The Palestine Chronology

Saddam Hussein releases 9 French hostages in what is interpreted as move to find soft spot in international embargo (cf. 10/3). Responding to Saddam's move to open "debate" with France, French leaders say they have been miscast as peacemakers by Pres. Hussein, and deny they have entered into any negotiations with Iraq. [INA 10/1 in FBIS 10/3; MEM 10/1; LAT, WP, NYT, WT 10/2].

Speaking before UN Gen. Assembly, Pres. Bush hints that Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait could open the way for Arab-Israeli peace [LAT, WP, NYT, WT, MEM 10/2].

Joint resolution expressing Congress' endorsement of Pres. Bush handling of Gulf crisis passes the House of Representatives by vote of 380-29; resolution stops short of endorsing military action against Iraq (cf. 10/2) [LAT 10/2].

White House announces it notified Congress of its intention to give Israel 2 Patriot anti-missile batteries under provisions of law that allows for emergency transfer of military assistance from military stockpiles [LAT, MEM 10/2].

Jordan closes its borders to Gulf-bound commercial truck traffic in response to 9/30 Saudi decision to refuse entry to Jordanian trucks headed for Gulf states. Produce prices soar (cf. 10/2) [WP, NYT, WT, MEM 10/2].

UNLU call no. 62 "rejects all occupations, regardless of pretexts" and deals at length with need to keep order in schools [MEM 10/2; text in SVP 10/2 in FBIS 10/3; BVP 10/3 in FBIS 10/4].

Almost 1 year after trial began on 10/3/89, 4 Givati Brigade soldiers are con- victed of assault for beating to death Bureij camp Palestinian; sentences to be given on 10/24 (cf. 10/24) [MEM 10/2].

European Community approves at least $1.5 billion package of grants and loans for Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey, all hard hit by sanctions against Iraq [LAT, WP, MEM 10/3].

Pres. Bush meets with Emir of Kuwait in Washington; Emir reports Iraq is pillaging and repopulating Kuwait [NYT, LAT, WP 9/29].

NSC Chrmn. Brent Scowcroft says "systematic destruction" of Kuwait under Iraqi occupation shortens time U.S. can wait for economic sanctions to drive Iraq from Kuwait and that what happens inside Kuwait "affects that timetable" for U.S. decision on options [NYT 9/29].

Sec. Baker, concluding 4 days of high-level diplomacy, says a growing number of countries is ready to consider the use of force against Iraq if peaceful means prove inadequate [LAT 9/29].

Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers meet in New York with Sec. Baker during UN Gen. Assembly [RIDS 9/29 in FBIS 10/1; MET 10/9].

UNLU statement distributed in O.T. urges Palestinians to "respond to the oppressive Israeli measures" imposed on Bureij refugee camp in wake of 9/20 killing there [AFP 9/28 in FBIS 10/1].

Bahrain and USSR announce establishment of diplomatic relations [WAKH 9/28 in FBIS 10/1].

Jordanian Crown Prince Hasan meets in Washington with Vice Pres. Quayle to discuss Gulf; then confers with Sec. Baker and Soviet F.M. Shevardnadze at UN [ADS 9/29 in FBIS 10/1].

UN Sec. Council votes 14-1 to impose embargo on air traffic to and from Iraq and Kuwait. The sole "nay" vote is cast by Cuba [NYT, LAT, WP, WT 9/26; MET 10/9]; in hard-hitting speech at Gen. Assembly, Soviet F.M. Shevardnadze suggests Moscow would support military operation against Iraq if sanctions fail, and warns war may be imminent if Saddam does not leave Kuwait [WP 9/26; NYT 9/26, 9/27; MEM 9/26; CSM 9/27].

In 75-min. speech broadcast in its entirety on CNN (excerpts on major networks), Saddam tells American television audience that Iraq is the victim of conspiracies [INA 9/26 in FBIS 9/26; NYT, WP, WT, MEM 9/26].

U.S. House Appropriations Committee shelves Pres. Bush's request to cancel Egypt's military debt to U.S. after being told it faced certain defeat (cf. 9/30) [MEM 9/26].

After 4 days of talks in Teheran, Pres. Asad and Pres. Rafsanjani declare "full agreement" on opposition to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait [MEM 9/25; NYT 9/26].

Asad is credited with bringing Iran into anti-Iraq camp, persuading Iranian leadership to recast call to jihad against West as measure to be taken only if West stays on after Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait [NYT 10/11].

Saudi Arabia expels 12 more diplomats from Jordanian consulate and embassy; Jordan recalls its ambassador in protest [NYT 9/26].

Israel's Supreme Court rules army can raze Palestinian houses and shops around area where IDF soldier was killed on 9/20. Court says demolitions are urgent military need, and can proceed if homeowners are given compensation [WP, LAT, WT 9/26; FJ 10/6; MET 10/9].

