The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers demolish an agricultural structure and stone walls in Tarqumiyah. Israeli settlers also attack Palestinian herders in al-Juwaya, forcing them to leave the area. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers steal olives from Palestinians in Awarta. Israeli forces fatally shoot 3 Palestinians and injure another during a raid in Iktaba. Israeli forces also shoot and injure 2 Palestinian men during raids in Tell and Qiffin. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolish a home and an agricultural structure and uproot trees in Birin. Israeli forces also raid Beit Umar, seizing a vehicle. Meanwhile, Israeli forces assault 2 Palestinians during raids in Ya’bad and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers tour the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Dayr al-Balah, Khan Yunis, Maghazi, Rafah, al-Bureij refugee camp, and Nuseirat refugee camp, killing at least 249 Palestinians, including a 5-year-old in a bombing of a Doctors Without Borders shelter. 9 Israeli soldiers are killed in combat, including 6 who are killed by Israeli forces detonating a tunnel before they exit it. Rockets are fired at Israel; no damage is reported. In Lebanon, Israeli forces assassinate senior commander in Hezbollah’s Radwan forces Wissam al-Tawil and one other person in a strike on the car they are traveling in in Khirbet Selm. Israeli forces also attack Marwahin and Ayta ash Shab. Hezbollah fires a rocket at a home in Shtula, lightly injuring an Israeli, and an anti-tank missile at an Israeli soldier near the Blue Line. In Syria, Israel says it has assassinated Hassan Halashah in Beit Jinn, claiming he was responsible for Hamas launching rockets from Syria at Israel. (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AP, AP, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/8; AJ, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA 1/9; HA 1/10)

More than 23,084 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 8,800 children and 6,300 women, and around 58,926 have been injured since 10/7. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 333 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 84 children. More than 4,042 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 183 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,042 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 69,000 housing units have been destroyed and 290,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting over 60% of all housing units. 112 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza via the Rafah and Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossings. The WHO says Israel has denied its request to deliver medical supplies to al-Awda Hosptial in Jabalia refugee camp and the Central Drug Store in Gaza City. (AJ, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA 1/8)

B’Tselem reports Israel is deliberately starving Palestinians in Gaza, saying cultivated fields have been destroyed and bakeries bombed, leaving Gaza reliant on food aid that Israel largely prevents from entering. (BTS 1/8; AJ 1/10)

Islamic Jihad releases a video of an Israeli captive. Separately the group says it foiled an attempt by Israeli forces to rescue a captive in al-Bureij refugee camp. (AJ, HA, HA 1/8)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas meets with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo, discussing ways to end Israel’s war in Gaza and the surge in settler violence in the West Bank. PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki meets with German foreign minister Anna Baerbock in Ramallah, calling on Germany to pressure Israel into a ceasefire. Baerbock also visits al-Mazra’a al-Qibliya with B’Tselem, meeting with Palestinians affected by settler violence. Baerbock says Israel has a duty to protect Palestinians in the West Bank. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA 1/8)

Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari says in an interview that Israel’s campaign in Gaza has gradually started to shift to a more targeted stage. (AJ, HA, NYT 1/8)

Israeli heritage minister Amichai Eliyahu proposes displacing Palestinians from Gaza who “refuse to live in these conditions.” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says Israel will not transfer the PA tax revenue to the PA and reiterates his call for the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza. (HA, HA 1/8)

70 Knesset members sign a motion to expel Hadash-Ta’al party MK Ofer Cassif for his support of the South African genocide case against Israel at the ICJ. It is unclear if Cassif will be expelled as the law to expel Knesset members only permits expulsion on the basis of racist incitement or support of armed struggle against Israel. (HA 1/9)

U.S. president Joe Biden says in a speech that he is “quietly working with the Israeli government to get them to reduce and significantly get out of Gaza.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman in al-Ula, saying after the meeting that bin Salman has expressed “clear interest” in trying to normalize ties with Israel on the condition that Israel ends its war on Gaza and agrees to take practical steps to establish a Palestinian state. In a statement after the meeting, bin Salman says he stressed the need to end the Israeli attacks on Gaza and for a path toward peace. Blinken also meets with UAE president Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller tweets that Palestinians must be able to return to their homes and must not be pressed to leave Gaza. (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, WAFA 1/8; NYT 1/9)

The Israeli Supreme Court rules that international media cannot have access to Gaza via Israel without permission and without being escorted by the Israeli military, saying access could endanger Israeli forces. The Foreign Press Association had petitioned the Supreme Court to gain access to Gaza. (AJ, AP 1/8; HA 1/9)

Haaretz reports that Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has called on Benny Gantz, Gadi Eizenkot, and Gideon Saar to leave the emergency government because he deems Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unfit to lead Israel. (AJ, HA 1/8)

Sources tell Axios that Prime Minister Netanyahu had asked UAE president Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan if the UAE could pay stipends to Palestinians from the West Bank who were employed in Israel until Israel barred them from entering after 10/7. Bin Zayed reportedly sarcastically told Netanyahu to “ask [Ukrainian president Volodymyr] Zelenskyy for money.” (AX 1/8)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian herders in Kisan with sticks, injuring 2, including a child. Israeli forces killed 14 Palestinians, including a PA officer, during a raid in Jenin and Jenin refugee camp. During the raid Israeli forces opened fire at ambulances, used drones to attack buildings with airstrikes, and used 4 bulldozers to raze paved streets. Israeli forces also shot and killed 4 Palestinians during raids in al-Am’ari refugee camp, Balata refugee camp, Hebron, and Bethlehem. Meanwhile, Israeli forces shot and injured 69 Palestinians during raids in Bethlehem, Beit Furik, Aqraba, Ni’lin, Jenin, Balata refugee camp, and al-Bireh. Israeli forces also displaced 20 Palestinian families from their homes in Khirbet Tana, demolishing homes and destroying beehives. 50 Palestinians, mostly people from Gaza working in Israel before 10/7, were arrested in Barta’a. In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes killed 243 Palestinians and injured around 430 others. Israeli airstrikes targeted the vicinity of al-Nasr Hospital, al-Awda Hospital, the Indonesian Hospital, and al-Shifa Hospital, killing at least 3 people and causing significant damage to the hospitals and 2 ambulances.  Israeli said it assassinated Hamas member Ibrahim Abu-Ma’asiv in an airstrike. 2 Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza. In South Lebanon, anti-tank missiles were fired at Israel and Israel attacked Lebanon. In Eilat, Israel said a drone launched from Syria damaged a school in Eilat. Israel also said it deployed its Arrow 3 missile defense system for the first time to intercept a surface-to-surface missile fired at Eilat, reportedly from Yemen. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/9; AJ, AJ, HA, REU 11/10)

The Ministry of Health in Gaza said at least 10,818 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,412 children and 2,918 women, and 26,905 have been injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. At least 2,450 people were buried in rubble, including 1,350 children. 173 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 46 children. More than 2,492 people have been injured. Around 1,400 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,431 injured since 10/7. 35 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began. Over 1.61 million Palestinians, around 70% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israel blockade. As of 11/6, at least 40,000 housing units have been destroyed and 220,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting 45% of all housing units. 65 trucks carrying aid to Gaza and 7 ambulances entered via the Rafah crossing. 12 injured Palestinians and 695 foreign passport holders were evacuated from Gaza to Egypt. Around 50,000 people fled north Gaza to the south, bringing the total number to 122,000 since 11/5. UNRWA launched a flash appeal for $481 million to address the humanitarian needs in Gaza and the West Bank. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, UNOCHA, UNOCHA 11/9; WAFA 11/10)

