The Palestine Chronology

Over dinner, U.S. Amb. to Israel Indyk, U.S. Consul Gen. Abington, UN coordinator Larsen persuade Arafat to call FM Peres, invite him to open intensive one-on-one talks on transfer of authority. Peres accepts. (JP 8/6 in FBIS 8/7; MM 8/10; WP 8/12)

PM Rabin rejects Secy. of State Christopher's request to resume talks with Syria on the ambassadorial level, says talks must include military advisers. (ITV 8/2, AFP 8/3 in FBIS 8/2)

Israeli cabinet meets on but does not approve transfer of 8 spheres of authority to the PA. (MM 8/2; QY 8/2 in FBIS 8/2; QY 8/2 in FBIS 8/3) (see 5/22)

In Amman, PM Bin Shakir, PA Tourism M Ilyas Frayj discuss bilateral relations in light of the peace process. (RJ 8/2 in FBIS 8/3; RJ 8/3 in FBIS 8/7)

Israeli Supreme Court overturns ban on Jewish visitors to Temple Mount/al-Aqsa mosque courtyard during Jewish holidays. Jews will be allowed to tour the site beginning 8/5 but will still be prohibited fr. praying there. Site has been closed to Jews since 1990 riots left 17 Palestinians dead, 150 wounded. (QY 8/3 in FBIS 8/4; WP 8/7; MENA 8/4, VOP 8/5, 8/7 in FBIS 8/7)

PLO's Qaddumi arrives in Tripoli for talks on bilateral relations with Libyan officials. (Great Jamahiriyya Radio 8/2 in FBIS 8/2)

IAF strikes PFLP-GC bases in Syrian-controlled Biqa` Valley. Though the site is within range of Syrian antiaircraft batteries and despite the fact Syrian DM Mustafa Tlas is visiting Syrian army units in the area, Syria does not open fire. (CSM 8/3; YA 8/2 in IL 8/3; QPAR 8/2 in FBIS 8/4)

At the Russian Compound police headquarters in Jerusalem, 1,000 settlers demonstrate against expansion of Palestinian self-rule. Similar demonstration by over 1,000 Jews is held outside the Israeli consulate in New York. (QY 8/2 in FBIS 8/3; WJW 8/10)

Israel, PA begin intensive, week-long negotiations to finalize West Bank deal by 7/25. In Zichron Ya'acov, 150 Israeli, Palestinian negotiators break into 4 negotiating committees (on redeployment and security, water, elections, transfer of authority) to begin drafting self-rule accord. (WT 7/16; QY, VOP 7/16 in FBIS 7/17; CSM, MM, NYT 7/17)

PM Rabin announces that partial control for Jewish religious sites such as Rachel's tomb in Bethlehem, Joseph's tomb in Nablus, the Altar of Joshua on Mount Ebal, the Herodian mountain, the Qumran caves, other archaeological sites in West Bank eventually will be turned over to the PA. PA will have total control of access roads to the sites. (QY 7/16 in FBIS 7/17; MM 7/17; WJW 7/20) (see 7/10)

Israeli cabinet meets to discuss methods of financing redeployment, projected costs. (QY 7/16 in FBIS 7/18)

Russian Dep. FM Posuvalyuk meets with Syrian FM al-Shara` in Damascus, discusses bilateral relations, peace process. (SARR 7/16 in FBIS 7/17; MM 7/17)

Israeli Dep. DM Gur, best known for capturing Temple Mount fr. Jordan during the 1967 war, commits suicide nr. Tel Aviv. He was suffering fr. inoperable cancer. (QY 7/16 in FBIS 7/17; MM, WT 7/17, JP 7/22)

PA, Jordan sign 1st comprehensive trade accord, defining terms for shipments across Jordan river, preferential tariff system, free trade btwn. autonomous areas, Jordan. (RJ 5/4 in FBIS 5/4; JP 5/13)

Israeli embassy in Amman holds independence day celebration but few invited Jordanian officials attend. (SARR 5/4 in FBIS 5/5; JP 5/13; WT 5/17)

Arafat approves creation of Palestine Telecommunications Co., plans to have 600,000 phone lines, 200,000 mobile phones in use within 10 yrs. (VOP 5/4 in FBIS 5/5)

PA military court sentences 4 Palestinians to 6 mos. in jail for burning Israeli fields nr. Erez. (QY 5/4 in FBIS 5/5)

3 Israeli policemen, 1 Palestinian are hurt when Jewish extremists try to force their way in to al-Aqsa compound to pray. (CSM 5/5)

In s. Lebanon, Hizballah shells IDF tank wounding 1 soldier, fires mortars at SLA position. IDF returns fire, killing 2 Lebanese civilians. (QY, VOL 5/4 in FBIS 5/4; RL 5/4, 5/5 in FBIS 5/5; WT 5/6)