The Palestine Chronology

International mediation efforts continue, with UN Secy.-Gen. Annan, Russian FM Ivanov, EU foreign policy dir. Javier Solana each meeting separately with Arafat, Barak. Egypt's Musa flies to Damascus to confer with Syrian pres. Asad, who phones Arafat to express Syrian support. Mubarak also phones Arafat and rejects Clinton's proposal (10/8) for a summit in Egypt, saying Israel must 1st agree to pull its troops back fr. PA areas, stop threatening Lebanon and Syria (see 10/8), bar official Israeli visits to the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount, agree to an international inquiry. (ATL, Interfax, ITAR-TASS, MENA, XIN 10/10 in WNC 10/12; CSM, MM, NYT, WP 10/11; Milliyet 10/11, al-Quds 10/12 in WNC 10/13; CSM, WJW 10/12)

Meanwhile, Israeli-Palestinian clashes abate somewhat. Inside Israel, Israeli Jews stab to death 2 Israeli Arabs nr. Tel Aviv, set fire to 3 Arab apartment buildings in Jaffa, and set fire to 3 Palestinian homes and a Jewish-owed restaurant that employed Palestinians in Tel Aviv. Clashes btwn. Israeli Jews and Arabs are also reported in Haifa, Tiberias, and Acre, where Israeli police intervene, firing tear gas and live ammunition, wounding 1 Israeli Arab. (Israeli police say they have arrested some 400 Israeli Arabs, 200 Israeli Jews since clashes began.) Jews fr. West Jerusalem damage Palestinian property in East Jerusalem. In Gaza, the IDF demolishes another apartment building in Netzarim Junction, which was evacuated earlier because it had been hit by IDF shells. Jewish settlers reportedly attack Palestinians in Hebron, Khan Yunis, Rafah and outside Jinin, Nablus, Ramallah; some incidents involve settlers firing automatic weapons. In Rafah, a 12-yr.-old Palestinian is shot dead by the IDF. Nr. Ramallah, IDF soldiers wound a Palestinian ambulance driver with live ammunition. (ADM, BBC, MM 10/10; ADM, MM, NYT, WP 10/11; AFP 10/10, MA 10/11, Le Monde 10/12 in WNC 10/12; MM, WJW, WP 10/12; MEI 10/13; WP 11/30)

Protests in solidarity with the Palestinians are held in Brussels, Cairo, Madrid. In the U.S., rallies are held in Ann Arbor, New Haven. (RL 10/10 in WNC 10/12; WT 10/11)

Citing "compelling national security interests," the State Dept. restores Amb. to Israel Indyk's security clearance. (NYT, WT 10/11; WJW 10/12) (see 10/4)

Anticipating protests following Friday prayers, Israel seals the West Bank and Gaza, allows plain clothes PA police to deploy in the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount to form a cordon to prevent Palestinians fr. throwing stones. The PA police, Waqf officials largely succeed in restraining the crowd, but when a handful of the 8,000 Palestinian worshipers do throw rocks, Israeli forces open fire, killing 2 Palestinians, wounding 60. At sundown IDF troops raid the Haram al-Sharif to chase off Palestinians, lower a Palestinian flag. In total, 9 Palestinians are killed, 450 injured during the day; a 10th dies of wounds received earlier. (AP, JP [Internet], LAW, MM 10/6; MENA 10/6, IRNA, TT 10/7 in WNC 10/10; NYT, WP, WT 10/7; AYM 10/7 in WNC 10/12)