The PA Finance Ministry said it returned its tax revenue to Israel due to Israel deducting $600 million Israel said is earmarked for administrative expenses in Gaza. (WAFA 11/9)

Israel arrested High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel chairperson Mohammed Barakeh and former MKs Haneen Zoabi, Sami Abou Shehadeh, and Mtanes Shehadeh who were planning to attend a small anti-war protest in Nazareth. Since Israel has banned large anti-war protests, Barakeh said he had told Nazereth police that he and 40 others would rally together, leading to his arrest. Protesters later demonstrated against the arrests of the Palestinian leaders outside of a police station in Tel Aviv; 15 were arrested. After the Palestinian leaders were released, Abou Shahadeh said he was arrested for “being a Palestinian citizen calling to end the war. By contrast, If I were a Jewish citizen calling for a genocide of Palestinians I could become a minister.”  (AJ, HA, HA, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA 11/9; NYT 11/10)

Hamas said 1 Israeli soldier held captive in Gaza was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Islamic Jihad released a video of an Israeli child and elderly woman that it said it wanted to release for humanitarian reasons. (AJ, HA, HA, REU, REU 11/9; NYT 11/10)

Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Mashal arrived in Cairo, reportedly to discuss a prisoner exchange. (AJ, HA 11/9)

During a speech at an aid conference in Paris, PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said that Hamas could not be eliminated because it is not just a military organization but “also an idea.” Shtayyeh also said Israel was waging war against all Palestinians, violating international law. French president Emmanuel Macron, who hosted the conference, said civilians in Gaza must be protected, calling for humanitarian pauses and for countries to work on a ceasefire. Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry complained that the international community has an “imbalance” in its conscience when it ignores Israeli violations of international law. Separately, PA presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh said Israel’s aim is to kill as many Palestinians as possible, referring to the many killed in the West Bank as Israel attacks Gaza. Abu Rudeineh called on the U.S. to force Israel to stop its attacks. PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki met with UK foreign secretary James Cleverly in Riyadh, calling on the UK to help achieve a ceasefire. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/9)

Haaretz reported an increase in Israeli soldiers publishing videos of themselves beating and humiliating Palestinians they have arrested in the West Bank. (HA 11/9)

A report by the UNDP and the ESCWA said Palestinian GDP had shrunk 4% during the first month of Israel’s attacks on Gaza. It projected that if the attacks continue for a second month it will drop by 8.4%, and by 12% if attacks continue for a third month. (AJ, HA 11/9; AJ, AJ, AP, AP 11/10)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesperson Ofir Gendelman tweeted a video he claimed showed Palestinians staging people being injured and evacuated. However, the video was backstage footage from the Lebanese short film The Reality. Gendelman kept the tweet up even after X (formerly known as Twitter) clarified what the video actually showed. (DB 11/9)

U.S. president Joe Biden said Israel had agreed to daily 4-hour pauses in its attacks on Gaza to allow Palestinians in the north to flee south, saying it had taken longer for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to the pauses than he had hoped. Biden also said had asked for longer pauses that would help facilitate the release of captives. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said Palestinians fleeing the north of Gaza should be able to return. Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called the pauses a “particularly serious mistake.” Netanyahu clarified in an interview with Fox News that he does not seek to govern Gaza. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, REU, REU 11/9; AJ, AP, HA, REU 11/10)

The Israeli organization HonestReporting said it had identified CNN, AP, and Reuters contributors who covered the Hamas Operation Al Aqsa Flood on 10/7, claiming they must have had knowledge of the operation prior to it or participated in it. Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz and National Security Minister Ben-Gvir said the journalists should be treated as terrorists. Likud Party MK Danny Danon said the journalist would be added to Israel’s kill list. The New York Times, which employs one of the freelance journalists, called HonestReporting’s allegations “reckless” and said it endangered their journalists in Gaza and Israel. CNN said it cut relations with 1 of the freelance journalists that HonestReporting posted a photo of standing next to Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, NYT, REU 11/9)

CIA director William Burns and Mossad director David Barnea traveled to Doha for meetings with Qatari prime minister Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani regarding a potential prisoner swap. Al Thani reportedly held a meeting with Hamas officials in Qatar on 11/8. (AJ, HA, HA, REU 11/9)

Belgian minister of development cooperation Caroline Gennez said her government was considering recognizing the state of Palestine and would donate $2.1 million in aid to Palestine and $5.3 million to the ICC. (AJ 11/9)

Media workers staged a sit-in demonstration at the New York Times headquarters, criticizing the newspaper’s pro-Israel bias. The American Postal Workers Union called for a ceasefire. (AJ, HA 11/9; AJ 11/10)

The Syrian Aviation Authority said the Damascus International Airport would not reopen for another week. The airport has been closed since 10/12 due to Israeli airstrikes damaging the runway. (HA 11/9)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers and Israeli forces attacked Palestinian journalists filming in the vicinity of the Ariel settlement. Israeli settlers also began construction on a tract of land in ‘Ayn Bus. Israeli forces seized and demolished residential tents in Khirbet Humsa provided by humanitarian agencies to displaced residents after Israeli forces demolished and confiscated and demolished 46 residential structures on 2/1 and 2/3. Israeli forces also demolished 1 water well in al-Mughayyir and 2 residential structures in Khirbet Yarza. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters demonstrating against stop-work orders delivered in al-Twana, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian with live ammunition during a late-night raid near Jenin. Meanwhile, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian trying to enter Israel for work near the separation barrier in Barta‘a. 14 Palestinians were arrested, including 13 during late-night raids in and around Jalazun refugee camp, Hebron, Nablus, Qabatiya, and al-Bireh, and 1 was arrested at a checkpoint near Nablus. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinian citizens of Israel were arrested at the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian famers east of Gaza City and Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/8; CNN 2/10 PCHR 2/11)

PA and Hamas officials and members of 12 other Palestinian factions met in Cairo to discuss reconciliation and the Palestinian elections. (AJ, REU, WAFA, WAFA 2/8)

A Palestinian court in Nablus sentenced 1 Palestinian man to 5 years in prison for selling Israeli settlement products. (WAFA 2/8)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu pleaded not guilty in response to the corruption charges against him in an Israeli court. Prime Minister Netanyahu was forced to appear in court but left after 30 minutes as the judges excused his absence. (REU 2/7; AJ, AP, AX, CBS, CNN, HA, WP 2/8)

The U.S. said it will rejoin the UN Human Rights Council as an observer after the Donald Trump administration left the UN body, citing anti-Israel bias in 2018. The Biden administration wants to rejoin as a full member at an unset date. (NYT 2/7; TOI 2/8)

In an interview with CNN, U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken said he applauded the normalization deals between Israel, the U.S., the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, and said that peace between Palestine and Israel is far away, saying the 2 need to engage in peace before the U.S. can get involved. Secretary Blinken also said the Biden administration supported a 2-state solution but when asked about whether a Palestinian state would have East Jerusalem as its capital, he said it was part of final status issues, despite saying the U.S. considers Israel’s capital Jerusalem. Former secretary of state John Kerry said the U.S. supports East Jerusalem as a future capital of Palestine during the Barack Obama administration. Lastly, Secretary Blinken said that the Biden administration would consider supporting the return of the Golan Heights to Syria if Bashar al-Asad was no longer in power. (HA, REU, State Department 2/8; HA 2/9; AJ 2/11)

