The Palestine Chronology

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 2 Palestinians dead; 1 dies en route to the hospital by car after the IDF bars an ambulance fr. reaching the scene. Nr. Jinin, IDF soldiers fire 3 warning shots toward a marked Vatican car carrying the Catholic Bishop Boulos Marcuzzo. A roadside bomb explodes nr. an IDF post outside Jabaliyya, causing no damage; in response, the IDF shells residential areas of Jabaliyya, destroying 1 building. The IDF also shells residential areas in Khan Yunis (damaging 7 Palestinian homes, killing livestock), fires on a Red Crescent ambulance nr. Gaza City, delays a 2d ambulance fr. reaching a wounded Palestinian for 20 mins. The IDF also begins work on a new 100 m. settlement road to link Kefar Darom with its greenhouses, bulldozing 72 dunams of Palestinian agricultural land and dividing a Palestinian farm in half. (Latin Patriarchate press release, LAW 1/9; IsRN, WT 1/10; NYT, PCHR 1/12; WJW 1/18)

Israeli, PA security officials agree to resume low-level security contacts. Arafat, Israel's Shahak meet to discuss reviving negotiations in light of progress on security. (HA, MA [Internet], YA 1/10; SA 1/10 in WNC 1/11; NYT 1/12)

The Mitchell Comm. technical staff arrives in Israel to begin their research. The staff refuses to sign an Israeli document requiring them to have an Israeli rep. present at all stages of testimony, to coordinate any planned tours of Israel or the PA areas with the FMin. (YA 1/9) (see 12/10)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes subside slightly, though at least 1 Palestinian is killed. When 2 roadside bombs explode nr. Dugit settlement in Gaza, injuring 1 IDF soldier in a passing convoy, the soldiers fire at "suspicious points" in the area, killing a Palestinian farmer working his field. Palestinian snipers fire on a vehicle nr. Ramallah, injuring 2 Jewish setters. IDF troops in Gaza bar the passage of 2 ambulances to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. The IDF also shells residential areas of Bab al-Zawiyya, Bir al-Hummus, al-Mighraqa, al-Shaykh; bulldozes 75 dunams of agricultural land nr. Bayt Lahia, 35 dunams nr. Kefar Darom settlement; demolishes at least 1 Palestinian home. (NYT 1/3; AYM 1/4 in WNC 1/8; PCHR 1/6; Guardian [Internet], MEI 1/12)

Arafat arrives in Washington, meets with the Egyptian, Saudi Arabian ambs. before entering 2 rounds of talks with Clinton, who presses Arafat to accept his 12/23 proposals and focuses on what the PA can do to halt the clashes. Arafat also meets with CIA Dir. George Tenet, agrees to resume the tripartite (Israel, PA, U.S.) security comm. (REU 1/2; AYM 1/2 in WNC 1/3; AP, HA, NYT, WP, WT 1/3; AYM 1/3, 1/4, SA 1/7 in WNC 1/8; JT, MA, QA, SA 1/4 in WNC 1/5; MEI 1/12)

A Lebanese gunman fire across the blue line at an IDF post, injuring an Israeli workman, the 1st Israeli civilian injured in a crossborder incident since the IDF withdrew fr. Lebanon in 5/00. (NYT 1/3)