The largest rally in support of the Palestinians is held in Amman, where 30,000 Jordanians, Palestinians attempt to march on the Israeli emb. but are dispersed by Jordanian police firing tear gas. In Baqa` camp, Jordanian police fire on 2,000 Palestinian demonstrators, killing 1, injuring at least 50. The incidents prompt the government to ban public protests. In Damascus, Syrian police use tear gas to disperse protesters attempting to march to the U.S. emb. In Tunis, Arafat, Pres. Zine Abidine Ben Ali participate in a rally attended by 10,000 Tunisians. Crowds also demonstrate in Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Oman, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Yemen, as well as in Berlin, Canberra, Geneva, the Hague, London, Prague, Reykjavik, and Vienna. In Canada, rallies are held in Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto, Waterloo, and Windsor. In the U.S., protests are staged in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Dearborn, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, New York, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Ottawa, Phoenix, Raleigh, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Tampa, Washington. (BBC, MM, REU, UPI 10/6; AFP, CTK [Prague], EFE [Madrid] 10/6, JT 10/8 in WNC 10/10; Toronto Star, WP, WT 10/7; al-Quds 10/7, AFP 10/11 in WNC 10/12; REU 10/8; WP 10/10; MM 10/11; Daily Star 10/12 in WNC 10/13; MEI 10/13; SA 10/16 in WNC 10/18; Le Monde 11/7 in WNC 11/8)

Despite another attempt to secure a cease-fire, Israeli-Palestinian clashes in Israel and throughout the West Bank and Gaza continue, leaving 10 Palestinians, 7 Israeli Arabs, 1 IDF soldier, 1 Jewish settler dead and some 300 Palestinians injured; 3 Israeli Arabs wounded on 10/1 also die. Israel closes roads in n. Israel, the West Bank, Gaza to civilian traffic. Around 30 exchanges of gunfire btwn. Israeli security forces and armed Palestinian civilians and police are reported. Nr. Tulkarm, Palestinians set afire an industrial plant owned by Jewish settlers. Nr. Hebron, Jewish settlers fatally shoot a Palestinian. The IDF dep. chief of staff Moshe Ya'alon warns that if Palestinians do not stop attacking troops guarding Joseph's Tomb in Nablus, the IDF will move in even though the area is under full PA control; the IDF has taken up positions around areas A but has not crossed into them. Barak authorizes his forces to use "all necessary means" to protect Israeli lives, quell riots. (AP, MM 10/2; AFP, ANSA, EFE [Madrid], Interfax, RL, XIN 10/2 in WNC 10/3; RL, SAPA [Johannesburg] 10/2, JT, HJ, al-Quds, SA 10/3 in WNC 10/6; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/3; HJ, al-Quds, Sabah 10/3, MA 10/6 in WNC 10/10; MM 10/9)

The IDF claims that Muhammad al-Dura, the 12-yr.-old killed at Netzarim Junction on 10/1, had been throwing stones at soldiers before he was shot, contradicting widely broadcast footage of the incident recorded by France 2 TV showing the boy and his father pinned down by gunfire for 45 minutes. The pair were returning from errands and had been dropped off by a taxi, which refused to take them across Netzarim Junction because of heavy IDF fire. (Age [Melbourne], HA [Internet], MM, WP 10/3; MA 10/6 in WNC 10/10)

U.S. secy. of state Albright announces that she will meet with Arafat, Barak in Paris on 10/4 to discuss the clashes, the peace process. All 3 will then meet with Mubarak in Sharm al-Shaykh on 10/5. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/3; Radio France International 10/3 in WNC 10/6)

In Amman, Arafat, King Abdallah discuss the Israeli-Palestinian clashes, call on Israel to pull back forces to restore calm, and urge Arab states to convene an emergency summit. In Cairo, Mubarak, Syrian pres. Asad also call for an Arab summit. Massive rallies protesting Israeli actions are held in Amman, Cairo, Damascus, refugee camps in Lebanon, Yemen. Protests are also held outside Israeli embassies and legations in many European and North American cities, including Ann Arbor, Austin, Brussels, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Montreal, New Haven, New York, Ottawa. (AP, BDL, UPI 10/2; MENA 10/2 in WNC 10/3; MENA 10/2, JT, MENA 10/3, JT 10/4 in WNC 10/6; NYT, WP, WT 10/3; AYM 10/3 in WNC 10/12; MM, WT 10/4; WJW 10/5; HJ 10/5, al-Quds 10/7 in WNC 10/10; JP 10/13)

In Paris, PA Planning M Shaath briefs French pres. Chirac on the ongoing clashes. Chirac calls on both sides to deescalate the violence, calls for an international inquiry into the clashes. (AFP 10/2, 10/3, Le Monde 10/4 in WNC 10/6)

