The Palestine Chronology

Hundreds of Palestinian protesters gather along the border fence in Gaza to continue the Great March of Return. IDF troops violently disperse them near Rafah, Gaza City, Jabaliya refugee camp, and Khan Yunis; 27 Palestinians are injured (1 critically). Also along Gaza’s border fence, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land along the border fence near Khan Yunis. In the West Bank, IDF troops patrol in and around Tulkarm and Hebron. In Israel, hundreds of Palestinian citizens of Israel gather in Haifa to protest the recent deadly violence in Gaza; 21 Palestinian citizens of Israel are arrested. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct arrest raids in Issawiyya, sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing residents; 1 Palestinian is injured and arrested. (MNA, YA 5/18; HA, JP 5/19; PCHR 5/24)

An elderly Palestinian succumbs to injuries sustained when IDF troops opened fire on protesters along Gaza’s border fence on 5/14. His death brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 107. (HA, MNA, WAFA 5/19; MNA 5/21; PCHR 5/24)

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) convenes to debate the recent violence in Gaza. Overcoming U.S. and Australian objections, they approve a Pakistani proposal to establish an independent commission of inquiry into Israel’s use of deadly force to quell the Great March of Return. Twenty-nine countries vote in favor of the proposal, 14 abstain, and only the U.S. and Australia oppose it. Separately, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) convenes in Istanbul to discuss similar initiatives. In a joint statement, delegates request that the OIC general secretariat “act immediately to establish an international independent committee of experts to investigate the crimes and massacres committed by the Israeli forces against the peaceful and unarmed demonstrators in the Gaza Strip, to determine the culpability of the Israeli officials, and communicate the findings to relevant international bodies.” (AP, HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 5/18; WAFA 5/19)

In London, Arafat, Netanyahu meet separately with PM Blair, then each hold 2 mtgs. alone with Secy. Albright. Netanyahu discusses (but does not offer) the C-plus option, which he hints could make an 11% FRD possible, but Albright refuses to budge fr. 13.1%. All teams agree to stay an extra day for further talks. (IDF Radio, JT, JTV 5/4 in WNC 5/6; ITV 5/4, al-Ahram, MA, YA 5/5 in WNC 5/8; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/5; WP 5/6; WJW 5/7; MEI, PR 5/8; JP 5/9)

In Petra, Jordan, Israel hold talks on ways to increase bilateral trade, Jordanian exports to PA areas. (RJ 5/4 in WNC 5/6)

Turkey tells Iran that it is ready to cooperate with Iran in all fields, especially in transportation, trade. (Anatolia [Ankara] 5/4 in WNC 5/6; Zaman [Istanbul] 5/5 in WNC 5/8) (see 5/3)

Iran calls on Egypt to improve bilateral ties. (VIRI 5/5 in WNC 5/8; IRNA 5/9 in WNC 5/12)

Tel Aviv mayor Roni Milo, one of Netanyahu's most powerful political allies, announces that he is planning to quit the Likud party when his term as mayor expires in 11/98; set up new centrist party; run for PM in the next elections, which must take place by 5/2000. (MM, NYT, WT 5/5; Corriere della Sera [Milan] 5/5, ITV 5/6 in WNC 5/8; MM 5/6; ITV 5/10 in WNC 5/13; JP 5/16)

In Cairo, PA delegation headed by Local Government M Erakat discusses means of salvaging the peace process with Egyptian FM `Amr Musa, pres. adviser Baz. (RE 6/16 in WNC 6/17)

In Los Angeles, special envoy Ross discusses the PA-Israeli impasse with Israeli DM Mordechai. (MA, YA 6/16 in WNC 6/17)

In Istanbul, the 1st D-8 summit opens. (IRNA 6/15 in WNC 6/17; MM 6/16+n18, 6/23) (see 6/12)

Israeli High Court rejects (4-1) a petition to prosecute PM Netanyahu, Justice M Tshai Hanegbi over the Bar-On affair. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/16; JP 6/21) (see 5/14)

Jewish settlers fr. Gush Qatif's Netzer Hazani settlement confiscate 70 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Dayr al-Balah. (MEI 6/27)

In Hebron, IDF fires rubber bullets at Palestinian protesters, injuring 28. For the 2d day in a row, PA police were absent. (MM, NYT, WT 6/16; CSM 6/18; MEI 6/27) (see 6/15)

