The Palestine Chronology

PA, Israeli talks on Hebron resume. Last mtg. was 11/21. (ITV 11/26 in WNC 11/29; ITV 11/27 in WNC 12/2)

PA says it will boycott all multilateral talks, except those on refugees, in protest of Israel's lack of progress in bilateral negotiations, refusal to implement Oslo accords. (NYT 11/27)

YESHA settlers' council calls on Israeli Pres. Ezer Weizman to lobby for a national unity government. Weizman stresses that he is not involved in politics. (ITV 11/26 in WNC 11/29; MA 11/29 in WNC 12/3)

In Hebron, 2 IDF soldiers are lightly wounded by a molotov cocktail. (ITV 11/26 in WNC 11/29)

Israeli judge releases 2 border policemen caught on videotape beating Palestinians (see 11/19), puts them under house arrest. (WT 11/27)

Ethiopia breaks ranks with African states regarding support for UN Secy. Gen. Butros-Ghali's reelection, says Africans should select an alternative candidate to avoid losing the position to a non-African. (WT 11/27; WT 12/3)

At the weekly PA Executive Authority (EA), PLO Exec. Comm. meeting, the executive urges Palestinians to reclaim confiscated land in the West Bank, Gaza; advocates "popular confrontation" every time "Israeli bulldozers appear on Palestinian land"; vows to support such Palestinian resistance politically and financially. (MEI 12/6) (see 11/18)

Israeli Infrastructure M Ariel Sharon draws up plans for construction of 900 housing units for settlers on the Golan Heights as the 1st stage in a program to add 2,500 new residences over the next 3 yrs. Under this "Golan 2000" plan (as yet unapproved by the government), the buildings would be considered extensions of existing settlements, though they would be at a distance fr. built-up areas. The settler population would increase fr. 16,000 to 25,000; currently, 18,000 Druze live on the Golan. (MM 11/22; YA 11/22 in WNC 11/25; NYT, WP 11/23; ITV 11/24 in WNC 11/26; MM 11/25; WJW 11/28; PR 11/29; JP 11/30; MEI 12/6)

PA says it will give out up to 15 video cameras to Palestinians living nr. Israeli checkpoints so they can record any abuses of Palestinians by Israeli border police. (WP 11/23) (see 11/19)

In Hebron, Israeli border police stop car of PA's Hebron police chief, arrest him, assault 2 of his passengers, damage 2d car. (VOP 8/1 in FBIS 8/1)

In Nablus, 1,000s of Palestinian demonstrators rally to protest Jumayil's death 7/30; some call for resignation of Nablus mayor Ghassan Shaka`, saying he ordered the killing as an act of personal revenge. IDF declares city closed military zone to Israelis. (IDF Radio, QY 8/1 in FBIS 8/2; CSM, MM, NYT, WT 8/2; Houston Chronicle, MM 8/5; PR 8/9; MEI 8/16; WP 8/20) (see 7/31)

Netanyahu says Arafat should stop making statements that "break faith" btwn. Arabs, Jews (see 6/5); start taking actions that building trust. (WT 6/7)

U.S. says little progress can be made on the Syrian-Israeli track if Netanyahu refuses to discuss concessions on the Golan. (MM 6/7; JP 6/7 in FBIS 6/7)

Haggling over Israeli cabinet positions begins. Current Labor FM Barak says he would joint coalition government in exchange for DM portfolio. Likud's Sharon threatens to not participate in the government if he does not get the Finance M or DM position. Tsomet's Eitan threatens not to participate if he does not get the DM position. Religious party leaders vie for housing, education, religion portfolios. (NYT 6/7; QY 6/6, HA, QY 6/7 in FBIS 6/7)

In Gaza, IDF soldier shoots, kills Palestinian who runs at army checkpoint. In East Jerusalem, an Israeli border policeman shoots at 3 Palestinians he mistakenly believes to be armed, killing 1, wounding 1. (MM, NYT 6/6; QY 6/6 in FBIS 6/6; VOP 6/6 in FBIS 6/7; CSM 6/7)

Secy. of State Christopher meets with Pres. Asad in Damascus, then returns to Israel to brief PM Peres. (MM 1/11; IDF Radio, HA, MA, QY, SARR 1/11 in FBIS 1/11; IDF Radio 1/11 in FBIS 1/16; MM, WT 1/12)

Israeli police prevent fmr. PLO negotiator Hanan Ashrawi, who is running for a seat on the Palestinian Council, entering Jerusalem to campaign; arrest 4 Palestinians in Bayt Safafa for putting up campaign posters. Israeli border police break up election rally for Fatah candidate, PA M Qurai` in East Jerusalem. (QY 1/13 in FBIS 1/16; PWR 1/23) (see 1/11)