The Palestine Chronology

As Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, Israel tightens its blockade of Palestinian towns in the West Bank. During the day, 3 Palestinians are shot dead by the IDF. A 4th Palestinian is killed by a Jewish settler. A 5th dies of complications fr. inhaling tear gas when the IDF bars an ambulance fr. taking him to a hospital. A 6th dies of injuries received earlier. Nr. Ramallah, several Palestinians are wounded by Jewish settlers in a drive-by shooting. Beginning this evening and continuing overnight, IDF troops search, ransack at least 20 homes in area B nr. Nablus, Qalqilya, and Ramallah, arresting 15 Fatah mbrs. "suspected of carrying out terrorist attacks." Nr. Qalqilya, the IDF bulldozes several greenhouses. In a closed mtg., Arafat tells his security officials to prevent individuals fr. firing fr. areas A and Palestinian populated areas so as to reduce civilian casualties resulting fr. Israeli reprisals. (EU press release, LAW, MEZ 11/14; MENA 11/14 in WNC 11/16; LAW, MEZ, NYT, WP, WT 11/15; MA [Internet], MM, NYT 11/16; AYM 11/16 in WNC 11/17)

In Doha, the OIC issues a special nonbinding resolution on the clashes, urging mbrs. to cut ties with Israel; the U.S. to revise its "biased stance" in favor of Israel; the UN to send a peacekeeping force in the West Bank, Gaza. (MA [Internet], MM, OIC press release 11/14; AYM, IRNA 11/14 in WNC 11/15; MENA 11/14 in WNC 11/16; MM 11/15, 11/16; IRNA 11/16 in WNC 11/17; MM 11/17; JP, MEI 11/24)

Lebanon reports that IDF overflew Baalbek, Bint Jubayl, Iqlim al-Tuffah, Marja'uyun, Nabatiyya and reinforced troops in the Shaba` Farms area. UNIFIL adviser Timur Goksel says UNIFIL recorded 123 Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace btwn. 10/8 and 11/8, has protested to Israel to no avail. (AFP [Internet] 11/14; RL 11/14 in WNC 11/16)

The Clinton administration submits to Congress a request for a $750 m. supplemental aid package for Israel, Egypt, Jordan. (WP 11/15; HA [Internet], WJW 11/16)

The Lebanese government sends 500 soldiers, 500 special police troops into s. Lebanon to support UNIFIL forces. This is the 1st time since 1976 that Lebanese forces have asserted any control over the border area. (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 8/10; NYT 8/13)

UNIFIL completes its deployment across s. Lebanon, with some troops taking over posts fr. Hizballah. (IRNA 8/5 in WNC 8/7; NYT, WP, WT 8/6; CSM 8/7)

In Jericho, Eran and Erakat, the Israeli and PA interim affairs negotiators, discuss PA-Israeli relations in the wake of the Camp David summit, agree to hold more mtgs. this wk. to try to move final status negotiations forward. (WT 7/31)

The Israeli and PA senior negotiators on security affairs, Israel's Internal Security M Ben-Ami and the PA's Gaza PSF head Muhammad Dahlan meet in Gaza to review security arrangements discussed at Camp David, discuss the release of more Palestinian prisoners. (Associated Press [Internet] 7/30; JP [Internet] 7/31)

The PA police arrest senior Hamas official `Abd al-`Aziz Rantisi on charges of incitement for criticizing the PA's handling of the Camp David talks. (al-Quds 7/31 in WNC 8/2; LAW 8/3; HJ 8/3 in WNC 8/4; al-Quds 8/10 in WNC 8/14)

UNIFIL resumes its deployment in s. Lebanon, setting up bases at 4 points along the blue line. (WT 7/31; WJW 8/3) (see 7/28)

After receiving assurances for his safety fr. pres. Lahoud, Fmr. pres. Amin Gemayel, a Christian leader who was forced into exile over his alliance with the U.S. against Syria during the Lebanese civil war, returns to Lebanon for the 1st time in 8 yrs. Some 3,000 supports rally to welcome him in his hometown of Bikfayya. (WP 7/31; MM 8/3; see also MM 7/19)

