The Palestine Chronology

Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv reports that U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry is planning to visit Jerusalem and Ramallah ‘‘once every two weeks’’ in a bid to revive peace talks. His third trip to the region in 2 weeks (3/4, 3/24) begins 4/6. (AFP, AP 4/3)

Israeli soldiers stationed at a military post shoot and kill a Palestinian teenager nr. Tulkarm, after what the IDF says was a firebomb attack (an account disputed by witnesses). A Fatah-called general strike is observed in Hebron and East Jerusalem, as protests continue following the death of prisoner Maysara Abuhamdieh. Palestinians protesting the death clash with IDF forces in and around Hebron, in Nablus and Tulkarm, nr. Bethlehem, and outside Ofer prison nr. Ramallah (where 7 are injured with rubber bullets). In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in and around Hebron and nearby al-‘Arub r.c. in the afternoon, and in 1 village nr. Hebron at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in al-‘Arub r.c. and 1 village nr. Hebron, in 1 village nr. Ramallah, and in Tulkarm at night. Unidentified Palestinian militants fire 2 rockets from Gaza into Israel, causing no injuries or damage. (HA, MNA 4/3; HA, PCHR 4/4)

A source in the office of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says that special envoy to Turkey Joseph Ciechanover and National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror will go to Ankara on 4/11 for the start of talks on restoring Turkish-Israeli ties. (HA 4/3)

U.S. and Jordanian officials say that the two countries are training Syrian opposition forces that could be used to establish a future buffer zone alongside Syria’s southern border. (WP 4/3)

In Washington, Secy. Albright, PM Netanyahu hold 2d day of fruitless talks aimed at restarting peace talks. Lower-level teams headed by U.S. special envoy Ross, Israeli Cabinet Secy. Nave will work over the weekend. Netanyahu spends rest of day making courtesy calls to mbrs. of Congress, attending lunch in his honor hosted by the Comm. on International Relations; does not lobby mbrs. to pressure administration to moderate its position. (MM 5/14; NYT, WP, WT 5/15)

100,000s of Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza, Jerusalem turn out for 2-minute moment of silence, nonviolent "March of 1 Million" to mark 50 yrs. of dispossession (known as al-Nakba). Marches in several areas (including, Bethlehem, Gaza, Hebron, Jericho, Jerusalem, Jinin, Nablus, Ramallah) devolve into clashes with IDF, which fires live ammunition, rubber bullets, killing 5 Palestinians, wounding 200-400, making this the worst day of violence in the territories since 9/25/96. 20 Israeli soldiers, policemen and 2 civilians are also injured. Netanyahu calls demonstrations a PA "pressure tactic." (LAW, MM 5/14; IDF Radio, ITV 5/14 in WNC 5/15; NYT, WP, WT 5/15; JTV 5/14, Anatolia [Ankara], Corriere della Sera [Milan] 5/15 in WNC 5/18; LAW 5/18; WP 5/19)

50,000 Palestinians in Syria hold march in Yarmuk refugee camp to commemorate al-Nakba. (JP 5/23)

In Jerusalem, fire damages one of the wooden doors of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Israel police suspect Jewish extremists. (RJ 5/14 in WNC 5/15; WP 5/15)

In Ankara, Iran, Turkey hold talks on expanding ties. (IRNA 5/14 in WNC 5/18) (see 5/4)

In Ankara, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey hold follow-up discussions on the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project. (Anatolia [Ankara] 5/14 in WNC 5/15) (see 4/26)

IDF expels 3 Lebanese civilians fr. s. Lebanon security zone for celebrating release of relative fr. SLA custody. (AFP 5/14 in WNC 5/15; RL 5/15 in WNC 5/18)

Arafat reportedly takes ill on his way to mtg. in Egypt, returns to Gaza with his physician under ambulance escort. PA makes no statement. (IDF Radio 4/9 in WNC 4/10)

At a mtg. in Gaza attended by Arafat, PA security chiefs refuse a request by the CIA, Israeli security officials to reestablish security coordination immediately. (ITV, MA 4/9 in WNC 4/10; MM 4/10; ITV, YA 4/10 in WNC 4/11; WT 4/11; ITV 4/11 in WNC 4/15; MEI 4/18)

In the Israeli controlled enclave of Hebron (H2), 2 Jewish yeshiva students open fire with Uzi submachine guns (provided by the IDF), killing a Palestinian, sparking riots in the PA controlled section of the city (H1) during which IDF troops kill 2 Palestinians, wound 100; 5 soldiers are also injured. PA policemen prevent riots fr. spilling over into H2; some are injured by Palestinian protesters, others by rubber bullets fired at the protesters by the IDF. (MM 4/8; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 4/9; ITV 4/9 in WNC 4/10; PR 4/11; MEI 4/18; JP 4/19)

Israeli FM Levy arrives in Turkey for talks with PM Erbakan. (MM 4/8; Anatolia [Ankara] 4/8 in WNC 4/9; VIRI 4/8, Sabah [Istanbul] 4/9 in WNC 4/10; VIRI 4/10; Milliyet (Istanbul) 4/11 in WNC 4/16)

Israeli citizen David Mir, who owns 50% of the land which Israel confiscated for Har Homa and disapproves of Israel's decision to build, announces that he has been negotiating with Palestinians, other Arabs to transfer his rights to the land so as to turn the construction at Har Homa into construction on land confiscated fr. Arabs. (ITV 4/4 in WNC 4/7)

Turkey ratifies free trade agmt. with Israel (passed by the Knesset in 1996). (Analtolia [Ankara] 4/8 in WNC 4/9; VIRI 4/8 in WNC 4/10)

400 Palestinians clash with IDF troops in Hebron. 16 Palestinians are wounded by rubber bullets. Other clashes occur in Bethlehem, East Jerusalem. (WT 4/5)

Greece complains to the U.S. about recent Israeli initiatives, U.S. relations with Turkey. (MA 4/6 in WNC 4/8) (see 4/3)

In Lebanon, delegation fr. Hamas's political bureau meets with Hizballah Secy. Gen. Hasan Nasrallah to discuss peace process, Jerusalem. (al-'Ahd 4/4 in WNC 4/9)