The Palestine Chronology

In Gaza, Arafat opens 2-day national dialogue mtg., meets with Hamas leader `Abd al-Aziz Rantisi, warns that Israeli actions in response to the 7/30 bombings could lead to another uprising. Islamic Jihad mbrs. also attend. (CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/21; RMC 8/21 in WNC 8/22; MM, NYT, PR, WT 8/22; RE 8/22 in WNC 8/25; PR 8/29; CSM 8/30, 9/8) (see 8/16)

In Amman, a 2-day "popular conference for the defense of Jerusalem" opens. (al-Dustur, JT 8/21 in WNC 8/22; JT 8/23 in WNC 8/26)

In Bethlehem, PA police beat Palestinian Salih Musa during a traffic dispute, take him to Bethlehem hospital. 6 policmen are later arrested in connection with the incident. Bethlehem is still under the internal closure imposed by Israel following the 7/30 bombings. (LAW 8/21)

In retaliation for Hizballah's 8/19 shelling, Israeli air force (IAF) strikes far n. of the self-declared security zone, hitting a Hizballah base, an area nr. the Lebanese army unit that took part in the 8/18 shelling, a power station, injuring 2 Lebanese civilians. ILMG holds an emergency mtg. to discuss the deteriorating situation. Israel says that strike on power station was meant to show the Lebanese government that "a situation in which Israeli citizens cannot live peacefully while the Lebanese continue to live their lives normally will not be tolerated." (MM 8/20; AFP, RL, VOL 8/20 in WNC 8/21; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/21; WT 8/25)

After the funeral in Hebron of 1 of the 3 men killed 4/8, 1,000s of Palestinians throw stones and molotov cocktails at IDF soldiers, who firing rubber bullets, tear gas at protesters, injuring 31. PA police form cordons, block streets with trucks, man rooftops to prevent riot fr. spreading. 3 IDF soldiers, 2 PA policemen are also injured. (MM 4/9; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 4/10; PR 4/11)

Israeli officials release on bail the 2 yeshiva students who shot, killed a Palestinian man 4/8. PA Local Government M Erakat accuses Netanyahu of giving "the green light to settler terrorism." (WT 4/10)

Birzeit University holds student council elections. Fatah wins 22 of 51 seats; Hamas wins 20 seats, PFLP-Palestine People's Party lists wins 8 seats; Islamic Jihad wins 1 seat. (MEI, PR 4/18; JP 4/19)

Iraq defies the southern U.S. no-fly zone by transporting a planeload of elderly pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj. (RMC 4/9 in WNC 4/10; MM 4/14; WT 4/23; MEI 5/2)

Israel, Hungary sign anticrime cooperation agmt. (MTI (Budapest) 4/9 in WNC 4/10; Kossuth Radio [Budapest] 4/9 in WNC 4/11)

2 SLA mbrs. are wounded in an explosion in s. Lebanon. (RL 4/9 in WNC 4/10)

PM Netanyahu arrives in Washington for AIPAC conference, holds talks with Pres. Clinton, Secy. of State Albright (MM 4/7; MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/8; ITV 4/8 in WNC 4/9; CSM, NYT 4/9; MA, La Repubblica [Rome] 4/9 in WNC 4/10; al-Thawra [Damascus] 4/9, RE, RL 4/10 in WNC 4/11; PR 4/11; al-Ahram [Cairo] 4/11 in WNC 4/17; WJW 4/17; MEI 4/18; MM 4/28)

In Amman, Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan, Arafat dep. Mahmud Abbas discuss Jordanian-PA coordination on political, economic issues. (RJ 4/7 in WNC 4/8)

In preparation for trial, Jordanian military team visits Israel to interview victims of the 3/13 Daqamsa shooting. (JT 4/9 in WNC 4/10) (see 3/27)

Vatican says that it has reached a critical stage in its relations with Israel, that Israel should renew its commitment to peace for normalization to progress further. (WJW 4/17)

In Moscow, Lebanese PM Hariri, Russian PM Viktor Chernomyrdin, Dep. FM Yevgeny Primakov discuss peace process, bilateral relations. (RL 4/7 in WNC 4/8; RL 4/8 in WNC 4/9)