In New York, the UNSC begins closed-door mtgs. on several draft resolutions regarding the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli clashes. Britain, the U.S. lobby against issuing a resolution, saying, at most, a statement should be read. (UPI 10/3; HA [Internet] 10/4; WJW 10/5)

PM Barak announces that the U.S. plans to move its emb. to Jerusalem and "will rent offices by January 20." Spokesmen for the State Dept., White House say they have no information that Pres. Clinton has made a decision on the issue. (State Dept. press briefing, WP 8/2)

At the Vatican Secy. of State Albright consults with Vatican diplomatic chief Jean-Louis Tauran on a settlement for Jerusalem. Tauran reiterates the Vatican's long-standing position that the city should be accorded international status. (ANSA 8/1 in WNC 8/2; MM, WP, WT 8/2; ANSA 8/2 in WNC 8/3, 8/4; MM, WJW 8/3)

In New York, the family of an Israeli-American man killed in a Hamas bus bombing in Jerusalem in 1996 files a suit against Syria, claiming Damascus is liable for the man's death and the family's suffering because it provided Hamas with "material resources" by allowing the group to have offices and allegedly train militants in Syria and Lebanon. (NYT 8/2; WJW 8/10)

Jewish settlers level another 30 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Qalqilya. (LAW 8/10) (see 7/25)

Israeli, PA teams open 2 sets of talks nr. Washington: final status issues at Andrews air force base (AFB) and interim issues at Bolling AFB. (MM, WT 6/13; NYT, WP, WT 6/14; WP 6/15)

Funeral ceremonies for Syrian pres. Hafiz al-Asad are held in Damascus, Latakia, and Asad's childhood home of Qardaha, where he is laid to rest in the family mausoleum. Attending are the heads of state of Egypt, France, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Turkey, and Yemen; the heads of the PA and Hizballah; plus senior reps. from Iraq, Russia, the U.S. Secy. of State Albright meets alone with Bashar al-Asad for 15 mins., says he is ready to continue discussions on talks with Israel. (MM, WT 6/13; ATL, DUS, HINA [Zagreb], Interfax, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, MENA, al-Quds, Rompres [Bucharest] 6/13 in WNC 6/14; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 6/14; MA, al-Quds 6/14 in WNC 6/15; JP, MEI, MM 6/16; Sabah [Istanbul] 6/15 in WNC 6/21; MIL 6/19 in WNC 6/27; MM 6/20; MEI 6/30)

After a wk. of coalition bargaining to keep his government together following the 6/7 Knesset vote, PM Barak's main partner, Shas (17 Knesset seats), announces it will quit the coalition at the next cabinet mtg. unless Barak agrees to bail out its financially strapped schools, to remove its schools fr. Education Min. oversight, and to legalize its pirate radio stations. Shas's departure would leave Barak with a minority government. (MM 6/13; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/14; MM 6/15; MA 6/16 in WNC 6/19; WP 6/20; WJW 6/22)

The IDF bulldozes a Palestinian home in East Jerusalem to make way for a road. This is the 13th house demolition in East Jerusalem this yr. (WT 6/14)

U.S. Pres. Clinton phones Israeli PM Barak to congratulate him on Israel's pullout fr. Lebanon, to discuss the peace process. Barak agrees to meet Clinton in Berlin on 6/1. (WT 5/29)

In s. Lebanon, a crowd of Lebanese, Palestinian demonstrators shouts insults and occasionally throws rocks across the border with Israel. When at least 1 Lebanese runs several yards into Israel to plant a Hizballah flag, the lIDF opens fire with rubber bullets, injuring 4 demonstrators. In 2 other incidents, 2 Lebanese children are killed and 7 Lebanese wounded when their car hits an IDF land mine in a newly vacated area of s. Lebanon, and a Hizballah mbr. shoots and kills a Lebanese Christan in the 1st such incident since the Israeli withdrawal. (NYT, WP 5/29; MEI 6/2)

