The Palestine Chronology

IDF completes withdrawal fr. Tulkarm. (CSM, WP 12/10; VOP 12/10 in FBIS 12/11; WT 12/11; QY 12/10 in FBIS 12/12; WJW 12/14; MEI 12/15; JP 12/23)

PM Peres begins visit to the U.S. to lay groundwork for resumption of talks with Syria, addresses memorial service for Rabin at Madison Square Garden, New York City, attended by 14,000, incl. 40 mbrs. of Congress, Rabin's widow, VP Al Gore. (NYT, WP, WT 12/10; QY, YA 12/10 in FBIS 12/11; MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/11; WJW 12/14; MEI 12/15)

Israeli Amb. to the U.S. Rabinovitch says Syria has dropped preconditions to talks regarding early-warning stations on the Golan. (QY 12/10 in FBIS 12/11)

At the opening of the Knesset's winter session, FM Peres submits a political statement outlining the Rabin government's position on the Oslo II agmt., the peace process. MKs approve it by vote of 50-40, with 1 abstention. (ITV 10/23 in FBIS 10/24; MM 10/24)

Arafat shows up at Lincoln Center concert. Mayor Giuliani has him ejected fr. the concert hall, saying "When we're having . . . a celebration, I would rather not have someone who was implicated in the murder of Americans." State Dept., frmr. New York City mayors Edward Koch, David Dinkins criticize Giuliani for not showing Arafat the proper respect. (MM 10/25; MM, WP 10/25; NYT, WP 10/26; MEI 11/3) (see 10/20)

2 ships carrying 610 Palestinians expelled fr. Libya, which had been stranded off the coast of Cyprus, are allowed to dock in Latakia, Syria. (WP 10/24; JP 10/28) (see 10/18)