Jewish settlers erect 30 mobile homes on 3 sites (Qaryat, Jaloud, Lubban) nr. Nablus, and confiscate 50 dunams of Palestinian land in Mawasi nr. Rafah, begin constructing 50 greenhouses. (PA Information Min. press release 7/30; LAW 8/10)

Israeli, PA negotiators agree to resume final status talks in Erez on 7/30. (Israel Radio [Internet] 7/27; RFI 7/27 in WNC 7/28; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/28)

PM Barak phones 5 U.S. congressmen to ask them to introduce legislation on moving the U.S. emb. fr. Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, reportedly receives a mixed response. (NYT 7/30; WJW 8/3) (see 7/26)

UNIFIL begins deploying to new posts across s. Lebanon, taking up positions at 2 border sites, but freezes the mobilization later in the day because of more Israeli incursions. In New York, the UNSC extends the UNIFIL mandate to 1/31/01. (XIN 7/27 in WNC 7/31; MM 7/28; NYT 7/29)

Lebanon calls on wealthy nations to donate to a $1.34-b., 5-yr. reconstruction fund for redeveloping s. Lebanon--part of a $6.3-b. investment plan for the whole country. (MEI, MM, NYT 7/28)

The Israeli Interior Min. reports that over the past yr., the Jewish settler population in the West Bank and Gaza has grown by 13,600 people, or 7.5%. There are now close to 200,000 settlers in these areas. (Israel Radio [Internet] 7/27)

At Camp David, Arafat passes a letter to Clinton saying he sees no reason to continue talks, since Barak has adopted a take-it-or-leave-it position regarding U.S. proposals on Jerusalem. After a final set of 1-on-1 mtgs. with Arafat and Barak, Clinton declares an end to the Camp David summit. The U.S., Israel, the PA issue a 5-point statement of negotiating principles, express hope that a deal may still be reached by 9/13. In announcing the failure of the summit, Clinton essentially lays the blame on Arafat, stating that Barak showed more flexibility. (Interfax, MENA 7/25 in WNC 7/26; MENA, XIN 7/25, ABC [Madrid], ATL, Interfax, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, MA, MENA, al-Quds, SA 7/26 in WNC 7/27; MM, NYT, PR [Internet], WP, WT 7/26; AYM, DUS 7/26, Le Monde, SA, TT 7/27 in WNC 7/28; Arab News [Jeddah] 7/26, JT 7/30 in WNC 7/31; HA [Internet], NYT, WJW 7/27; AYM 7/28 in WNC 8/2; MIL 7/28 in WNC 8/3; NYT 7/29; WP 7/30)

UN Secy.-Gen. Annan suspends the UNIFIL deployment in light of new Israeli violations of the blue line. (XIN 7/25 in WNC 7/27; WP 7/26; MEI 7/28)

The London-based daily al-Hayat reports that Syrian pres. Bashar al-Asad recently received fmr. chief of staff Shihabi on his return fr. medical treatment in the U.S., suggesting anticorruption charges against him have been dropped. (MM 7/25; SA 7/30 in WNC 7/31) (see 6/6)

Jewish settlers level 25 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Qalqilya. (LAW 8/10)

At Camp David, Pres. Clinton continues talks with PA, Israeli teams until early morning, breaks for a few hrs., and then resumes mtgs., which continue all day. Late in the evening, Clinton, with Barak's prior approval, presents the sides with 3 proposals on Jerusalem, marking the 1st time Israel has officially agreed to discuss sharing control of the city. Talks on the proposals continue past midnight. (MM, White House press briefing 7/24; IRNA 7/24 in WNC 7/25; MM, NYT, WP 7/25; DUS 7/25, ABC [Madrid] 7/26 in WNC 7/27; DUS 7/25 in WNC 7/28; MM, WP 7/26; MA 7/27 in WNC 7/31; MEI 7/28; NYT 7/29; WP 7/30)

