The Palestine Chronology

Arafat arrives in Washington, meets with Secy. of State Albright, calls on U.S. to pressure Israel to fulfill withdrawal agmts. as outlined in Oslo accords. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/22)

American Jewish leaders (fr. such groups as American Jewish Congress, Anti-Defamation League) criticize Netanyahu for courting Christian Right. Netanyahu gives interview to Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network. (WP 1/22; MM 1/26) (see 1/19)

In Mecca, Jordan's King Hussein, Saudi Arabia's King Fahd discuss joint efforts to support the peace process. King Hussein is in Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser pilgrimage (al-`Umra). (RJ 1/21 in WNC 1/23; `Ukaz [Jiddah] 1/22 in WNC 1/27)

Dir. Gen. of the Israeli Cabinet Ariel Shomir travels to Cairo to deliver a letter fr. Pres. Weizman to Egypt's Pres. Mubarak. (MENA 1/21 in WNC 1/23)

World Bank secures financing for first export-oriented industrial estate at al-Muntar, Gaza. (World Bank press release 1/21)

IDF begins bulldozing Palestinian land nr. Neve Dalim settlement in Gaza as 1st step to expanding the settlement. (PCHR 1/24)

Jordan receives last installment of U.S. military equipment under the $1-m. 1996 draw-down agmt. (JTV 1/21 in WNC 1/23; al-Ra'i 1/26 in WNC 1/27)

Secy. of State Christopher eulogizes Norwegian FM Johan Jorgen Holst at funeral in Oslo, meets separately with Israeli FM Peres, PLO Chmn. Arafat, urges them to reconcile differences. Peres and Arafat meet twice, report progress, Peres saying "there is a chance we can reach an agreement," Arafat that "we have overcome some bridges." Peres and Arafat agree to meet again 1/30 in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss security issues of Gaza-Jericho autonomous regions. (NYT, WP, WT 1/23; CSM 1/24)

PLO official Hakam Balawi announces PLO Chmn. Arafat will meet Saudi King Fahd after making 'umra pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina in 1st visit by Arafat to kingdom since Gulf war. (WP 1/23)

Secy. of Commerce Ron Brown meets 26 Palestinian businessmen in Gaza City. 1st U.S. cabinet mbr. to visit Gaza Strip says "the economic situation in Gaza is unacceptable, and we should work to improve it." (WT 1/23)

100,000 Syrians attend funeral in Qurdaha, Syria, of Basil al-Asad, killed in car crash 1/21. Syrians in occupied Golan Heights observe 24 hours of mourning. U.S. represented at funeral by amb. Christopher Ross. (WP 1/23; CSM 1/24)

600 students at Gaza's al-Azhar university march to PLO office in Gaza City to protest intra-Palestinian violence. (WT 1/26)