Off the coast of Gaza nr. Dayr al-Balah, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian woman attempting to cross into Israel with a rifle nr. Qalqilya. IDF troops patrol in a village nr. Hebron, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; 2 of the Palestinians are arrested. The IDF conducts late-night house searches and raids in Hebron, 1 village and al-Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah, and 1 village each nr. Jericho, Qalqilya, Jenin, and Nablus, arresting 7 Palestinians and confiscating property; patrols during the day in 2 more villages nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raid the Jabal Mukabir homes belonging to the family mbrs. of the 2 Palestinian men who attacked a West Jerusalem synagogue on 11/18/2014. They take pictures and make notes of the contents of the homes (they will seal 1 home with cement on 7/1). (JP, MNA 6/28; PCHR 7/2)

Chair of the consultative comm. for reforming the consensus govt., al-Ahmad, canceled his 6/29 trip to Gaza reportedly due to Hamas’s negative response. (MNA 6/28; JP 6/29)

Israeli MK Ghattas (Joint List) sends a statement to PM Netanyahu and DM Ya’alon calling for them to keep Israeli forces away from the Freedom Flotilla III. As the flotilla makes its way from Greece to Gaza, Netanyahu’s office releases a letter in which he told the activists, “Perhaps you meant to set sail for a place not far from here—Syria. There the Asad regime is slaughtering its own people every day with the support of the murderous regime in Iran.” (JP, MNA, YA 6/28; MEMO 6/29)

Israel’s FM dir.-gen. Dore Gold meets with Egyptian officials in Cairo to discuss ways to relaunch peace negotiations with the Palestinians. It is the 1st visit to Cairo of a high-ranking Israeli official since 2011. (JP, YA 6/28)

In the Gaza Strip, the IDF continues its assault with attacks on 41 targets, killing 11 Palestinians and injuring dozens. Israeli fighter jets and drones strike targets in n. Gaza, as well as nr. Gaza City, Khan Yunis, and Rafah, while IDF troops fire smoke bombs and live ammunition across the Israel-Gaza border in 1 location and Israeli artillery shelling hits 2 others. The armed Palestinian groups fire over 100 projectiles into Israel; of which, 3 land in urban areas, 73 land in open areas, and 17 are intercepted by Iron Dome batteries. Meanwhile, Hamas executes 4 alleged collaborators with Israel in the courtyard of a mosque in Jabaliya r.c. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts patrols in Hebron and 2 nearby villages, as well as 1 village nr. Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces clash with a group of Palestinian youth outside a checkpoint nr. Shu‘fat, and 1 Palestinian is wounded when the soldiers open fire with tear gas and rubbercoated metal bullets. (AFP, AP, HA, MNA 8/23; PCHR 8/28)

Following talks between Hamas leader Mishal and PA Pres. Abbas in Doha on 8/21 and 8/22, Hamas publicly agrees to support Abbas’s application to join the ICC. According to PLO chief negotiator Erakat, only Islamic Jihad has not yet approved the document Abbas is asking all Palestinian factions to sign before he moves forward. (AFP, AP, MNA 8/23)

On the diplomatic front, Abbas travels to Cairo for talks with Egyptian pres. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. After their meeting, Abbas says “my main goal is for the truce talks to resume in Egypt as soon as possible.” In an interview on Egyptian television, Abbas says that he is planning a major diplomatic initiative and that he will present the plan to U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry, who is scheduled to visit the region in the coming days. The plan reportedly includes asking the UN to set a timetable for the Israeli occupation and signing the Rome Statue on behalf of the PA, which would give the ICC jurisdiction over cases relating to the occupation. For its part, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry releases a statement after the Abbas/al-Sisi meeting inviting the Israelis and Palestinians to return to Cairo for further cease-fire negotiations. (AJ, HA, WSJ 8/23)

Israeli PM Netanyahu holds talks with UN Secy.-Gen. Ban Ki-moon. Netanyahu compares Hamas to ISIS, in reference to the group’s 8/22 execution of collaborators, and blames the group for the latest escalation in violence. (AJ, HA, REU 8/23)

In the evening, 2 rockets are fired from Lebanon into n. Israel. No group claims responsibility for the attack, though Lebanese military officials suspect a small, local Palestinian group. Late at night, 5 rockets are fired from Syria into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israeli military officials say that a Palestinian group, not Syrian govt. forces, is responsible. Between the 2 sets of rocket attacks, 8 Israelis are lightly injured. (DS, JP, REU 8/23; AFP, HA, YA 8/24)

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces kill 1 Palestinian and wound 6 when protesters gather at the border fence. In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 4 nearby villages, and 1 village each nr. Bethlehem and Jenin at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning; in 1 village each nr. Hebron and Tulkarm in the afternoon; and in Salfit and 1 nearby village, and al-‘Arub r.c. at night. (REU 1/25; PCHR 1/30)

U.S. Secy. of State Kerry says that he intends to present his framework for final negotiations within a few weeks, according to an Israeli businessman who hears Kerry’s speech at a Davos meeting of “Breaking the Impasse,” a conference of Israeli and Palestinian business people. (See document D1 in JPS 169 for more on Breaking the Impasse.) In Davos, Kerry meets with Israeli PM Netanyahu, who tells Israeli journalists that he has no intention of evacuating any settlements. Meanwhile, the PLO’s 12-mbr. Executive Cmte. meets in Ramallah and agrees on recommendations to pursue options in various UN agencies, regardless of the state of the ongoing negotiations, according to cmte. mbr. Hanna Amirah. Any recommendations need to be approved by PA Pres. Abbas. (MNA 1/25; HA, JP 1/26)

At the UN-sponsored peace conference in Switzerland, Syria’s opposing sides hold their 1st face-to-face meeting, though only speak to each other through UN-Arab League joint special envoy Brahimi. The meeting lasts for 3 hours, with Brahimi describing it as “a good beginning.” Meanwhile, 5 rockets from Syria hit the Hermel region of Lebanon, an attack claimed by Jabhat al-Nusra in Lebanon and Abdullah Azzam Brigades. There is some damage, but no casualties. (AP, DS, REU 1/25)

Anti-govt. and pro-regime marches in Cairo and other Egyptian cities lead to street violence and clashes that kill 29 people. (REU 1/26)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops open fire on agricultural lands nr. Khan Yunis, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon, and in 3 villages nr. Hebron at night; patrols in Tulkarm in the morning, in 1 village each nr. Jenin and Tulkarm in the afternoon, and in 4 villages nr. Ramallah, 2 villages and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron at night. (PCHR 12/12) 

Israeli PM Netanyahu tells his Likud-Yisrael Beitenu faction at the Knesset that the govt. is not on the way to a final-status agreement with the Palestinians, ahead of U.S. Secy. of State Kerry’s on 12/11, his 9th trip to the region since taking office. Netanyahu also reportedly rejects the U.S. Gen. John Allen’s security plan, saying it was important to maintain Israeli forces on the border shared with Jordan. Meanwhile, PLO Secy.-Gen. Yasir ‘Abid Rabbuh also rejects the U.S. security proposals, which he says will lead to a “total failure” of Kerry’s efforts. Separately, PA Minister of Prisoners Issa Qarage says that any delays to the scheduled release of a 3rd group of Palestinian prisoners on 12/29 will be considered a serious blow to the peace process. (AFP, AP, JP 12/9)