Egypt's Baz arrives in Jerusalem for talks with PM Netanyahu, Arafat on possibility of holding 3- or 4-way summit with Pres. Mubarak/King Hussein. (MM 6/12; QY, YA 6/13 in WNC 6/17) (see 6/8)

In Istanbul, the culture Ms representing the Group of Eight Developing Islamic Counties (D-8) hold preparatory mtg. in advance of the 1st D-8 summit on 6/15; issue declaration vowing to pursue cultural, tourism cooperation agmts. The D-8, which encourages cooperation on all levels btwn. member states, comprises Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Turkey. (Anatolia [Ankara] 6/12 in WNC 6/17)

In Gaza, IDF soldiers, settlers clash with Palestinians protesting the confiscation of land belonging to Khan Yunis for Morag settlement. 2 Palestinians are wounded by live ammunition, 1 dies of a heart attack. In a separate incident nr. Gush Qatif settlement, Palestinians clash with settlers dedicating a monument to an Israel soldier killed during the 9/24-28 clashes; 1 settler shoots, wounds 2 Palestinians. IDF moves more tanks into Gaza. (MM, NYT 6/13; JP 6/21; MEI 6/27; MM 6/30)

In Cairo, Pres. Mubarak, Syrian pres. Asad discuss possible Arab summit on the peace process. (ESC Television [Cairo], RMC 5/1 in WNC 5/2; MM 5/2)

Turkey, Israel end 3 days of military talks, agree to perform joint military maneuvers with the U.S. later this yr. (Anatolia [Ankara] 5/2 in WNC 5/2; MM, WT 5/2; Turkiye [Istanbul] 5/4 in WNC 5/7; VIRI 5/6 in WNC 5/8; JP 5/10)

PM Netanyahu forms a 10-mbr. Gesher, Likud, Tsomet ministers' forum that will meet once a wk., before cabinet sessions. The PM's goal is to have the ministers more involved in consultations to prevent incidents similar to the Bar-On affair. (IDF Radio 5/1 in WNC 5/2)

ILMG continues discussion of 4/29 complaints, determines that 1 mortar fired 4/25 by a Lebanese group accidentally landed inside Israel, but reaches no final decisions. (RL 5/1 in WNC 5/2)

U.S. takes over rotating chairmanship of ILMG fr. France today, but the U.S. official will assume his post 5/5. (al'Ahd 5/9 in WNC 5/15)

IDF eases closure allowing 28,000 Palestinians fr. the West Bank, 27,000 fr. Gaza into Israel. (MM 4/30; RMC 4/30 in WNC 5/2; NYT 5/2)

In Damascus, EU special envoy Moratinos discusses the peace process with Pres. Asad. (RMC 5/1 in WNC 5/2)

Israeli DM Mordechai hosts Turkey's DM Turhan Tayan. (MM 4/30; IDF Radio, IGPO 4/30 in WNC 5/1; MM 5/1; Anatolia [Ankara] 5/2 in WNC 5/2; WT 5/2; Turkiye [Istanbul] 5/4 in WNC 5/7; VIRI 5/6 in WNC 5/8; JP 5/10; MEI 5/16) (see 2/25, 4/4)

Knesset rejects opening further inquiry into Bar-On affair. (WT 5/3; JP 5/10) (see 4/21)

Israeli dep. finance M David Magen resigns to protest the atty. gen. decision not to indict PM Netanyahu. (ITV 4/30 in WNC 5/1; Globes [Internet] 4/30 in WNC 5/2; MM 5/1)

Palestinian television broadcasts of the PC weekly session are jammed for the 2d wk. in a row. Some PC mbrs. blame the PA, though Arafat's office claims it cannot determine the source of the interference. (Internews [Internet] 4/30; PR 5/16; WP 5/21)

Bank of Israel reports that for the 1st quarter of 1997 tourism has dropped 16%, the economic downturn which began in 7/96 continues. (Globes [Internet] 4/30 in WNC 5/2)

In Jordan, an Israeli tourist is stabbed, lightly injured. Jordanian police arrest perpetrator. (JTV, RMC 4/30 in WNC 5/1; JP 5/10)

Nr. Jerusalem, IDF soldiers open fire on Palestinian car that fails to stop at a checkpoint, killing the driver. (MM 4/30; RMC 4/30 in WNC 5/2; PR 5/2)

Convicted spy Jonathan Pollard petitions the Israeli High Court to order PM Netanyahu to acknowledge that Pollard was employed by Israel to spy on the U.S.; to reveal information regarding his employment, Israeli efforts to have him released. (Globes [Internet] 4/30 in WNC 5/2)