The Palestine Chronology

PLO and its supporters seek to get UN Sec. Council to approve resolution condemning Israel for Haram al-Sharif killings in harsher terms then U.S. draft proposing a fact-finding mission to investigate conditions in O.T. and to suggest ways to protect Palestinians [NYT, LAT, WP, WT 10/11]; PLO Central Council opens meeting in Tunis (cf. 10/14) [BVP 10/11 in FBIS 10/12].

Leaders of U.S. Jewish groups express anger at Bush admin. decision to sponsor UN Sec. Council resolution censuring Israel for Haram al-Sharif deaths [NYT, WT, MEM 10/11].

Israeli gov't appoints 3-man high-level commission under former Mossad head Zvi Zamir to investigate Haram al-Sharif killings [NYT, LAT, WP, WT 10/11; MEM 10/121.

HaAretz reports that in contradiction to initial gov't reports, Palestinians did not plan in advance rock-throwing on Haram al-Sharif [MEM 10/10; HAA 10/10 in FBIS 10/16].

U.S. Air Force temporarily halts all training flights in Gulf after series of fatal accidents [LAT, NYT, WP 10/12].

Jordanian P.M. Mudar Badran tells parliament he will consider popular demands to arm civilians against possible Israeli attack [LAT, MEM 10/11].

Israeli lawyer Felicia Langer, who defended Palestinians in Israeli courts for 20 years before retiring, is named joint winner of humanitarian-award from Swedish Right Livelihood Society [MEM 10/10].

Bahrain-based Gulf International Bank releases study on effect of the Gulf crisis on economies of the region: "There is money to be made from every aspect of the crisis ... As long as oil revenues continue to flow, trade, construction, banking, industry, and other services will respond. . ." [text in MEM 10/11].

French F.M. Roland Dumas says it would be "catastrophic" if UN Sec. Council fails to react to Haram al-Sharif killings; says failure to condemn Israel and take steps to protect Palestinians would be proof of Western hypocrisy [MEM 10/11].

Israel's parliament votes 62-57 (1 abstention) to approve right-wing gov't. under P.M. Shamir. Likud's narrow coalition includes 10 other parties or factions representing ultra-Orthodox religious groups and the extreme right [JDS 6/11 in FBIS 6/12; NYT, WP, WT, LAT 6/12; FJ 6/18].

In Tunis, PLO issue statement opposing any military action that targets civilians. Bush admin. is reportedly "disappointed" that PLO did not specifically condemn 5/30 attempted seaborne raid by Abul Abbas's PLF faction [BVP 6/11 in FBIS 6/12; WP, NYT, WT, LAT 6/12]; Robert Pelletreau, U.S. ambassador to Tunisia, meets with PLO representatives for fourth time in recent days; Swedish gov't. sends emissary to Arafat, urging him to take action acceptable to Washington [KUNA 6/11 in FBIS 6/12; NYT, WP 6/12].

UNLU issues call no. 58, calling for increased isolation of Israel and U.S. [SVP 6/11, 6/14 in FBIS 6/13, 6/15].

U.S. Vice Pres. Dan. Quayle, Def. Sec. Richard Cheney, and Virginia govemor L. Douglas Wilder speak before AIPAC's annual conference in Washington [WP, WT 6/12].

Fateh political dir. Zayd Wahbah tells reporters Fateh "had not conducted an infiltration attempt into Israel," referring to 6/10 allegation that SLA had captured Fateh infiltrators in S.Lebanon "security zone" [AFP 6/11 in FBIS 6/12].

Swedish Save the Children organization releases 1,000-page report accusing IDF of systematic violence against Palestinian children in O.T. JDS 5/17 in FBIS 5/17; NYT, WT, LAT, CSM, MEM 5/ 17; FJ 5/21].

Israeli Pres. Chaim Herzog grants Yitzhak Shamir addtional 21 days to try to form gov't. [JDS 5/17 in FBIS 5/18; WP, NYT, WT 5/18; MET 5/29].

U.S. and Arab nations break off talks designed to reach compromise of text of a UN Sec. Council resolution criticizing Israeli settlement in O.T. [NYT 5/18].

Despite objections from U.S. and Israel, WHO passes resolution increasing direct assistance to Palestinians in O.T. [NYT 5/18].

Arab League Sec.-Gen. Chedli Klibi is handed memorandum from Bush admin. offering advice to Arab states on occasion of upcoming Arab League summit [MEM 5/23; INA 5/23 in FBIS 5/24].

Washington Times reports American Jewish leaders have helped broker a deal between U.S., Israel, and Ethiopia that would allow some 3,000 Falashas to emigrate to Israel [WT 6/17].

Israel establishes new police unit, Gid'onim, to deal with security problems in Jerusalem; 30-man team, from IDF elite units, will "engage in intelligence missions, deal with hostile elements, thwart terrorist activities, and handle disturbances in Jerusalem" [JDS 5/17 in FBIS 5/18; MEM 5/18].

Jerusalem Magistrate Court will hear deliberations on Jewish settlement in St. John's Hospice; Judge Ya acov Betzalel reports that court sessions will begin in late October, status quo will remain in effect until then [JDS 5/17 in FBIS 5/18].

Abbie Nathan, arrested 5/16, is released on $5,000 bail after admitting he met Arafat in Tunis [MET 5/29].

Israeli police arrest Jewish man they describe as "mentally deranged" on suspicion of desecrating c.250 Jewish graves in Lod on 5/13 (cf. 5/27) [NYT, WT 5/17; WP 5/18].