After visit to Bureij refugee camp, UNRWA commissioner general expresses concern about demolition of houses and shops, says there is a disproportion between the 9/20 killing and Israel's response [JDS 9/26 in FBIS 9/27].

Israeli think tank Jafee Center issues annual report "Intemnational Terrorism 1989" attributing to Middle East groups only 8.9% of 406 incidents recorded; report states Fateh helped Western security agencies curb terror and that Palestinian attacks outside Israel declined sharply [MEM 9/26].

45th session of the UN Gen. Assembly opens; French Pres. Mitterrand denounces Iraq, but outlines 4-stage plan to solve conflicts in Middle East (including Arab-Israeli and Lebanese). Iranian F.M. Velayati says Iran will abide by Sec. Council sanctions [LAT, NYT, WP, WT, MEM 9/25].

Pres. Mubarak meets with Saudi F.M. Prince Saud al-Faisal to discuss Gulf crisis [MENA 9/24 in FBIS 9/25; MET 10/2].

West German gov't says it will donate nearly $500 million worth of East German military equipment to U.S. forces in Gulf; South Korea announces a contribution of $220 million in cash, goods, and services to support multinational force [LAT 9/25].

Saudi Arabia expels 14 Iraqi, 56 Yemeni, and 10 Jordanian diplomats, accusing them of spying; action is seen primarily as retaliation for Jordan and Yemen stand on Gulf crisis [WT 9/25].

IDF prepares to demolish more than 20 Palestinian houses and shops around area in Bureij camp where Israeli soldier was killed 9/20. Supreme Court issues temporary restraining order after half the buildings are destroyed [NYT, WP, LAT, WT 9/25; MET 10/2].

Iraq's Revolutionary Command Council issues statement threatening to attack oil fields in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries and Israel if U.S.-led blockade begins to "strangle" Iraq, for 1st time raising possibility of preemptive strike [NYT, LAT, WP, MEM 9/24; CSM 9/25; MET 10/2].

New York Times prints excerpts from transcript provided to ABC news by Iraqi gov't of 6/25 meeting between U.S. ambassador to Iraq and Saddam Hussein [NYT 9/23].

Asked about document at press conference, Sec. Baker calls suggestion that U.S. contributed to Iraq's aggression "ludicrous," defends his dep't against congressional accusations that it had misled Iraq on U.S. response in event of invasion [LAT, WP, WT, MEM 9/24].

Iraqi F.M. Aziz says he will boycott UN Gen. Assembly's 45th session because U.S. has barred his gov't-owned airplane from landing in New York. (Iraq's UN ambassador will replace him.) State Dep't told Iraq's embassy in Washington last week that Aziz would have to use commercial flight to come to U.S. [LAT 9/24, 9/25].

Palestinians clash with IDF troops conducting house-to-house search in Bureij refugee camp in search of people who stoned and burned auto, killing IDF soldier on 9/20 [NYT 9/24].

Iraq outlaws use of Kuwaiti currency; Kuwaiti dinars must be exchanged for Iraqi dinars at 1 to 1 rate. Before invasion 1 Kuwaiti dinar was worth 12 Iraqi dinars [BADS 9/23 in FBIS 9/25; LAT, CSM 9/25].

Palestinians burn Israel army officer to death in his car in Gaza Strip. Crowd stones the car after it makes wrong turn and drives into Bureij refugee camp; car is set afire after soldier hits cart, injuring 2 Palestinians while trying to flee camp. IDF imposes curfew on camp, and Gaza Strip is declared closed military zone (cf. 9/23, 9/24, 9/25, 9/28) [JDS 9/20 in FBIS 9/21; NYT, WP, WT 9/21; LAT 9/22; FJ 9/24; MET 10/2].

Saudi gov't says it will buy weapons elsewhere if U.S. backs down on $20-billion military sale [LAT, NYT, WP 9/21].

Saudi Arabia stops all oil deliveries to Jordan, citing Jordan's failure to meet payments, reportedly reflecting anger at Jordan for position in crisis; Saudi Arabia provided Jordan with 50% of its oil (cf. 10/24) [NYT, MEM 9/21].

According to Jordanian officials at least 50 Jordanians have been deported from Saudi Arabia in the last week [MEM 9/21].

Iraqi embassy in Amman announces Iraq has decided to allow all Arab nationals with residence permits who are willing to return to Iraq or Kuwait to do so as of today and until 10/26, after which right of return is forfeited [RMC 9/20 in FBIS 9/20].

Japanese officials say that Japan will funnel most of its $1 billion 1st installment of aid to multinational forces through Gulf Cooperation Council] [CSM 9/21].