The Palestine Chronology

Arafat goes to Paris to assess French support for a unilateral declaration of statehood. (al-Quds 7/2, Le Monde 7/4 in WNC 7/5; MEI 7/14; SA 7/15 in WNC 7/18)

In Ramallah, a Palestinian woman is fatally shot in a dispute btwn. her brother and another man over a stolen car. The shooting sparks riots in the city, including looting, shooting, arson of 2 restaurants. (LAW 7/2; NYT 7/4; AYM 7/4 in WNC 7/6)

In Shiraz, an Iranian court issues its verdict in the case of 13 Iranian Jews accused of spying for Israel. 10 defendants are found guilty, sentenced to terms ranging from 4-13 yrs. 3 others are acquitted. 2 Muslim accomplices are sentenced to 2 yr. terms. 2 other Muslims are acquitted. Barak calls for international pressure on Iran to release the 10 Jews to Israel. (IRNA, LPA 7/1 in WNC 7/3; NYT, WP, WT 7/2; MM, WP, WT 7/3; IRNA 7/5 in WNC 7/6; WJW 7/6; JP 7/7; MM 7/11)

Barak phones UN Secy.-Gen. Kofi Annan, French pres. Chirac, U.S. Amb. Indyk to discuss scenarios for a unilateral s. Lebanon pullout if Asad does not agree to resume Syrian-Israeli negotiations in his mtg. with Clinton on 3/26. (MM 3/24) (see 3/12)

The pope visits Bethlehem, where he meets with Arafat, conducts mass, visits Dahaysha refugee camp, and tours religious sites. The pope pauses his mass for 2 minutes of silence during the Muslim afternoon call to prayer to demonstrate the accommodation, respect necessary among religious groups. (MM 3/22; CSM, JP, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/23; MEI 3/24; PR [Internet] 3/29; MEI 4/7)

After the pope leaves Dahaysha refugee camp (where almost 10,000 refugees live on less than 1 mi.² of land), Palestinians angry over the highhandedness of PA police enforcing security for the pope's visit clash with the police in an exchange of rock throwing, beatings, weapons fire. Some 60 injuries are reported, mostly caused by rocks. (NYT, WP, WT 3/23; LAW 3/27; MEI, MM 4/7)

After overseeing the pope's visit, Arafat heads to Cairo to hold talks with Mubarak on the peace process in advance of Mubarak's trip to Washington beginning 3/25. (MENA 3/22 in WNC 3/23; MENA 3/23 in WNC 3/27)

Given the skyrocketing gas prices in the U.S., Washington agrees to allow Iraq to double its spending on maintaining, expanding the oil industry to $1.2 b. a yr. (WP 3/23, 3/25; MEI 4/7) (see 3/14)

Pres. Clinton announces that he will meet Syrian pres. Asad in Geneva on 3/26 in hopes of restarting Syrian-Israeli talks. (MM 3/20; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/21; MENA 3/21 in WNC 3/22; MM 3/22; MENA 3/21, Le Monde 3/22 in WNC 3/23; MM, WJW 3/23; MEI 3/24; JP 3/31) (see 3/1)

Pope John Paul II arrives in Jordan on the 1st leg of a 1-wk. Middle East tour, meets with King Abdallah. The pope's theme for the trip is that regional leaders should do more to reach a lasting peace, to promote Christian-Jewish-Muslim understanding. (MM 3/20; al-Quds 3/20 in WNC 3/22; CSM, NYT, WT 3/21; al-Quds 3/21 in WNC 3/23; MEI 3/24)

IDF soldiers open fire on a Palestinian car at a West Bank checkpoint, killing a woman, wounding her husband. The IDF shooting, which was apparently unprovoked, followed a drive-by shooting at nearby Tsurif settlement that wounded 4 Jewish settlers. (WP 3/21; WJW 3/23; MEI 3/24; NYT 4/21)