Israel, Jordan, and the PA sign a watersharing agreement that includes the proposed construction of a desalination plant in Jordan on the Gulf of Aqaba, and a pilot study for a pipeline linking the Red Sea-Dead Sea. Israel also intends to sell more water from the Sea of Galilee to Jordan and to sell water to the PA at reduced rates. The agreement is signed at the World Bank in Washington. (See document A2 in JPS 171 for more on the water-sharing agreement.) (AFP, REU 12/9)

Ahmet Uzumcu, head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), says that the removal of chemical weapons from Syria, scheduled in 2 stages for 12/31 and 2/5/14, may be delayed slightly due to the difficulties of operating during the ongoing violent conflict. (REU 12/9)

Mohamed Badie, leader of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, appears in a Cairo court for the 1st time since being detained on 8/20. Meanwhile, Egyptian armed forces shoot and kill an Islamist militant nr. Shaykh Zuweidi in the Sinai Peninsula, describing him as a leader of Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis. (AP, JP, REU 12/9)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops open fire on Palestinians who were close to the border fence nr. Jabaliya r.c., injuring 2. In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Jenin at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and at night in 1 village each nr. Hebron, Jericho, and Ramallah. The night raid in Ramallah provokes clashes, leaving 1 Palestinian injured with live ammunition. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), and 1 village nr. Bethlehem (al-Ma‘sara). There are no serious injuries, except in Bil‘in (1 wounded by a bullet) and Kafr Qaddum (2 struck by tear gas canisters). Meanwhile, around 200 Jewish settlers gather outside Yabad village nr. Jenin and burn tires, blocking a road. In East Jerusalem, IDF troops open fire on Palestinians protesting against the occupation nr. Abu Dis, in Qalandia, and in Issawiyya, injuring dozens with rubber-coated metal bullets and stun grenades. Palestinians respond by throwing stones and burning tires. (MNA 11/22; PCHR 11/28)

Israel’s Labor Party elects former minister Isaac Herzog as its new leader, defeating incumbent Shelly Yachimovich with 58.5% of the vote compared to the latter’s 41.5%. Herzog announces in his victory speech that the Labor Party will not join the governing coalition led by PM Netanyahu. (REU, YA 11/22)

Russian FM Lavrov arrives in Geneva to join diplomats struggling to finalize a deal between Iran and the P5+1 powers, with remaining disputes including Iran’s right to produce nuclear fuel, the fate of the Arak heavy-water reactor project, and the extent of sanctions relief. (AP, REU 11/22)

Six large Islamist opposition groups in Syria declare a new Islamic Front, the biggest alliance of rebel fighters to date. The group is distinct from both the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and the al-Qa‘ida-linked factions. (REU 11/22)

Muslim Brotherhood supporters hold protest rallies across Egypt to mark 100 days since the mass killings by security forces in 8/2013 (see the QU in JPS 169). Clashes with Muslim Brotherhood opponents leave 2 dead, 1 in Cairo and 1 in Suez. Meanwhile, Hamas PM Haniyeh says that his organization is not breaking ties with Egypt, despite the recent conflict with Cairo’s military rulers. (AP, MNA 11/22)

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in Russia for talks with Pres. Vladimir Putin about the peace process and regional developments, including Syria. Netanyahu asks Putin not to supply S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Bashar al-Asad’s regime. (HA 5/14)

The International Criminal Court’s prosecutor Fatou Bensouda says she will open a preliminary examination into Israel’s 2010 attack on the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara aid flotilla, following a referral from Comoros, to which one of the vessels raided was registered. (REU 5/14)

Thousands of Palestinians hold Nakba Day rallies in cities across the West Bank; the IDF violently disperses protesters in al-Khader, causing no serious injuries. The IDF also patrols in al- ‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, injuring 1 Palestinian in clashes. Jewish settlers uproot around 150 trees south of Nablus and also set fire to Palestinian agricultural lands in Bayt Furik village nr. Nablus. There is also a ‘‘price tag’’ attack in in Umm al-Qutuf village in Wadi Ara, a Palestinian village inside the Green Line, in which suspected Jewish extremists vandalize a mosque and 3 vehicles. (JTA, MNA, WAFA 5/14; PCHR 5/16)

Fatah and Hamas representatives hold reconciliation talks in Cairo. Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouq says the sides have pledged to complete formation of a long-anticipated unity government within 3 months (see QU 168 for details). (JP, MNA 5/14)

Egypt’s upper house holds a special session to discuss recent clashes (5/7) in al-Aqsa Mosque and demands the immediate expulsion of Israeli ambassador Ya’akov Amitai in protest, but the government takes no immediate action. (ToI 5/14)

New Israeli government is sworn in, with PM Barak's 7-party governing coalition--comprising the Center party, Meretz, National Religious party, One Israel, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Yisrael Ba'Aliya--will give him control of 75 of the 120 Knesset seats. One Israel's David Levy, who resigned as Netanyahu's FM 18 mos. ago, resumes the FM position. Fmr. Labor PM Shimon Peres is given the new position of regional development minister, which aims to promote economic integration btwn. Israel, Arab states. Oslo architect Yossi Beilin (One Israel) will hold the justice portfolio; Yossi Sarid (Meretz), education; Natan Sharansky (Yisrael Ba'Aliya), interior; Avraham Shohat (One Israel), finance. Barak will serve as DM as well as PM. Shas party mbrs. are given heath, infrastructure, labor, religious affairs portfolios. Barak says he will make peace process his priority; wants to hold simultaneous negotiations with PA, Syria and withdraw troops fr. s. Lebanon. Arafat, Asad issue statements saying they are willing to work with Barak for peace. (MM 7/6; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/7; AFP, France-Info Radio, IDF Radio, JT, JTV 7/7 in WNC 7/8; WJW 7/8; Interfax, MA 7/8 in WNC 7/9; MM 7/9; MEI 7/16)

Arafat makes 1-day trip to Cairo to discuss the peace process with Pres. Mubarak. (WT 7/7)

Syrian pres. Asad leaves Russia after 2 days of talks. Russia, Syria agree to step up technical, military cooperation but do not finalize arms deal. U.S. warns Moscow that it might cancel $50 m. in aid to Russia if it completes a deal with Damascus. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/7; Interfax 7/8 in WNC 7/9; MM 7/9; MEI 7/16)

Palestinian High Court orders the PA to release Hamas mbr. Muhammad Jadallah, who has been detained without charge since 3/24/96. (al-Quds 7/8 in WNC 7/12)

In the West Bank, IDF storms Palestinian homes in 3 villages nr. Hebron, arrests 5 alleged Hamas, Islamic Jihad mbrs. on charges of planning an attack in Israel. At least 36 Palestinian have been arrested in similar raids in the Hebron area over the past mo. (MM, WP 7/7; AYM 7/7 in WNC 7/12)

In Tel Aviv, U.S. special envoy Ross says that the U.S. plans to play a much less active role in final status negotiations, thinks "permanent status is not something that should be mediated." (USIS Washington File 1/12; NYT, WP 1/13; PR 1/15)

After 4 yrs., Lebanon lifts travel restrictions on Palestinians, dropping requirement for Palestinians to obtain visas to return to Lebanon. (RL 1/12 in WNC 1/13; NYT 1/13; RL 1/16 in WNC 1/20)

