The Palestine Chronology

For the 1st time, the IDF erects portable housing for soldiers in PA-controlled areas of the West Bank nr. Jenin. Israeli police halt a vehicle outside an IDF training base nr. Hadera, Israel. 1 Palestinian flees, is fatally shot by police; the 2d Palestinian detonates an explosive device, killing himself, injuring 3 policemen, 3 bystanders; al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AMB) takes responsibility. Israeli PM Ariel Sharon meets with his cabinet to discuss how to respond; no decision is announced. IDF F-16s shell PA targets in Nablus (hitting a government building, PSF office, apartment building), Ramallah (hitting a PSF office); repeatedly break the sound barrier over Jenin. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in Umm al-Sharayit; demolishes a water network, digs a trench along a main road in Nablus; sets up observation towers with heavy machine gun emplacements, reinforces positions on the western border of Khan Yunis refugee camp (r.c.); tightens closures on Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Ramallah. Jewish settlers attack Palestinian farmers in al-Tuwani, burn at least 200 dunams of wheat. A 3d Palestinian dies of injuries received on 2/16. (HA, HP, JP [Internet], al-Quds [Internet] 2/17; MA 2/18 in WNC 2/19; NYT, WP, WT 2/18)

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdallah announces that he has drafted an initiative to be presented to the Arab League offering full Arab normalization with Israel in exchange for Israel's full withdrawal fr. all the occupied territories captured in 1967. (HA, NYT 2/17; MM 2/18; MENA, QA 2/18 in WNC 2/19; MM, WP, WT 2/19; MM 5/20; AYM 2/20 in WNC 2/25; MM 5/22, 5/25; WP 3/2; MEI 3/8)

Hamas suicide bomber detonates a device in a Haifa bus station, lightly injuring 11 Israelis. During a predawn arrest raid in Anabta that nets some 25 Islamic Jihad suspects, the IDF opens fire on 2 cars of PSF officers (1 marked, 1 civilian), killing 4 PSF officers, wounding 2; blows up 1 Palestinian home. The IDF also fatally shoots 1 Palestinian taxi driver at a crossing in Jinin; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah. Palestinian gunmen ambush a car in the West Bank, seriously injuring a Jewish settler. (BBC, WP 12/9; MENA 12/9 in WNC 12/11; NYT, WP, WT 12/10; AYM 12/10 in WNC 12/12; LAW 12/12)

U.S. envoy Zinni convenes another unproductive trilateral security comm. mtg.; warns Israel, the PA that if they do not make serious efforts to implement a cease-fire within 48 hrs., he will call off his mission. In Gaza, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AMB), Hamas, Islamic Jihad issue a signed statement offering to suspend suicide bombings and gunfire inside Israel, if Israel stops assassinations, bombardment of Palestinian areas. The IDF dismisses the offer. (BBC, HA 12/9; JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/10; MM 12/11; AYM 12/11 in WNC 12/13; al-Quds 12/13 in WNC 12/14; MEI 12/21)

In a signal to the Palestinians, Sharon convenes his weekly cabinet mtg. at the IDF's West Bank headquarters. At his request the inner cabinet approves an escalation of attacks on PA security installations. (BBC, HA 12/9; WT 12/10; Guardian 12/19)

In Afula, Israel, 2 Palestinian gunmen (1 fr. Islamic Jihad, 1 fr. the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade [AMB]) open fire on a crowd, killing 2 Israelis, wounding 14 before being shot dead. Sharon, taking U.S. envoys Burns and Zinni on a helicopter tour of the West Bank and Gaza at the time, redirects the chopper to overfly the scene of the attack. Later, a Palestinian sniper fatally shoots a Jewish settler driving in Gaza, wounds 3 others, is then killed by the IDF. The PA condemns the attacks; PA head Yasir Arafat issues a statement pledging to make a "100% effort" toward achieving a cease-fire. Meanwhile, the IDF steps up strikes on residential areas of Khan Yunis; tightens access to Jerusalem. (HP, MM 11/27; AP, HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/28; AFP, AYM, al-Quds 11/28 in WNC 11/29; JP 12/7)

In an apparent IDF assassination, Osama Jawabiri, a mbr. of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AMB) and on Israel's wanted list, is killed by a bomb planted in a public phone in Nablus; 2 children are wounded. Israel complains that none of the wanted Palestinians on the list given to the PSF on 6/22 have been arrested, but Arafat says he has arrested a number of militants in recent days, including Fatah mbrs. A 2d Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/25; AYM 6/25 in WNC 6/26; DUS 6/25 in WNC 6/27; NYT 6/26; WJW 6/28; MEI 6/29)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 2 Palestinian, 2 Jewish settlers dead. Nr. Ramallah, Palestinian gunmen ambush the car of Jewish settler leader Benjamin Kahane (son of late anti-Arab extremist rabbi Meir Kahane), killing him, his wife, injuring 5 of their 6 children. The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade claims responsibility. The funeral procession through Jerusalem, attended by 20,000 Israelis, turns into riot, with Jews smashing storefronts of Palestinian shops, seeking out and beating Palestinians, injuring 10 Israeli riot police. Hrs. after the Kahane shooting, the IDF assassinates senior Fatah official Thabet Thabet, gunning him down outside his home in Tulkarm. The 2d Palestinian is killed in a drive-by shooting by settlers. Israel closes the Rafah crossing. IDF directs tank, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Amari refugee camp, Beitunia, al-Bireh, Khan Yunis, Rafah, al-Salam, Satih Marhaba. Machine gun fire fr. Psagot settlement damages the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) headquarters in al-Bireh. (PRCS press release, WP 12/31; HA, IsRN, LAW, WP, WT, YA 1/1; MENA 1/2 in WNC 1/3; WJW 1/4; JP 1/5; PCHR 1/6; WP 1/8; MEI 1/12)

PLO rep. in Jordan Tayib 'Abd al-Rahim announces that 2 plots to kill PLO Chmn. Arafat have been foiled. 1 attempt was by Arafat bodyguards suborned by FRC ("Abu Nidal"), 2d by unidentified group that sought to bomb Arafat's plane. (WT 10/10)

2 Israeli hikers fr. Jerusalem stabbed and shot to death in Wadi Qilt, near Jericho in the West Bank. "Al-Aqsa Brigade" of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, in statement released in Amman, claims responsibility, says 3 killed. Statement declares, "We will never surrender or accept any concessions on the land of Palestine which will become a graveyard for the Jews." PFLP also claims responsibility. (NYT 10/10; MM, NYT, WT 10/11)

PFLP guerrilla killed by Israeli soldiers as he sails jet ski off Lebanese coast near Israeli border. UN sources report 2 killed, not 1. (NYT 10/10, 10/11)

Palestinian factions opposed to DoP-including DFLP (Hawatmah faction), PFLP, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad-announce in Damascus establishment of National Islamic Front to counter PLO. Alliance fails to call congress to elect new PLO leadership due to reluctance of Islamic groups to identify with secular PLO. Front's declaration calls Palestinian police to be set up under PLO-Israel accord "a traitor force, and an oppressive enemy force." (CSM 10/14)

Jordan denounces 9/23 Israeli court ruling on status of Haram al-Sharif, says it will continue with restoration work on Dome of the Rock regardless of Israeli stance. (MM 10/11)