The Palestine Chronology

The IDF eases the closures on Bethlehem, Hebron, Jinin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Tulkarm; arrests 5 Palestinians in Hebron, a 6th in Kfar Ruman; fires on residential areas of Tal al-Sultan. The PSF arrested 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs. for alleging plotting an attack during Zinni's visit, which begins today. The IDF turns over the bodies of 3 Palestinian teenagers killed on 12/30; photos of the corpses clearly show that autopsies were performed on the bodies, prompting protests, accusations of mistreatment fr. the PA. (PCHR, MM 1/3; JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP 1/4; AYM 1/4, al-Quds 1/5 in WNC 1/7; LAW, PCHR, PR 1/9)

U.S. special envoy Zinni meets with Sharon, urges Israel to freeze expansion of settlements in light of sharply reduces Palestinian violence. Sharon claims that the PA's crackdown has been superficial, demands that PA take harsher action against militant groups. (MM 1/3; AYM, al-Quds 1/3 in WNC 1/4; JP [Internet], MM, WP 1/4; QA, al-Quds 1/4 in WNC 1/7; MEI 1/11)

Israeli FM Levy announces that on 1/20, PM Barak will take a break fr. negotiations with the Syrians (set begin 1/19) to meet with Arafat, Clinton regarding final status talks. (NYT 1/15)

A Palestinian detainee dies in an Israeli jail outside Nablus. Israeli police say that Lafi al-Rajab strangled himself, but an autopsy shows signs of torture. (LAW 1/19; WP, WT 1/20)

Based on information that Islamic Jihad is planning an attack, Israel carries out a series of "preventive" arrests of Palestinians nr. Hebron, Jinin, and Ramallah, detaining at least 20 Palestinians. (NYT 1/15; JP 1/21)

The 50-mbr. Shura Council of Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood closes a 3-day mtg. to discuss internal divisions in the wake of the government's fall 1999 crackdown on Hamas. (SA 1/25 in WNC 1/27)

Austrian police announce that they have arrested Halima Nimr, a Palestinian closely linked to Abu Nidal, whose organization staged deadly attacks in Vienna in 1981, 1982, 1985. (AFP 1/14 in WNC 1/18; NYT 1/15; MM 1/17)

IDF patrol on Jordanian border shoots, kills 3 armed infiltrators from Jordan. Israel "holds Jordan responsible" for the unauthorized border crossing (Jordan denies); Hizballah-Palestine claims responsibility. Israeli navy fires on, kills 4 "terrorists conducting naval training" off Lebanese coast north of Beirut. Islamic Jihad Org. claims operation. (Qol Yisra'el 8/4 in FBIS 8/4; Radio Free Lebanon, Radio Monte Carlo 8/4 in FBIS 8/5; MM 8/4; Qol Yisra'el 8/6, VOL 8/7 in FBIS 8/7)

Detained and interrogated in a W. Bank jail 8/3, Mustafa Mahmud Abdul Hadi Barakat dies of an asthma attack "brought about by conditions in detention" according to an American examiner present at the Israeli army autopsy. (NYT 8/11)

Israeli Police Min. Moshe Shahal orders Ateret Cohanim mbrs. to move out of 2 East Jerusalem houses settled 18 months ago. (Qol Yisra'el 8/4 in FBIS 8/4)

Israeli Radio announces formation of new radical Palestinian-Israeli group, the National Front for the Struggle Against Zionism, which calls for separating the Arab population from Israeli administration and infrastructure, eventually liberating all lands from Zionist control. (Qol Yisra'el 8/4 in FBIS 8/4)

Red Eagles (close to the PFLP) and Black Panthers (close to Fateh) issue joint communique in o.t. (Algiers VOP 8/4 in FBIS 8/5)

Malta, historically in solidarity with Arab nations, lifts its economic boycott on Israel and South Africa. (Qol Yisra'el 8/4 in FBIS 8/4)

PM Rabin appoints Housing Min. Benyamin Ben-Eliezer to serve also as labor and social affairs min., Tourism Min. Uzi Baram to serve also as religious affairs min. (Qol Yisra'el 8/4 in FBIS 8/4)