of the oil-for-food program. (NYT 2/8) (see 1/31)

UN extends mandate of UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for 6 mos. (RL 2/2 in WNC 2/4)

UN Security Council "strongly condemns" the 12/17 deportations and demands the deportees' "safe and immediate return" in res. 799. Arab League and Islamic Conference Organization issue similar condemnations. (NYT 12/19; MENA 12/18 in FBIS 12/18; SPA 12/19 in FBIS 12/23)

UNIFIL announces its support of Lebanon's decision not to allow the 415 deportees into Lebanese-controlled territory; will prevent them from entering UNIFIL areas. (VOL 12/18 in FBIS 12/21)

PLO Exec. Comm. issues statement condemning the deportations. Chmn. Arafat calls on Lebanon not to admit the deportees. Hamas spokesman in Amman Ibrahim Ghawshah says the PLO's response to the expulsions "fell far short of what the Palestinian people expected." (MM 12/18; Algiers VOP 12/18 in FBIS 12/21)

Meretz Knesset faction backtracks from 12/17 approval of deportations as a "necessary evil," passes res. stating deportations are a "gross violation of human rights and intl. law." (Qol Yisra'el 12/18 in FBIS 12/18)

Israeli Dahaf poll shows 91% of Israeli Jews support deportations. 55% felt deportations would "reduce the scope of terror attacks," 26% felt they would increase such attacks. (Yedi'ot Aharonot 12/18 in FBIS 12/18; MM 12/18)

IDF shoots Palestinian man dead in al-Arrub camp, W. Bank. (MM 12/21)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: King Hussein has frozen all West Bank funds in Jordanian banks and has suspended all aid to public institutions in the territories, according to a report in 'Al Hamishmar [JP 4/18]. Inspectors of income tax and VAT departments, assisted by a strong force of police, raid Palestinian villages of Kafr Qasim, Jaljuliyyah, and Kafr Bara to collect debts; they impound TV sets, furniture, and 2 motor vehicles [JP 4/21].

Arab World: Radio Monte Carlo broadcasts that Yasir Arafat has notified Jordan that Amman-based Fateh military officer Abu Za'im has been relieved of his duties and that Jordan should suspend all contact with him [JP 4/18].

Other Countries: A U.S. federal judge rules that PLO Permanent Observer to the UN Zuhdi Tarzi may travel from New York to Cambridge, Mass. for a debate with Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, despite State Department travel ban [PI 4/20]. UN Security Council votes to extend UNIFIL mandate in S. Lebanon an additional 3 months; Soviet Union concurs in vote for first time since UNIFIL's creation, states it will begin contributions to UNIFIL budget [NYT 4/19; WP 4/20].