In Manhattan, federal prosecutors for the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) open exclusion proceedings against Hamas political leader Abu Marzuq. Abu Marzuq is willing to withdraw his application to reenter the U.S. and agree to exclusion (i.e., immediate deportation), but INS says he cannot do so without either conceding or contesting the terrorism charge, otherwise he could be detained indefinitely. Abu Marzuq refuses to concede; contesting the charge could take yrs. The exclusion proceeding is closed; the INS does not have to reveal the sources of its evidence. (MM 4/8; NYT 4/13; WJW 4/17; MEI 4/18) (see 4/3)

The Knesset Finance Comm. agrees (by vote of 6-5) to demand that the PA detail the use of funds in its Bank Leumi account. Some MKs suspect the account is a secret petty cash fund. (Globes [Internet] 4/7 in WNC 4/9)

In Kharbata village nr. Ramallah, a Jewish settler opens fire with an M-16, handgun on Palestinians who stone his car, wounding 2. Villagers say the settler is known for intimidating local Palestinians, driving through the village instead of using the Jewish-only bypass road. (MM 4/7; WT 4/8)

Islamic University of Hebron holds student council elections. Hamas-Islamic Jihad list wins 19 of 35 seats; pro-Arafat Fatah lists wins 15 seats; PFLP 1 seat. (WT 4/8; MEI, PR 4/18; JP 4/19)

The Kuwaiti government denies the Comm. for the Defense of Islamic Issues permission to stage a rally outside parliament to protest Israel's policies on Jerusalem, U.S. support for Israeli actions. (AFP 4/7 in WNC 4/8)

SLA exchanges 3 Hizballah mbrs. being held at al-Khiyam prison in s. Lebanon for 1 SLA soldier held by Hizballah. (RL 4/7 in WNC 4/8)

Israeli DM Mordechai begins 2-day visit to Washington, meets with Secy. of State Albright, National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, Defense Secy. Cohen. (ITV, YA 4/3 in WNC 4/4; WT 4/4; WT 4/5; MA, SANA 4/6 in WNC 4/8; MM 4/7; JP 4/12; WP 4/14) (see 2/25; Peace Monitor for details)

Citing fears of reprisal attacks, Israel drops bid to extradite Hamas political leader Musa Abu Marzuq. If the U.S. does not deport Abu Marzuq within 60 days of the date he dropped his fight against the extradition order (the U.S. and Israel claim that date is 4/7; Abu Marzuq's lawyers say it was 3/28),it legally must free him. (ITV 4/3 in WNC 4/4; NYT, WP, WT 4/4; al-Ra'i 4/4 in WNC 4/8; NYT 4/6; JP 4/12; MEI 4/18) (see 1/28)

Islamic Jihad's military wing issues leaflet claiming responsibility for the 4/1 bombs, saying Shaykh Shami had been "hasty" in denying the groups responsibility. (NYT 4/4) (see 4/2)

Palestinians, IDF clash nr. Har Homa. (WT 4/4)

Iran says it has 1st-hand information that 4 of its diplomats long believed dead were kidnapped in 1982, are being held in Israel. (IRNA 4/4 in WNC 4/7; WT 4/9)

Lebanon indicts 5 alleged Japanese Red Army mbrs. with passport forgery, illegal entry into Lebanon, forgery of official stamps. The 5 could receive up to 10 yrs. in prison. Japan has been trying to extradite the 5 men to face charges for guerilla activity. (WP 4/4) (see 3/14)

Egypt, Lebanon, Syria link new underwater telephone cable system. (SANA 4/3 in WNC 4/4)

U.S. secy. of state Albright meets with King Hussein, speaks twice by phone with Arafat. Later, the king meets with Defense Secy. Cohen. (AFP, RJ 4/2 in WNC 4/4; WT 4/3)

