The Palestine Chronology

PA denounces Barak's decision to allow 32 of 42 "illegal" settlements established after the Wye I signing to remain, stressing that all Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. (WT 10/17) (see 10/13)

After mtg. with Jordanian PM Rawabida in Amman, DFLP leader Hawatimah announces that Jordan has offered to host reconciliation talks btwn. the DFLP and Fatah, as well as a larger national dialogue among all Palestinian factions. (DUS 10/17, JT 10/18 in WNC 10/19; MEI 10/29)

Hamas's rep. in Lebanon, Usama Hamdan, says that Hamas has rejected 2 offers fr. the Jordanian government: (1) Mishal and Ghawshah would be released if they agreed to leave the kingdom; (2) they would be deported and allowed to return at a later date. Hamas says Jordan should release the men 1st, discuss its relationship with the movement later. (SA 10/16 in WNC 10/18; DUS 10/18 in WNC 10/19; SA 10/23 in WNC 10/25)

Reps. of 13 West Bank Palestinian refugee camps reject the PA's order to surrender illegal weapons. The PA has reportedly arrested at least 17 residents of Balata camp for refusing to turn in their arms. (NYT 9/29; JP 10/8)

In Amman, Fatah, PFLP hold mtg. to discuss final status negotiations, democratic reform of the PLO. They do not reach an agmt. on participation in talks with Israel, but issue final statement urging all PLO factions to take part in an upcoming PLO Central Council session to discuss organizational matters, and "coming political challenges." (DUS, JT 9/29 in WNC 9/30; AYM 10/4 in WNC 10/8; AYM 10/28 in WNC 11/2) (see 9/23)

PA police in Ramallah, Gaza arrest 4 Palestinian journalists for writing stories "harmful to the PA." (AFP 9/29 in WNC 9/30; LAW 9/30; JP 10/8)

Jordanian police detain fmr. MP `Abd al-Munim Abu Zant, a Muslim Brotherhood mbr., for questioning regarding a Friday sermon and 2 articles in al-Arab al-Yam in which he condemned the government crackdown on Hamas. He is the 2d fmr. parliamentarian in a wk. to be arrested for a pro-Hamas sermon. (MM 9/30; MEI 10/15) (see 9/28)

In Los Angeles, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) settles out of court a class-action lawsuit filed by the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) and a coalition of 800 individuals and groups accusing the Jewish organization of illegally obtaining information on them. The ADL agrees to turn over information collected by questionable means, including criminal arrest records, mug shots, Social Security and license plate numbers, and to pay the plaintiffs' legal fees. (WJW 9/30)

After being briefed by Erakat on his 8/1 mtg. with Sher, Arafat accuses Israel of a breach of trust, saying Israel is trying to "avoid the accurate and honest implementation of what has been agreed upon" under Wye. (NYT 8/3; MA, al-Quds 8/3 in WNC 8/5; MM 8/6)

Israeli PM Barak meets with Russian pres. Boris Yeltsin in Moscow for talks on the peace process, urges Russia to halt transfer of military technology to Iran, Iraq. (MM 8/2; Interfax, ITAR-TASS, NTV [Moscow] 8/2 in WNC 8/3; NYT 8/3; MM 8/4; Ekho Moskvy 8/6 in WNC 8/9)

In Cairo, PFLP closes 2 days of reconciliation talks with Fatah, PC mbrs. Although PFLP's Habash refuses to meet with Arafat, both groups describe the mtg. as a positive, agree to set up a follow-up comm. to outline principles of a comprehensive national dialogue that would create a unified position on final status talks with Israel. (NYT, WP, WT 8/2; al-Arabi, al-Quds 8/2 in WNC 8/5; MM, WT 8/3; al-Sha`b 8/6 in WNC 8/9; AYM 8/8 in WNC 8/10; MM 8/9) (see 7/30)

Israeli Finance M Shohat, PA Trade M Mahir al-Masri discuss Wye articles on economic issues, resuming mtgs. of the joint Israeli-PA economic comm., which has not convened for 2 yrs. (AYM 8/3 in WNC 8/5)