Netanyahu's office warns the PA that Israel would bar Arafat, PA officials fr. leaving he autonomous enclaves should the PA unilaterally declare statehood. (MEI 1/15)

PM Netanyahu meets with U.S. millionaire Irving Moskovitz, who is in town to decided which right-wing candidate for PM he will support financially in the 5/17 elections. Netanyahu gives assurances that he will not halt Moskovitz's construction of 132 units in the Palestinian neighborhood of Ras al-Amud in East Jerusalem. Congressman Michael Forbes (R-NY) is accompanying Moskovitz. (MM, WP 1/14; MM 1/21; JP 1/22; PR 1/29)

In what police, FBI term a sophisticated operation, burglars break into offices of prominent Washington polling firm, Greenberg Quinlan Research, that is advising Israeli PM-candidate Barak. Firm says that its international work was targeted, but it is uncertain whether files on Barak were among those stolen. (MM, WP 1/13; YA 1/13 in WNC 1/14; WJW 1/14; MM 1/20)

Israeli Religious Affairs M Eli Suissa cuts the size of local religious councils to keep them all Orthodox. A recent High Court ruling ordered the powerful councils (which run marriage bureaus and burial societies, maintain synagogues and ritual baths, supervise kosher inspections for both religious and secular Jews) be expanded to include Reform, Conservative Jews. (WT 1/13)

IDF lifts closure on Hebron imposed 1/4. (MM 1/14, MEI 1/15)

Unidentified assailant stabs, wounds Palestinian in West Jerusalem. (MM 1/12; PR 1/15, JP 1/22)

IDF uproots Palestinian orchard nr. Jewish settlement in the West Bank. (AFP [Internet] 1/12)

In Cairo, FMs of Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen hold 2d mtg. to prepare agenda for 1/24 Arab League mtg. on Iraq. Jordan does not condemn mtg. but is upset at not being included, blames Syria, warns that "forming axes" only deepens Arab divisions. (MM 1/12; MENA, RE 1/12 in WNC 1/13; MM 1/13; al-Dustur, MENA 1/13 in WNC 1/14; MM 1/14; JT, MENA, RE 1/14 in WNC 1/16; MM 1/15) (see 1/3)

The U.S. secretly sends letters to Arab states urging them to support its position on Iraq at the 1/24 Arab League mtg. (MM 1/22)

U.S. planes fire on Iraqi missile battery in n. no-fly zone. Defense Dept. says that Iraq has sent planes into the no-fly zones 66 times in the past 2 wks., targeted U.S. and British planes 12 times, increased its number of missile sites fr. 9 to 17. (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 1/13)

After a brief 3-way mtg. at the White House, Pres. Clinton, Arafat, PM Netanyahu, their delegations head to Wye Plantation in Maryland for negotiations. (MM, WJW 10/15; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/16; YA 10/16 in WNC 10/19; al-Akhbar 10/16 in WNC 10/20)

Egypt's Pres. Mubarak, Jordan's King Hussein discuss Wye talks by phone. In Cairo, Jordanian PM Tarawnah briefs Mubarak on Crown Prince Hassan's mtgs. with Arafat (10/12), Netanyahu (10/14). (MENA 10/15 in WNC 10/16; JTV 10/15 in WNC 10/19)

Lebanese parliament elects (118-0, with 10 absentees, including Druze leader Junblatt, his bloc) Gen. Lahoud as Lebanon's new pres. He will take office 11/24. (MM 10/15; RL 10/15 in WNC 10/16; SATN 10/15 in WNC 10/19; al-Nahar 10/15, RL 10/18 in WNC 10/20; NYT, WP, WT 10/16; RL 10/16 in WNC 10/19; al-Ittihad 10/18 in WNC 10/23; IRNA 10/19 in WNC 10/21; MM 10/28) (see 10/13)

Turkey rejects Syrian offer to discuss water sharing, says Syria must first drop support for Kurdish separatists. (NYT, WP 10/16; HUR 10/16 in WNC 10/19) (see 10/14)

PSF detains 2 Israelis outside PA negotiator Abbas's home in al-Bireh. The Israelis, who turn out to be settler security guards dressed in civilian clothes, claim they entered th PA area to pursue stone-throwers. (PR 10/23)

30 Jewish settlers led by a Molodet party MK occupy a vacant Palestinian home in East Jerusalem, sparking scuffles with Palestinians. 100 Israeli policemen are brought in to quell the disturbances. (IDF Radio 10/15 in WNC 10/19; NYT 10/16; PR 10/23)

Unidentified assailants fire bomb several Palestinian homes in Bethlehem, seriously damaging 1. Palestinians blame local Jewish settlers. (AFP [Internet] 10/17)

PM Netanyahu's security cabinet holds session to discuss the "growing Palestinization and religious radicalization among Israeli Arabs." (MA 7/7 in WNC 7/13)

Israeli pres. Weizman, PM Netanyahu meet for 1st time in over a mo., agree to halt their public debate over the peace process. (MM 7/1; CSM, MM, WP 7/2; JP 7/11) (see 6/30)

Israeli air force (IAF) cmdr. Eytan Ben-Eliyahu says that most of the present aircraft fleet is outdated, the IAF needs 100 modern fighter jets. (YA 7/1 in WNC 7/6) (see 6/28)

1st civil guard is formed in the Jewish settlement of Beitar Ilit. Other guard centers are being set up in Kiryat Arba, Ma'ale Adumim, Givat Ze'ev settlements. Units are planned in Efrat, Har Hadar, Oranit settlements. (PR 7/10) (see 6/11)

Syrian FMin. Undersecy. Adnan Umran arrives in Turkey for 2-day visit to discuss normalizing diplomatic relations. (WT 7/1; Anatolia 7/1 in WNC 7/2; Anatolia 7/1, 7/2 in WNC 7/6; WT 7/3; Milliyet 7/4 in WNC 7/7; MEI 7/31)

In Cairo, Egypt, Iran discuss enhancing media cooperation. (IRNA 7/1 in WNC 7/6)

Group representing 800 U.S. finance officials threatens to boycott Swiss banks unless they settle Holocaust era claims. U.S. administration opposes the threat of sanctions, which could disrupt U.S.-Swiss relations, trigger free trade dispute. (WT 7/3)

Israel reinforces troops in s. Lebanon, sending in more than 20 vehicles, including Merkava tanks, 175-mm. guns, surveillance cameras. (RL 7/1 in WNC 7/2)

PM Netanyahu arrives in China for 3-day visit. (MM 5/26)

In Cairo, Arafat attends Arab League mtg. called to commemorate the 50th anniversary of al-Nakba; calls for Arab summit on the peace process. (MENA, RE 5/26 in WNC 5/27)

Egyptian FM `Amr Musa arrives in Amman for talks with King Hussein on Mubarak's trip to France, possible Arab summit; says Pres. Mubarak is discussing summit idea with other Arab leaders, including Morocco's King Hassan, who arrived in Cairo today for 3-day official visit, and Syria's Pres. Asad. (MENA, RE, RJ 5/26 in WNC 5/27; MM 5/27, 5/28)

In Tel Aviv, Israel's DM Yitzhak Mordechai meets with Turkey's dep. chief of staff, Gen. Cevik Bir, for talks on the peace process, furthering military cooperation, possible joint arms projects. (WT 5/27)

Saudi Arabia's FM Prince Saud al-Faisal arrives in Iran for 2-day talks on improving bilateral ties. (WT 5/27)