Across the West Bank and Gaza, Palestinians hold rallies to celebrate Israel's withdrawal fr. Lebanon, congratulate Hizballah (IRNA 5/28 in WNC 6/1)

In Damascus, Iranian FM Kharrazi holds talks with Syrian Pres. Asad, FM Faruq al-Shara' on Israel's unilateral withdrawal fr. Lebanon, aid for Lebanon's reconstruction, strengthening bilateral ties. (IRNA 5/28, 5/29 in WNC 5/30)

Fmr. Syrian dep. PM for economic affairs Salim Yasin is arrested in a crackdown on corruption. His assets and those of Mufid 'Abd al-Karim, a fmr. transportation official arrested awk. ago, are seized. (MM 5/30; WT 5/31; MM 6/5) (see 5/21)

King Abdallah of Jordan flies to Damascus to hold talks with Syrian pres. Hafiz al-Asad before heading to Washington to meet with Pres. Clinton next wk. (IsRN 5/21; DUS 5/21 in WNC 5/22; MM 6/8)

In the PA-controlled West Bank city of Jericho, a molotov cocktail is thrown at a car, critically injuring an Israeli child. In response, Barak recalls his negotiators fr. final status talks with the PA in Stockholm; postpones today's transfer of 3 Palestinian villages nr. Jerusalem (Abu Dis, Azariyya, Sawahara al-Sharqiyya) fr. jointly controlled area B to PA-controlled area A; and bans Israeli travel to Jericho, which makes its revenue fr. a casino that is popular with Israeli tourists. (CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/22; AYM, al-Quds 5/22 in WNC 5/23; AYM 5/22, al-Quds 5/23 in WNC 5/24; WT 5/23; MEI 6/2)

Israel begins its withdrawal from s. Lebanon, 6 wks. before its target date of 7/7. The SLA begins to disintegrate, leaving IDF positions exposed. (MM, NYT, WP 5/22; Politiken [Copenhagen] 5/22 in WNC 5/23; CSM 5/24; MEI 6/2)

The PA Preventive Security Force (PSF) shuts al-Watan TV, accusing the station of inciting violence with its broadcasts of recent Palestinian protests. (al-Haq press release 5/22) (see 5/10)

Fmr. Syrian PM Muhamad Zu'bi who had been replaced when the new government was installed on 3/13 and who had been expelled fr. the Ba'th party on 5/10 for financial corruption, commitsuicide in Damascus. (MM 5/22, 5/23; MM 5/30; MEI 6/2; al-Majallah 6/4; MEI 6/16)

In Damascus, UN special envoy Larsen discuss with Syrian FM Shara` Israel's plans for a unilateral withdrawal fr. s. Lebanon, the possible role of UN forces. (NYT 4/7; MENA 4/8 in WNC 4/11)

The Knesset, including much of Barak's governing coalition, approves (60-53) a draft bill designed to block a Golan withdrawal by requiring a referendum on a peace agmt. with Syria win support of 61 of the 120 MKs and 62.5% of all eligible voters, whether or not they actually vote. Justice M Yossi Beilin denounces the bill as racist, because it would neutralize the votes of Israeli Arabs, who make up just over 10% of the electorate. The draft is sent to comm., is unlikely to become law soon. (MM 3/1; MM, NYT, WP 3/2; al-Quds 3/2 in WNC 3/6; JP, MEI 3/10)

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdallah arrives in Damascus for a 2-day visit to discuss with Syrian pres. Hafiz al-Asad the peace process, convening an Arab summit. Rumors hint that Abdallah may deliver a message conveying guarantees from Washington, proposing a Clinton-Asad mtg. in Geneva. (MM 3/1, 3/3; NYT 3/4; MENA 3/4 in WNC 3/6)

In s. Lebanon, Hizballah attacks an SLA patrol, killing 5 SLA mbrs. 3 SLA mbrs. are injured in a separate Hizballah mortar attack. An exchange of shelling btwn. the 2 groups afterward kills a Druze cleric, injures 2 civilians. (MM 3/1; ANSA [Rome] 3/1 in WNC 3/2; NYT 3/2; JP, MEI 3/10)