Israel's Environmental M Dalia Itzik tours Gaza with her PA counterpart Yusif Abu Safiyya. The pair discuss water pollution, destruction of green areas, possible joint projects. (NYT 8/4)

2-day Jordanian-Syrian Higher Comm. mtg. opens in Amman. Talks focus on economic relations. (JTV 8/2 in WNC 8/3; Petra-JNA, RJ 8/3, JT 8/4 in WNC 8/5) (see 7/22)

In Athens, a small homemade bomb explodes outside the offices of the Greece-Israeli Friendship Society, causing damage but no injuries. A caller claims responsibility on behalf of the previously unknown Black Star Group. (Athens News Agency 8/3 in WNC 8/5)

Turkey's military dismisses 58 officers suspected of being antisecularist Islamists or leftists. (WP, WT 8/4)

In Cairo, Egyptian FM Musa, Jordan's Chief of the Royal Court Kabariti confer on the peace process. Kabariti brings a message fr. King Abdallah to Pres. Mubarak. (MENA 7/21 in WNC 7/22; JT 7/24 in WNC 7/26)

Spanish PM Aznar holds talks on the peace process with Lebanese pres. Lahoud, PM Huss in Beirut. Aznar, Huss also sign a $100-m. trade agmt. (al-Nahar 7/21 in WNC 7/22)

In Ankara, Israeli, Turkish air force cmdrs. hold talks on military training cooperation. (ATL 7/21 in WNC 7/22)

In Amman, Arafat aide Tayyib `Abd al-Rahim meets with PFLP Dep. Secy. Gen. Abu Ali Mustafa to discuss a possible reconciliation mtg. btwn. Fatah, the PFLP (ideally btwn. Arafat, as head of Fatah, and PFLP head George Habash). (RMC 7/21 in WNC 7/22; al-Ayyam 7/22 in WNC 7/27; JP, MEI 7/30; IDF Radio 8/5 in WNC 8/6) (see 6/16, 7/19)

IDF reports that in the past 3 wks., attacks on IDF, SLA troops in s. Lebanon have dropped to their lowest level in several yrs. (QA 7/21 in WNC 7/22; WP 7/22; WT 7/28; JP 7/30)

PA summons Palestinian construction workers to police stations, orders them to quit their jobs in Jewish settlements in Gaza to block the enclaves' expansion. (NYT 6/17; JP 6/25; NYT 7/2)

DFLP, Fatah, FIDA, PFLP, PPP, PSF issue statement calling on the PA to implement the NGO law that was approved by the PC over a yr. ago, urging Palestinians to recognize the role of NGOs in combatting occupation and bolstering democracy. (AYM 6/17 in WNC 6/21) (see 6/8, 6/14)

In Amman, Jordanian-Tunisian Higher Comm. ends 5 days of talks on bilateral relations, regional issues. Comm. issues final statement calling for a greater Arab free trade zone, urging Israel to resume negotiations on all tracks quickly. (Petra-JNA 6/16 in WNC 6/17)

U.S. supports for the 1st time a British-Dutch proposal for partial suspension of sanctions against Iraq. China, France, Russia remain opposed, preferring removal of sanctions. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/17; WT 6/18)

The Abu Dhabi daily al-Ittihad reports that Arafat has asked King Abdallah to intervene with Fatah mbrs. in Jordan to dissuade them fr. taking part in an "internal conspiracy." Arafat reportedly alleges that senior Fatah leaders in Amman, Cairo, Damascus, Tunis have begun a serious movement, supported by Hamas and Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood, to overthrow Arafat for having made too many concessions to Israel. PA denies the report. (al-Ittihad 6/14 in WNC 6/15; al-Ittihad 6/18 in WNC 6/21) (see 6/10)

In Damascus, Iranian, Syrian officials discuss cooperation in water, electricity industries. (IRNA 6/14 in WNC 6/15)

Iraq sends delegation to Iran to discuss accelerating the release of POWs fr. the 1980+n88 war. (WP 6/15)