The Palestine Chronology

In New York, Secy. Albright meets with PM Netanyahu, Arafat, Egyptian FM Musa, Lebanese PM Hariri. Arafat, Musa also meet. (MENA, RL 9/26, MENA 9/27 in WNC 9/29; WT 9/28; MEI 10/2)

Turkey upgrades its diplomatic relations with Iraq to the ambassadorial level in response to a U.S.-backed agmt. btwn. the KDP, PUK (see 9/17), which it fears will encourage Kurdish separatists in Turkey. (ATL 9/26 in WNC 9/29; NYT, WT 9/27; MM 10/1; MIL 10/3 in WNC 10/14 MM 10/9)

In Maryland, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah meets with executives fr. 7 U.S. oil companies to discuss allowing them back into the kingdom for the 1st time since the Saudi oil industry was nationalized in 1973. (WP 9/30; MEI 10/2)

Iran resumes maneuvers on the border with Afghanistan. (WP, WT 9/27) (see 9/16)

Arafat, Netanyahu agree to go to Washington next wk. to meet separately with Pres. Clinton. No 3-way mtg. is planned. Clinton last met with the 2 leaders in 1/98. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/25; ITV 9/25 in WNC 9/29)

 On his 1st trip to the U.S. in 10 yrs., Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah meets with Pres. Clinton, Secy. Albright, and various Treasury, State Dept., CIA, FBI officials. (RJ, SANA 9/25 in WNC 9/28; MEI 10/2)

 A small bomb explodes at a Jerusalem bus stop during rush hour, injuring 1 IDF soldier. (WP 9/25; PR 10/2)

IDF searches the Palestinian village of Arura nr. Ramallah, detains 30 alleged Hamas mbrs. for "being involved in hostile activities." (ITV 9/25 in WNC 9/29)

Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, Syria, the PA, the Arab League hold mtg. in Lebanon to prepare for Euro-Mediterranean meeting next wk. in Italy; also discuss possible Arab summit on the peace process. (SANA 6/1, RL, VOL 6/2 in WNC 6/3; WT 6/2; MM 6/4; al-Jumhuriyya 6/6 in WNC 6/9)

In Amman, Jordan's King Hussein opens 2 days of talks with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah on possibility of holding an Arab summit. (MM 6/1; al-Aswaq, JTV, MBC, RJ 6/1, AFP, al-Dustur, RJ 6/2 in WNC 6/3; VOA 6/3 in WNC 6/4; al-Ittihad,al-Ra'i 6/3, al-Ra'i 6/5 in WNC 6/8, 6/9; MM 6/12; al-Watan al-Arabi 6/12 in WNC 6/15; MEI 6/19)

U.S. Supreme Court rules (6-3) to send case against AIPAC brought by 6 fmr. government officials back to the Federal Election Comm. (FEC) for a decision based on new election laws. The 6 officials, led by James Akins, claim that AIPAC should be treated legally as a political action comm., meaning its membership lists, donations records would be made public. (WJW 6/4) (see 1/14)

Nr. Hebron, Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba set fire to 2 Palestinian-owned cars. (WT 6/3)

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah arrives in Damascus for talks with FM Shara` on possible Arab summit. (MM 6/1; MBC 6/1 in WNC 6/3; al-Watan al-Arabi 6/12 in WNC 6/15)

During 2d round of Lebanese municipal elections, fighting breaks out in 2 locations in n. Lebanon, leaving 6 persons wounded, 30 under arrest. (WP 6/1; MM 6/2)

Egyptian FM Musa arrives in Saudi Arabia for talks with Crown Prince `Abdullah on possible Arab summit. Trip was previously unplanned, prompted by Arafat's surprise visit to the kingdom, which ended 5/26. (MM 5/27, 6/1)

House Speaker Gingrich, Arafat meet in Ramallah. U.S. congressional delegation then leaves for Jordan. (NYT, WP, WT 5/28; MM, PR 5/29; al-Thawra 5/31 in WNC 6/8; MEI, MM 6/5; JP 6/6)

Syria's Pres. Asad receives congressional delegation led by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT). (MM 5/28)

Iran, Saudi Arabia sign wide-ranging cooperation agmt. (WP, WT 5/28)

Knesset passes (50-45, with 1 abstention) 1st reading (of 3) of motion to change Israel's election system back to pre-5/96 process, eliminating direct election of PM. Motion is expected to be overturned. (MM 5/28; MEI 6/5)

In s. Lebanon, 2 Golani Brigade mbrs. are killed, 2 wounded by Hizballah roadside bomb. Separately, 1 civilian is injured by IDF shelling. (MM 5/28; RL 6/3 in WNC 6/4; JP 6/6)

VP Gore travels to Saudi Arabia to discuss peace process, bilateral relations with Crown Prince Abdullah. Gore then heads to Ramallah for late-night mtg. with Arafat; urges him to take serious steps in London to reduce gaps, reach peace. Secy. Albright says that she "has not reason to believe" that London talks will be successful. (NYT, WP 5/3; NYT, WP 5/4)

Nr. Baalbeck, Lebanon, Hizballah mbrs. clash with supporters of fmr. Hizballah chief Shaykh Subhi Tufayli, leaving 2 people wounded. Lebanese army units encircle the area, halt fighting. (RL 5/2 in WNC 5/6) (see 2/1)

Jordanian PM Majali sends letter to King Hussein, promising that the government will start drafting new press law immediately. (JT 4/19 in WNC 4/21) (see 4/15)

British PM Blair meets with Crown Prince Abdullah in Saudi Arabia; discusses peace process, Iraq. (JTV 4/19 in WNC 4/21; LPA 4/21 in WNC 4/23)