The Palestine Chronology

In Gaza, Arafat meets with German Economics M Carl-Dieter Spranger meets with Arafat in Gaza, Israeli Finance M Avraham Shohat in Jerusalem regarding economic aid. (VOP 8/22 in FBIS 8/23; JP 8/22, QY 8/25 in FBIS 8/25; Handelsblatt [Duesseldorf] 9/14 in FBIS 9/15)

U.S. Asst. Secy. of State Pelletreau makes 2d visit to Jordan in less than 1 wk., briefs King Hussein on talks with Saudi Arabia's King Fahd, Kuwaiti officials; leaves for Washington. (AFP 8/22 in FBIS 8/22; JT 8/23 in FBIS 8/24)

Based on information received fr. `Abd al-Nasir Issa, a wanted Hamas mbr. arrested 8/19, Shin Bet uncovers "bomb-making factory" in West Bank, arrests 29 Hamas suspects, charges Issa as "mastermind" of 7/24, 8/21 bombings. Shin Bet says Issa confessed within hours of the 8/21 attack, after agents were permitted to use "exaggerated physical force" during interrogation. In hunt for other Hamas mbrs, Israel seals off Jericho, closes Allenby bridge crossing. (QY 8/23, 8/24 in FBIS 8/24; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/24; MM 8/25; WT 8/29; WJW 8/31; JP 9/9)

Israeli Environment M Yossi Sarid meets with Arafat, Planning M Shaath in Gaza; discusses redeployment, elections, transfer of powers, release of prisoners; calls on Arafat to settle for partial troop pullback in West Bank to be followed by Palestinian elections in the fall. Arafat rejects offer. (MM 6/15; QY, RE, VOP 6/15 in FBIS 6/16; CSM, WT 6/16; MEI 6/23)

PA Transportation M `Abd al-`Aziz al-Hajj Ahmad announces draft transportation agmt. with Jordan, opening of commerce crossing point at King Hussein Bridge. (al-Dustur 6/15 in FBIS 6/16; JTV 6/15 in FBIS 6/19; PR 6/18)

IDF seizes 30 dunums of land belonging to al-Wadiri Agricultural College nr. Tulkarm, begins clearing area to build joint liaison office in advance of redeployment. (QY 6/15 in FBIS 6/16)

After allegedly finding "inciting" Hamas material during raid, IDF closes Aroura mosque nr. Ramallah for 5 mos. (PR 6/25) (see 5/17)

In Beirut, U.S. Asst. Secy. of State Pelletreau says U.S. will begin easing travel ban on Lebanon by allowing airlines to ticket non-Americans for travel btwn. the 2 countries; urges Lebanon to sign international antiterrorism agmt. Hizballah balks, saying U.S. is in no position to call others "terrorists." (MM 6/15)

Hizballah fires 12 rockets into n. Israel, killing 1, wounding 1. IAF strikes targets north of self-declared security zone, wounding 4. (MM 6/15; IDF Radio, QY 6/15, IDF Radio, MA, QY 6/16 in FBIS 6/16; MM 6/16; MEI 7/21)

PA Planning M Shaath, Israeli o.t. coordinator Oren Shahor meet to discuss upcoming joint comm. meeting, improving economic situation in Gaza, making it easier to cross at Rafah, Allenby Bridge. (QY 4/24 in FBIS 4/25)

Israeli Industry and Trade M Mikha Harish accuses Morocco of "political boycott," recalls delegation of Israeli industrialists in kingdom to attend trade show after Moroccan customs officials confiscate, refuse to release their product samples. (JP 4/24 in FBIS 4/25)

Pres. Clinton says he will seek broad powers to combat domestic terrorism, incl. easing federal ability to check credit, travel documents, hotel records of suspects, requiring phone companies to assure easy access for government wiretaps. (NYT, WP 4/24)

Israel expels Palestinian policeman to Jordan, accusing him of attacking Israelis, collaborators. Jordan refuses to permit him entry, saying it will not allow Israel to deport Palestinians to its territory. Israel refuses PA request to return policeman to self-rule areas, detains him at Israel's King Hussein Bridge checkpoint. (MM 2/27; JT 2/28 in FBIS 3/1; WT 3/1)

Joint PA-Israeli Economic Comm. meets in Jericho to discuss implementation of Paris protocol signed 4/29/94, closure of o.t., creation of 11 industrial zones. (MM 2/27; VOP 2/27, QY 2/27 in FBIS 2/28)

SLA frees 27 Lebanese prisoners fr. Khiyam prison, s. Lebanon, as "goodwill gesture" marking Id al-Fitr. (MM 2/28)

Egyptian, Jordanian, Palestinian delegations begin mtgs. in Cairo to discuss 1967 refugees, ways of securing right of return, seek to coordinate positions before mtg. with Israel at end of mo. Egypt, Jordan agree to provide PA with any statistics, information they have, call on international community to do the same. (MENA, RE 2/4, RJ 2/5 in FBIS 2/6; JTV 2/6 in FBIS 2/7)

Amman Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Commerce of Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Jericho sign trade agmt. to encourage economic integration of, investment and development btwn. Palestinians, Jordan. (PETRA 2/4 in FBIS 2/8)

Israel's FM Peres, Dep. FM Beilin meet with Omani FM Yusuf Bin `Alawi in Aqaba; agree to open interests offices, discuss water issue. (JTV, RJ 2/4, QY 2/5 in FBIS 2/6; JP 2/11)

IDF bans Palestinians fr. leaving Jericho, incl. students enrolled in universities and institutes. PA protests. (VOP 2/4 in FBIS 2/6)

Israel's Islamic Movement leader, Shaykh `Abdallah Nimr Darweish, announces his group will mobilize supporters for the next election, may form ticket. The group--a legal party with unofficial ties to Hamas--previously boycotted Israeli elections. (MM 2/6)

Acting on tips fr. IDF, PSF captures 3 Palestinians allegedly planning to explode car bomb nr. Allenby Bridge. Israeli officials praise Arafat for preventing attack. (ITV 2/4 in FBIS 2/6; WT 2/6; JP 2/11)

FM Peres says that direct vote for Israeli PM, slated for next elections, should be postponed until current government has had at least 1 more term in office. (QY 2/4 in FBIS 2/6)