At the UN, fmr. Secy. of State James Baker III criticizes the U.S. for vetoing recent UNSC resolutions on Israeli settlements, especially after having publicly criticized Israeli settlement decisions; says the vetoes send a mixed signal, Israel's Har Homa construction makes "a mockery of Resolutions 242 and 338." (WP, WT 4/3)

Israeli government acknowledges that DM Mordechai recently approved construction of 1,000s of housing units in West Bank settlements. (ITV 4/2 in WNC 4/3; NYT, WP, WT 4/3; JP 4/12)

Nr. Nablus, 2 settlers, who claim to have been attacked by Palestinian stone throwers, kidnap a disabled Palestinian youth, beat him, take him to their settlement. IDF soldiers at nearby checkpoint, informed by Palestinian witnesses, enter the settlement, free the youth, arrest the settlers. (PR 4/11)

Israel prevents 20 Hamas, Islamic Jihad mbrs. fr. leaving Gaza to preform the haj although they had already obtained Israeli permission to do so. (al-Ayyam 44 in WNC 4/7)

Nr. Jalazun r.c. in the West Bank, an unidentified assailant throws a firebomb at an IDF truck, injuring 13 soldiers; IDF puts a curfew on Jalazun. In a nearby village, Israeli motorists beat a Palestinian they accuse of stoning their car, dump him at an army camp. (NYT, WP, WT 4/3)

Islamic Jihad leader Shaykh `Abbullah al-Shami denies Islamic Jihad was responsible for the 4/1 bombings in Gaza. Meanwhile, PA police detain 30 suspected Islamic Jihad mbrs. in connection with the explosions. 13 are released after questioning. (ITV 4/2 in WNC 4/7; CSM, NYT, WP 4/3; NYT 4/4)

In Hebron, Palestinian protesters clashes with IDF troops for 2d day. IDF responds with live ammunition, rubber bullets, tear gas, injuring over 100 Palestinians (including 20 wounded by live bullets). Some Palestinians throw stones at PA police, who intervene to push back demonstrators. (AFP 3/22 in WNC 3/31; NYT, WP, WT 3/23; SATN 3/23 in WNC 3/25; PR 3/28)

Israel closes the Allenby Bridge into Jordan to Palestinians. (RJ 3/22 in WNC 3/25)

PA orders rearrest of senior Hamas military figure Ibrahim Muqadima, who was released 3/19. Israel says it expects the PA to arrest 150 other Hamas, Islamic Jihad activists. (AFP, ITV 3/22 in WNC 3/25; WP, WT 3/23; WP 3/24)

Jordanian police prevent a 13-mbr. delegation fr. the al-Zubi tribe fr. visiting the Daqamsa family. (al-Dustur 3/23 in WNC 3/25) (see 3/19)

Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan receives Iraqi PM Tariq `Aziz for discussions on bilateral relations. (INA 3/22, JT 3/23 in WNC 3/25; al-Dustur 3/24 in WNC 3/26) (see 3/17)

In s. Lebanon, Hizballah detonates bomb outside home of SLA officer Kamal Nimr, killing him. (RL 3/22 in WNC 3/25; WT 3/23) (see 3/21)

The PA rejects Israel's 9% redeployment plan as insufficient, unacceptable. Israel says it will redeploy unilaterally. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/10; NYT, WP, WT 3/11; WP 3/12; PR 3/21; JP 3/22; PR 3/14)

Jordan's King Hussein sends accusatory letter to Israeli PM Netanyahu. (YA 3/11 in WNC 3/14; MM 3/12; NYT, WP, WT 3/12; MM, NYT, WJW, WT 3/13; CSM 3/14) (see Doc. B1)

Arafat meets with senior DFLP, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) political leaders to discuss concerns regarding Israeli violations of Oslo agmts. (WT 3/24; MM, WT 3/25; MA 3/25 in WNC 3/27; NYT 3/26; MM 3/27)

Iranian FM `Ali Akbar Velayati arrives in Syria on the 1st leg of a 10-nation tour, meets with FM Faruq al-Shara`. (Kayahan International [Tehran] 3/10 in WNC 3/15)

IDF, Hizballah clash in s. Lebanon, leaving 1 IDF soldier wounded. (WP 3/10)