Hamas's Shaykh Yasin visits Syria's Yarmuk refugee camp, where he receives warm welcome fr. Palestinian refuges. (WP 6/11) (see 5/25)

In East Jerusalem, Israeli border policemen clash with Palestinians protesting illegal construction by Jewish settlers (see 5/25). To halt violence, Israel's Jerusalem mayor Ehud Olmert bans the construction in the name of Israel's Antiquities Dept., orders the demolition of the settlers' illegal dwellings. (ITV 5/26 in WNC 5/27; MM, NYT 5/27; WJW 5/28; MM 6/3; MEI 6/5; WT 6/9)

Yemen reports that over the past 2 days, Saudi troops have seized the island of Harim in the Red Sea as part of an attempt to pressure Sana' to make territorial concessions in the 2 countries' border demarcation negotiations, which just resumed last wk. The island is 1 of 3 uninhabited but strategically significant Red Sea islands in dispute. (MM 5/26)

3 SLA mbrs., 3 Hizballah mbrs. are killed in 2 clashes in s. Lebanon. 4 civilians are injured, over 100 flee their homes. (ITV, RL, VOL 5/26 in WNC 5/27)

PM Netanyahu, Arafat adviser Mahmud Abbas meet secretly at Netanyahu's home for brief talks on the peace process before Netanyahu leaves for China. (MM 6/12)

To mark Jerusalem Day, Israel stages largest military parade (13,000 troops) through West Jerusalem since 1973, attended by U.S. congressional delegation. Groups of right-wing Israelis try to enter al-Aqsa Mosque, march on Orient House. IDF bans Palestinian entry into Jerusalem for the day, sparking clashes btwn. IDF, Palestinians in Bethlehem. (al-Dustur, RJ 5/24 in WNC 5/27; WT 5/25; PR 5/29; MEI 6/5)

In Amman, Israeli FMin. Dir. Gen. Eytan Bentzur, Jordanian FM Fayiz Tarawnah discuss Israeli proposal for conditional withdrawal fr. s. Lebanon. Jordan stresses need for Israel to unconditionally implement UN Res. 425. (JT, al-Quds, al-Ra'i 5/25 in WNC 5/27)

In Cairo, Pres. Mubarak briefs Arafat on his trip to France. Arafat then heads to Saudi Arabia to discuss possible Arab summit. (MENA 5/24, RE 5/26 in WNC 5/27)

Syria asks Iran's help in constructing steel mills. Both countries agree to expand cultural, art exchanges to pave way for closer bilateral relations. (IRNA 5/24, 5/25 in WNC 5/27)

In Damascus, Hamas's Shaykh Yasin meets with Pres. Hafiz al-Asad. (AFP, al-Majd 5/25 in WNC 5/27) (see 5/23)

1st Lebanese municipal elections since 1963 begin. Elections are held on 4 consecutive Sundays. (RL 5/25, 5/26 in WNC 5/27; MM 5/26; al-Safir 5/27 in WNC 6/1; WP 6/1; MEI 6/5)

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Mahmud Abbas, adviser to PA head Yasir Arafat, and Palestinian Council (PC) Speaker Ahmad Qurai`. In separate mtg., Arafat meets with Netanyahu adviser Yitzhak Molho. (QY, YA 2/17, YA 2/18 in WNC 2/21; IGPO 2/18)

Israel's Ciechanover Comm., charged with investigating Mossad's attempted assassination of Hamas mbr. Khalid Mishal in Amman 9/25/97, reports its findings to PM Netanyahu. (MM, WP, WT 2/16; ITV 2/16, JT 2/17 in WNC 2/21; CSM, MM, NYT, WP 2/17; IGPO 2/17 in WNC 2/24; NYT 2/18; WJW 2/19; JP 2/21)

Jordan announces arrest of 5 Hizballah mbrs. who infiltrated fr. Syria, allegedly to carry out attacks on Israeli, U.S. targets in Amman. (MM 2/17)

PA police in Bethlehem force closure of Shepherds Television station for airing report on pro-Iraqi demonstrations in West Bank. (LAW 2/19; NYT 2/20; IGPO 3/1) (see 2/14)

Israeli, Palestinian activists hold demonstration outside U.S. consulate in Jerusalem to protest U.S. threats to strike Iraq. (PR 2/20)

Following talks with UK and France 2/14, U.S. cabinet mbrs. draw up guidelines to limit any diplomatic compromise UN Secy. Gen. Kofi Annan might offer Iraqi pres. Saddam Hussein. U.S. Amb. to the UN Bill Richardson carries U.S. position to the UN, where Annan holds 3d mtg. with UN Security Council (UNSC) permanent mbrs., who fail to reach consensus on substance of the message that Annan should carry to Iraq. Meanwhile, U.S. envoy David Newton arrives in Cairo on 1st leg of regional tour to explain the U.S. position on Iraq; he will also visit Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan. (MM 2/16; MENA 2/16 in WNC 2/21; MM, NYT 2/17; MM 2/19)

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)

Israel's inner cabinet holds 1st discussion of final status talks with PA. (MM 5/28, 5/29; IDF Radio, YA 5/29 in WNC 5/31; MM 5/30; al-Quds 5/30 in WNC 6/3)

In Cairo, Pres. Mubarak, Arafat discuss new Egyptian plan to resume PA-Israeli talks. The proposal reportedly includes a tacit Israeli pause in settlement activity, agmt. to halt attempts to change the status in Jerusalem in exchange for PA security guarantees. (NYT 6/9)

Syrian VP Khaddam leaves Libya after brief visit to encourage a untied Arab stand on the peace process. (Libyan Television Network 5/28 in WNC 5/31) (see 5/26)

Less than 24 hrs. after the Mubarak-Netanyahu mtg., Israeli crews begin tearing down a Palestinian home in East Jerusalem. Israeli court stops the demolition midway, pending a hearing. (WT 5/29) (see 5/25)

UN renews until 11/30/97 the mandate for peacekeeping on the Israeli-Syrian border, which was set to expire 5/31. (UN press release 5/28)

In Cairo, Egyptian pres. Husni Mubarak, Arafat discuss deterioration of the peace process. (RE 5/21 in WNC 5/22; RE 5/22 in WNC 5/23)

In Moscow, Syrian FM Faruq al-Shara`, Russian FM Yevgeny Primakov discuss bilateral relations, peace process. (SANA 5/21 in WNC 5/22; Interfax [Moscow], SATN 5/21 in WNC 5/23)

In Abu Dhabi, Syrian VP Khaddam discusses with UAE FM Shaykh Hamdan Bin Zayid al-Nahayan the peace process, Doha economic summit, Turkish incursion into n. Iraq. Khaddam then leaves for Oman. (MM 5/22) (see 5/19)

Under pressure fr. Trade M Natan Sharansky (Yisra'el B'Aliya) and Security M Avigdor Kahalani (Third Way), PM Netanyahu replaces top foreign-policy adviser Dore Gold, appointing him amb. to the UN (a position left unfilled for over a yr.), replacing him with Uri Arad, head of Mossad research. (MM, WT 5/22; YA 5/22 in WNC 5/23; WJW 5/29; JP 5/31)

Palestinian prisoner in Israel custody, Khalid Abu Da'iyya, dies hrs. after being brought to a hospital fr. jail. PA accuses Israel of torturing him. (LAW 5/22; LAW, WP 5/23)

In s. Lebanon, an IDF soldier is wounded by a Hizballah mine. (VOL 5/21 in WNC 5/22)

