The Palestine Chronology

Voting along party lines, the House finds (228-206) grounds for Pres. Clinton's impeachment on 2 counts of perjury, obstruction of justice in the Monica Lewinsky case, moving the proceedings to the Senate. The Senate may dismiss the case, censure the pres., or vote to impeach. Clinton says that he will not resign. (NYT, WP, WT 12/20; WJW 12/24; MEI 12/25) (see 9/21)

Ramadan begins. U.S., Britain end their operation against Iraq after carrying out 650 sorties over 4 nights against 97 targets, only ¹/₃ of which were severely damaged or destroyed. At least 68 Iraqis have been killed. U.S. believes Iraq could restore its capabilities in a yr., reserves the right to use force again in the future. Albright describes U.S. policy toward Iraq as "containment plus regime change." (NYT 12/19; ITAR-TASS, MENA 12/19, MENA, YA 12/20, MA 12/21 in WNC 12/22; NYT, WP, WT 12/20; MM, WP, WT 12/21; Tishrin 12/21 in WNC 12/28; WJW 12/24; MEI 12/25)

In Syria, 1,000s protest against the U.S.-led attack on Iraq; more than 100 climb the U.S. emb. to tear down the flag and break into, vandalize the amb.'s residence; others attack the British cultural mission; lawyers strike in solidarity with Iraq. In Egypt, over 4,000 students at universities across the country demonstrate for 3d day; trade, journalists, teachers unions call for protests; pharmacists agree to boycott U.S., UK medicines. In Jordan, 2,000 students march in protest. In the West Bank, 3,000 Palestinians in Hebron, 2,500 in Jinin ignore ban on pro-Iraq demonstrations, clash with the IDF, leaving 100 injured. 15,000 Yemenis hold anti-U.S. march. 2,000 Sudanese protest outside the closed U.S. emb. Lebanon's grand mufti condemns the U.S.-led operation. (AFP, JTV, MENA, RL, SANA 12/19, JT, SANA 12/20 in WNC 12/22; NYT, WP, WT 12/20; JP 12/21; CSM 12/22; JP 12/28; al-Bayan 12/29 in WNC 12/31)

PA ends closures of TV, radio, newspaper bureaus imposed 12/18. (Times of London 12/21)

In Cairo, Israel, PA close 2-day round of talks on expanding self-rule, reach draft agmt. on transferring responsibilities for labor to PA. (MENA 6/7 in FBIS 6/8; CSM 6/9)

IDF dismantles a military base in `Illar nr. Tulkarm. (CSM 6/9)

Multilateral Working Group on Economic Development meets in Amman. (JTV 6/7 in FBIS 6/8)

Quadripartite (Egypt, Israel, Jordan, PA) technical comm. on refugees convenes for 1st time in Beersheba. (IGPO 6/6; VOP 6/7 in FBIS 6/7) (see 3/7)

In Damascus, U.S. envoy Ross, Pres. Asad discuss agenda for Syrian-Israeli talks to be held in Washington 6/27. After mtg. Ross heads to Cairo to meet with FM Musa, stops on way to brief PM Rabin on talks with Syrians. (MM 6/7; RE, SATN 6/7 in FBIS 6/8; MM, WT 6/8)

German Chancellor Kohl meets with Arafat in Jericho, pledges additional $7 m. to the PA, says Germany will consider investing in industrial parks. (VOP 6/7 in FBIS 6/8; CSM 6/8; VOP 6/10 in FBIS 6/12; MM 6/13; BT 6/22)

In Geneva, PA Labor M Samir Ghawshah represents PA at International Labor Org. (ILO) mtg., blocks U.S., Israeli motion to delete topic of Palestinian workers' conditions fr. the agenda. (PWR 6/95)

Israeli parliament approves $70 m. for army to begin "Rainbow II"--a plan calling for months of construction of new bypass roads for settlers in and a slowly phased withdrawal fr. West Bank. (WP 6/8)

Natan Sharansky announces formation of new Movement for Israel and Immigration to aid immigrants economically, socially politically; says he may turn it into a party aimed at coalescing Russian immigrants into voting bloc for Israel's 1996 elections. (JP 6/8 in FBIS 6/9; JP 6/17; NYT 6/20; JP 6/24; CSM 6/27)

Israeli State Atty. rules that Shin Bet interrogator who caused death of Palestinian detainee 4/25 "could not and should not have expected a fatal result of his actions," will not be criminally prosecuted. (NYT 6/8) (see 4/28)

Senate passes Pres. Clinton's antiterrorism bill 91-8. Bill expands government use of wiretaps, gives FBI greater access to phone and credit card reports, expands authority to deport or refuse entry to immigrants, bans fundraising for foreign organizations designated as terrorist by State Dept., allows U.S. citizens to sue terrorist groups for personal injuries sustained in attacks. (NYT, WP, WT 6/8; WJW 7/27) (see 6/20)

PM Rabin tells VP Gore Israel will not discuss a Middle East nuclear-free zone until it has peace agmts. with all its neighbors, Iran; hints Israel will not meet 7/1 deadline on elections talks with PA (see 3/9) if Arafat does not prevent incidents like 3/19 shooting, 3/21 truck incident. PA Planning M Shaath says he "never believed that date in the first place." (MM 3/23; QY 3/23 in FBIS 3/23; IDF Radio, QY 3/23, HA 3/24 in FBIS 3/24; MM 3/24; NYT, WP 3/25; MEI 3/31; JP 4/1)

Arafat meets with Pres. Mubarak meet in Cairo to discuss peace process, asks him to relay message to Pres. Clinton regarding impediments to implementing DOP. Arafat then meets with U.S. Foreign Relations Council delegation, discusses economic aid. (MENA 3/23 in FBIS 3/23; MENA, VOP 3/23 in FBIS 3/24)

Syrian FM al-Shara`, Egyptian FM Musa meet in Cairo to discuss Syrian-Israeli negotiations. (MENA 3/23 in FBIS 3/23; SATN 3/23 in FBIS 3/24)

Arab League passes resolution supporting indefinite NPT renewal but saying 22 mbr.-states are free to vote how they will; does not link renewal with Israel's joining NPT. U.S. official says "if the Egyptians were lobbying [against renewal], the Arab League resolution would never have passed." (AFP 3/22, 3/23 in FBIS 3/23; MENA 3/23 in FBIS 3/24; WT 3/31)

Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert says PA has violated Israeli authority over the city by taking control of all 20 Waqf schools (previously run by Jordan). PA funding for schools is part of $27 m. raised by Arafat advisor Husseini fr. Saudi Arabia. Remaining money is slated for Jerusalem housing (see 3/13). (JP 3/24 in FBIS 3/27; JP 4/1; WJW 5/5; JP 5/13)

To date, 93 senators have signed on to Sen. Alfonse D'Amato and Sen. D. Patrick Moynihan's letter, calling on the pres. to move the U.S. embassy in Israel fr. Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. (WJW 3/23) (see 2/3)

IDF, Hizballah exchange fire in s. Lebanon, leaving 1 civilian dead, 1 wounded. (AFP, RL 3/23 in FBIS 3/24)