The Palestine Chronology

Beset by challenges from within Conservative party, British P.M. Margaret Thatcher announces her resignation [NYT, LAT, WP 11/23; CSM 11/26].

Pres. Bush visits U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia, says they may have to face "some pain now to avoid even worse pain later," then flies to Cairo [NYT, LAT, WP 11/23; MET 12/4].

D.M. Tom King says Britain will send 14,000 more troops and additional tanks, aircraft, and ships to the Gulf by the end of the year, bringing total number of British troops there to more than 30,000 [NYT, LAT, MEM 11/23].

Visiting Sanaa, Yemen, Sec. Baker is rebuffed in efforts to persuade Yemen, only Arab country on UN Sec. Council, to support resolution authorizing use of force against Iraq. Pres. Saleh criticizes buildup of foreign forces in Gulf [SDS 11/22 in FBIS 11/23; SDS 11/23 in FBIS 11/26; NYT, LAT, WP, MEM 11/23]; Baker then flies to Jeddah [SPA 11/22 in FBIS 11/23].

PLO leader Yasir Arafat arrives in Baghdad, says he strongly supports Saddam Hussein's assertions that Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait must be tied to overall settlement of conflicts in region; adds there is no alternative to negotiations between Iraq and U.S. [BVP 11/22 in FBIS 11/27; NYT 11/26].

D.M. Moshe Arens instructs IDF to expand enlistment of Bedouins into its ranks [MAA 11/23 in FBIS 11/23].

Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek and E. Jerusalem Arabs praise Jerusalem district planning committee's decision to build 7,500 new apartments for Palestinians northwards from French Hill junction towards Ramallah [JPD 11/23 in FBIS 11/23; MEM 11/23; JPI 12/1].

Kuwaiti gov't.-in-exile extends $550 million medium-term loan to the Soviet Union on favorable terms; "observers" point to "political aspect" of loan [MEM 11/23]. 

Soviet Union and Israel sign agreement on scientific cooperation and exchanges of scientific information [TASS 11/22 in FBIS 11/28].

Iraqi gov't. orders 250,000 additional troops and reservists to Kuwait and decries U.S. criticism of its plan to release foreign hostages. Troops will join estimated 430,000 already stationed in Kuwait (cf. 11/20) [BADS 11/19 in FBIS 11/19; LAT, NYT, WT, WP 11/20; CSM 11/21; MET 11/27].

Pres. Bush meets Pres. Gorbachev in Paris; Bush fails to win Soviet approval for UN Sec. Council resolution authorizing use of force in Gulf. Meeting between Bush and Jordan's King Hussein is indefinitely postponed, reportedly because of King's 11/17 speech and differences on Gulf crisis [LAT, NYT, WP, MEM 11/20; CSM 11/21].

Arab countries at UN say they will end efforts made since 1982 to expel Israel from UN, but in return want Gen. Assembly to declare that Israel does not represent territories occupied after 1967 war [WP 11/20; NYT 11/21].

Housing Min. Ariel Sharon says special effort is being made to build housing in E. Jerusalem, indicating that of 17,000 new units planned, 15,000 will be built over green line (cf. 11/21) LIDS 11/20 in FBIS 11/20].

More than 100 W. Bank Palestinians are issued green ID cards, barring them from working is Israel; D.M. Moshe Arens has agreed to issue 2,400 new green IDs, bringing number of barred Palestinians to 10,000 [JPD 11/20 in FBIS 11/21; MEM 11/20; FJ 11/26].

U.S. officials say P.M. Shamir's 11/18 "sea to river" remark will hurt chances for Arab-Israeli peace, ask for clarification; comment also draws criticism from Israeli Labor party officials [WT, WP, MEM 11/20; JPI 12/1].

Morocco's King Hassan suggests that obstacles to proposed Arab summit on Gulf crisis might be removed by first convening smaller gathering of key Arab heads of state [MEM 11/20].

Saddam reportedly visits Kuwait for 1st time since invasion [LAT, NYT, WT 10/4].

Pres. Mitterrand leaves for 36-hour visit to Gulf to review French troops, meet UAE leaders and King Fahd [ATS 10/3 in FBIS 10/4; MEM 10/3; NYT 10/4].

Soviet envoy Primakov arrives in Amman to meet King Hussein and Chrmn. Arafat [MEM 10/3; NYT 10/4, 10/5].

Foreign ministers or envoys of all Arab nations except Iraq meet at UN in informal session to discuss Gulf crisis; no progress is reported [LAT, NYT 10/4]; F.M.s of GCC nations meet UN Sec.-Gen. Perez de Cuellar [WAKH 10/3 in FBIS 10/5].

Bush admin. says proposed $7.3 billion arms package to Saudi Arabia is vital to long-term strategy to deter attacks against Saudis after Gulf crisis [NYT 10/4].

Amnesty International issues report accusing Iraqi troops of carrying out torture and extrajudicial killings to crush resistance in Kuwait [MEM 10/3]. 

Syrian Pres. Asad returns to Damascus, concluding 3-day visit with Egypt's Pres. Mubarak [WP, NYT 7/17].

Arab League concludes meeting in Tunis, reports Arab states will boycott companies and institutions that help Jews immigrate to Israel [INA 7/16 in FBIS 7/ 17; WT, MEM 7/17].

UN Sec. Gen. Javier Perez de Cuellar asks 5 permanent members of Sec. Council to become involved in Middle East peace process; U.S. indicates readiness to examine de Cuellar's invitation, but has traditionally opposed greater UN involvement [MEM 7/17; NYT 7/18].

Israeli troops shoot, wound 11 Palestinians in Gaza; enter Rafa town and camp for first time in month and order residents to remove graffiti [NYT 7/17].