PC holds the 1st mtg. of its 2d session. Mbrs. reelect (62-20) Ahmad Qurai` as PC speaker. (PR 3/28)

In Cairo, Pres. Mubarak holds separate mtgs. with Arafat, Israeli PM Netanyahu's adviser Dore Gold, Lebanese PM Rafiq Hariri, Syrian FM Shara` on the Har Homa situation and Netanyahu's 3/19 proposal for skipping the interim negotiations. (MM 3/20; RE, RL 3/20 in WNC 3/21; SATN 3/20 in WNC 3/21; WP 3/21; RE 3/21 in WNC 3/24)

In Bethlehem and Bayt Omar, 100s of stone throwing Palestinians protesting the Har Homa construction clash with IDF troops, who respond with rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannons, sound grenades. PA security forces sporadically attempt to hold back demonstrators, beating them with batons. (WP, WT 3/21; NYT 3/22)

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) holds a large rally in al-Yarmuk r.c. in Damascus to protest Israeli construction in East Jerusalem. (QPAR 3/20 in WNC 3/21)

5 Jewish families seize, move into a Palestinian building in Silwan under the protection of heavily-armed private security guards. The Israeli government says it is legal for settlers to "acquire" home in the area. 9 Palestinian homes have been taken by settlers over the past 6 yrs. (PR 3/28)

PM Netanyahu says that he would not rule out a "cosmetic withdrawal" on the Golan Heights. (IDF Radio 2/15 in WNC 2/19)

Syrian VP Khaddam, FM Shara` make brief visit to Cairo to deliver Pres. Mubarak a message fr. Pres. Asad. (RE, SANA 2/15 in WNC 2/19; MM 2/18)

Mufti of Jerusalem Ikrama Sabri says that a technical comm. of Palestinian archaeologists, engineers has been set up to scientifically monitor Israeli excavations and their effects on the al-Aqsa Mosque, nearby waqf properties. (al-Ayyam 2/15 in WNC 2/19)

On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum mtg. in Davos, Switzerland, Israel PM Netanyahu meets with Egyptian Pres. Mubarak for the 1st time in 6 mos.; accepts invitation to visit Cairo in the spring. Netanyahu, Arafat also meet; agree to hold talks at Erez 2/6 to discuss the peace process. (CSM, MM, NYT, WP 2/3; MA 2/3 in WNC 2/4; RE 2/3 in WNC 2/6; MEI 2/7)

Syrian VP Khaddam arrives in Algeria to meet with Pres. Liamine Zeroual. (SATN 2/2 in WNC 2/6)

Israeli officials say that Israel may not request the extradition of Hamas's Abu Marzuq: there is little hard evidence linking him to anti-Israeli attacks; Israel fears he would use his trial as a political platform. (YA 2/2 in WNC 2/4; WT 2/3)

PM Netanyahu rejects PA request to share control of Rachel's Tomb in Hebron. DM Mordechai, Arafat meet in Gaza to discuss Hebron redeployment. (IDF Radio, ITV 12/29 in WNC 12/31; CSM, WP, WT 12/30)

In Cairo, Damascus Declaration states (Egypt, Syria, 6 Gulf states) close their 14th semiannual 2-day mtg.; call on the U.S. to put financial pressure on Israel to stop settling Jews in occupied Arab territory. (WT 12/30; RE 12/29, IRNA 12/30 in WNC 12/31)

In Tel Aviv, Israeli DM Mordechai briefs Jordanian Information M Marwan Mu`asher on negotiations with the PA. Mu`asher warns Israel on expanding settlements, raising fears of a military conflict with Syria. (ITV, JTV 12/11, IGPO, RJ 12/12 in WNC 12/13)

In Cairo, Netanyahu adviser Gold discuses peace process with Pres. Mubarak. (RE 12/11 in WNC 12/12)

Israeli Justice Min. defends Shin Bet's use of moderate physical pressure in questioning Palestinians suspected of having knowledge of imminent anti-Israeli attacks; claims that 90 incidents (incl. 15 kidnapings of Israeli soldiers and civilians, 10 suicide bombings, 7 car bombings) have been averted over the past 2 yrs. as a result of such pressure. (IDF Radio 12/11 in WNC 12/12; MM 12/20) (see 11/14)

Two settlers are killed, 5 wounded in a drive-by shooting nr. Ramallah, which the IDF immediately seals off along with several surrounding villages. Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) claims responsibility as a response to Israel's plans to build 132 Jewish houses in East Jerusalem (see 12/8). PA condemns the attack, saying it will give Israel a pretext to further delay negotiations. (MM 12/11; IDF Radio, ITV 12/11, RMC 12/12 in WNC 12/13; MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/12; MA 12/12 in WNC 12/16; WT 12/13; CSM 12/16; QY, YA 12/18 in WNC 12/19; MEI, PR 12/20; JP 12/21, 12/28; MEI 1/10; WJW 1/23)

In the worst fighting since the peace process began, Palestinians, IDF clash in Ramallah. IDF shoots rubber bullets, stun grenades, live ammunition at protesters. IDF, PA security forces engage in firefight. 7 Palestinians are killed, 100s (incl. 2 EA mbrs., the mufti of Jerusalem) wounded; 8 IDF soldiers are injured by rocks, bottles; Ramallah is declared closed military zone; West Bank, Gaza are sealed. Clashes also occur in Bethlehem (wounding 12 Palestinians, 2 Israelis), East Jerusalem. In Ramallah, Bethlehem fighting dies down when officers fr. IDF, PA negotiate cease-fire, pullback. PM Netanyahu, Israel officials accuse PA of instigating violence. PA says outbursts were spontaneous reaction to 9/24 tunnel opening, months of closure. (MM 9/25; IDF Radio, IGPO, ITV, JTV, al-Quds al-Arabi, RMC 9/25 in WNC 9/27; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 9/26; MM 9/27; TJT 9/27 in WNC 10/1; MEI, PR 10/4)

Egyptian Pres. Mubarak receives phone calls fr. Arafat, Netanyahu, appealing to Egypt to intervene to calm the situation in the territories; suggests holding Arafat-Netanyahu mtg. in Cairo. Mubarak adviser Baz holds urgent phone conversations with U.S. special envoy Ross. (RE 9/25, 9/26 in WNC 9/27; MBC 9/26 in WNC 9/30)

PM Netanyahu arrives in Paris, meets with Pres. Jacques Chirac, leaves for Bonn. (WP 9/26)

At the UN, Israeli FM Levy signs Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, briefs U.S. special envoy Ross on events in West Bank, Gaza. Ross says U.S. demands that Israel "make a gesture" concerning the tunnel. (ITV 9/25 in WNC 9/27; ITV 9/26 in WNC 9/30)

Egyptian Pres. Mubarak invites fmr. PM Peres to visit Cairo. Peres accepts but sets no date. (IDF Radio 9/25 in WNC 9/27)

Tel Aviv district court extends for 3 mos. the remand of Hizballah's Shaykh `Abd al-Karim Obeid (abducted fr. Lebanon in 7/89), fmr. Amal leader     Mustafa al-Dirani (abducted fr. Lebanon 5/21/94). (ITV 9/25 in WNC 9/27) (see 2/23)

ILMG opens 3d day of mtgs. to discuss issues raised 9/24 and new Lebanese complaints concerning Israel's expulsions 9/22, repeated Israeli attacks; releases statement stressing that firing fr. populated areas endangers civilians, Hizballah should refrain fr. carrying out attacks fr. or nr. villages. Lebanese FM Buwayz complains of U.S. bias toward Israel in ILMG. (RL 9/25, 9/26 in WNC 9/27; RL 9/26 in WNC 9/30)

In Damascus, Iranian, Syrian cultural attachés discuss expanding cultural ties. (IRNA 9/26 in WNC 9/30)

PM Netanyahu visits Israeli self-declared security zone in s. Lebanon; warns that continued attacks by Hizballah could trigger strong Israeli retaliation. Hrs. later, 1 SLA mbr. is killed by roadside bomb. (MM 8/20; RL 8/20 in WNC 8/23; WT 8/21; RMC 8/21 in WNC 8/27) (see 8/16)

In Beirut, Pres. Ilyas Hrawi, Kuwait's Shaykh Sabah discuss peace process, Arab unity. (RL 8/19 in WNC 8/22)

After receiving notices that their land lies in area C and has been designated a military area, Israel demolishes 4 50-yr.-old Palestinian homes nr. Nablus. (LAWE 8/21)

Israeli Housing Min. drafts plan to approve construction of 5,000 new housing units in the West Bank, along the Green Line, over next 2 yrs.; increase West Bank settler population by 70,000 over next 5 yrs. (IDF Radio 8/19 in WNC 8/22; WT 8/21; MM 8/28; JP 8/31)

In the Golan, Israeli police arrest Human Rights Watch worker Bashar Tarabiyya, a U.S. resident, on suspicion that he threatened national security, engaged in pro-Syrian activity. (MM 9/23, 9/27; JP 9/7)

Jordanian security forces round up 100s of people around the country following 3 days of bread riots. 500 have been arrested in Karak alone. Opposition leaders call on PM `Abd al-Karim Kabariti to resign. (JTV, RJ, RMC 8/19, al-Ra`i 8/20 in WNC 8/22; MM, WP 8/20; MEI 9/6) (see 9/18)

Iraq calls on Turkey, Syria to resume as soon as possible tripartite talks on distribution of the Euphrates, Tigris waters, halted since 1992. (Mother of Battles Radio [Baghdad] 8/19 in WNC 8/22) (see 6/30)

FBI announces plans to open 23 new offices around the world--incl. in Ankara, Cairo, Riyadh, Tel Aviv--that will focus on combatting terrorism, drug trafficking that affects the U.S. (WP 8/20)

PC opens weekly 2-day session in Gaza. (VOP 6/26 in FBIS 6/27)

In his strongest attack on Syria since the 5/29 elections, Israeli PM Netanyahu accuses Syria of being a base for terror, says peace efforts with Damascus depend on its ending its "indirect war" with Israel; warns he may seek international economic sanctions against Syria. (MM 6/26; QY 6/26 in FBIS 6/27; CSM, WT 6/27)

In Cairo, U.S. Secy. of State Christopher meets separately with Arafat, Pres. Mubarak. In mtg. with Mubarak, Christopher acknowledged Palestinians right to self-determination as laid out in UN Res. 242 (see 6/25). (CSM, MM 6/26; MENA, RE 6/26 in FBIS 6/26; RE 6/26 in FBIS 6/27; CSM 6/27; MEI 7/5)

Alleged Palestinian assailants infiltrate border fr. Jordan, ambush IDF patrol nr. Jericho, killing 3 soldiers, wounding 2. Jordan permits IDF to cross border in pursuit; coordinates search for wanted men btwn. IDF, Jordanian army. Jordan's King Hussein calls PM Netanyahu to express his condolences. DM Mordechai blames the Jordanian army for not preventing the attack. Syrian-based group Fatah-Uprising takes responsibility, says its West Bank cell carried out the attack. (QPAR 6/26 in FBIS 6/26; JTV, QY, RMC 6/26, JP, YA 6/27 in FBIS 6/27; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/27; JP 7/6)

Iraqi security forces arrest, allegedly execute 100 INA mbrs. in n. Iraq. (WP 9/10) (see 6/23)

In his 1st public reaction to Netanyahu's win, Arafat demands the new Israeli government stick to the agmts. signed by fmr. PM Yitzhak Rabin, caretaker PM Peres, particularly by withdrawing fr. Hebron. (MM 6/3)

After 3-hr. mtg. with Pres. Mubarak in Cairo, Syrian Pres. Asad says resuming peace talks with Israel is impossible until the policies of the Netanyahu government become clear. Mubarak echoes his wait-and-see position. (MM 6/3; MENA, RE 6/3 in FBIS 6/4; NYT, WP, WT 6/4; SARR 6/4 in FBIS 6/5)

Amb. to Israel Martin Indyk says U.S. will make sure Netanyahu redeploys troops in Hebron. (CSM, WT 6/4)

U.S. special envoy Ross phones PM-elect Netanyahu, offers to fly to Israel to brief him on the negotiations. Netanyahu say mtg. would be premature. (NYT 6/7)

Likud's Sharon threatens to resign his Knesset seat if Netanyahu does not offer him a senior cabinet position. (IDF Radio 6/3 in FBIS 6/4; YA 6/5 in FBIS 6/5)

In Hebron, Palestinians clash with IDF after troops detain a number of PA policemen, search their vehicle. (MM, WP, WT 6/4)

In the West Bank, 4 Israeli phone company workers are slightly injured when a bomb explodes in an olive grove as they enter it to repair a phone line. (CSM, WP 6/4)

NISP says it is holding talks with Hamas to bring the two groups' positions closer together, calls on all factions to end armed operations. (al-Hayat al-Jadida 6/3 in FBIS 6/5)

In Lebanon, British FM Jeremy Hanley, Lebanese PM Hariri, FM Buwayz discuss European economic assistance to Lebanon for reconstruction, following Israel's 4/96 offensive. (VOL 6/3 in FBIS 6/4)

Political infighting prompts Turkish opposition to call for a no-confidence vote on PM Yilmaz that will likely topple his 3-mo.-old government. (WT 6/4; CSM 6/5)

In Washington, Syria, Israel reopen negotiations with military advisers. Israel ask Syria to make several confidence-building gestures, but Syria rejects taking such measures before signing an agmt. (FT, MM, WP, WT 6/28; SARR, 6/27, MA 6/28 in FBIS 6/28; WT 6/29; MEI 7/7; MEI 7/21)

In Cairo, PA, Israeli talks on transfer of authority reopen. Sides say Arafat has agreed to accept partial Israeli troop pullback in the West Bank, to be followed by elections and further withdrawal but is still calling for binding timetable. 1st pullout would be fr. Jenin, followed by Nablus, Tulkarm, Qalqiliyya by 11/15. Elections would be held within 22-35 days. 2d stage of withdrawal covering Ramallah, Bethlehem would take place 4-5/96. Areas of IDF, PA control would follow 6/17 zones proposal. No agmt. reached on size of proposed council. (JT, MENA 6/28 in FBIS 6/28; VOP 6/28, MENA, QY 6/29 in FBIS 6/30)

Likud head Binyamin Netanyahu submits to the Knesset what he claims to be a copy leaked to him of Israeli position paper on the Golan to be given to the Syrian delegation in talks in Washington. PM Rabin, FM Peres believe text to be a working paper drafted by the army, not given to Gen. Shahak. (MM 6/27; QY 6/27, 6/28 in FBIS 6/28; MM 6/28; ITV 6/28, QY 6/29 in FBIS 6/29; MM 6/29)