UN Secy.-Gen. Annan tells the UNSC that Israel has corrected its violations of the blue line with Lebanon; UNIFIL can now deploy to fixed positions in new areas across the s. (UN press briefing 7/24; SA 7/24 in WNC 7/25; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 7/25; WJW 7/27; MEI 7/28)

UN special envoy Larsen returns to the Middle East to resolve ongoing claims that Israel has been violating Lebanon's border; says that once Israel guarantees its troops will no longer make forays across the blue line, UNIFIL troops will deploy throughout s. Lebanon. (NYT 7/8; al-Safir 7/14 in WNC 7/18; IRNA 7/15 in WNC 7/19)

In Lausanne, an Israeli Mossad agent who plead guilty on 7/3 to charges of entering Switzerland illegally in 1/98 to spy on a suspected Hizballah supporter is given a 1-yr. suspended sentence and is allowed to return to Israel. (WT 7/8; YA [Internet] 7/10; JP 7/14)

In Beirut, UN Secy.-Gen. Annan asks Pres. Lahoud to recognize the UN verification of Israel's withdrawal and send troops to help UNIFIL patrols, promising that the UN will quickly clear up Israel's minor violations. (MM, WP 6/20; NYT 6/21, 6/22; al-Safir 6/21 in WNC 6/27; MM 6/23; Le Monde 6/24 in WNC 6/29; JP 6/30)

Israel frees 3 Palestinian prisoners that Barak decided to release on 6/14. Arafat describes the release as "an insult." (NYT 6/20; WJW 6/22; MEI 6/30)

YESHA settlers council organizes a rally of 40,000 Jewish settlers outside the Knesset, followed by a march to PM Barak's residence to protest any further transfers of land to PA control. The 40,000 figure includes 10,000 children bused in fr. their schools in the West Bank. (MM, NYT 6/20)

Jordan's new PM Abu Raghib forms a new 29-mbr. cabinet, including 9 Palestinians and 1 mbr. of the Muslim Brotherhood's (MB) Islamic Action front (IAF). The cabinet is heavy with technocrats and businessmen, emphasizing its economic reform agenda. (MM 6/20; MM, WT 6/21; MM 6/22; JT, SA 6/22 in WNC 6/27; MEI 6/30)

UN Secy.-Gen Annan certifies that Israel has completed its withdrawal fr. Lebanon, says UNIFIL will begin redeploying to new positions inside s. Lebanon immediately. Lebanese Pres. Lahoud and PM Huss, however, claim the IDF still holds 6 or 7 spots inside the blue line; request the UN delay endorsing the certification until the areas are checked. (NYT, WP, WT 6/17; MM 6/20; WJW 6/22)

In Washington, Arafat, Clinton hold 3 hrs. of talks on final status issues. Arafat tells Clinton he would resign before compromising on East Jerusalem, that he would not attend a summit until the 3d FRD is implemented. Afterward, the U.S. says that Israel, the PA are still too far apart for a 3-way summit; Arafat's instance on the 3d FRD could jeopardize a final settlement. (AYM, XIN 6/15, XIN 6/16, DUS 6/17 in WNC 6/19; MEI, MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/16; AYM 6/19 in WNC 6/22; WjW 6/22; AYM 6/21 in WNC 6/22; PA Information Min. press release 6/26; al-Quds 6/26 in WNC 6/29; MM 6/27; MEI 6/30)

IDF soldiers fire warning shots across the border into Lebanon that strike 10 ft. fr. a UNIFIL team verifying the Israeli withdrawal. Israel apologizes, promises a full investigation. (NYT, WP, WT 6/16) (see 6/9)

UN officials say that UNIFIL verification of Israel's withdrawal fr. Lebanon has been delayed by a dispute over at least 1 point along the border, another 24-48 hrs. may be needed to complete the verification. (JP 6/9; NYT 6/10; MEI 6/16) (see 6/7)

IDF soldiers fire across the border with Lebanon at a crowd of Palestinian refugees throwing stones at them, wounding 1 child. (Reuters [nternet] 6/9)

Secy. of State Albright meets with Syrian FM Shara' during a stopover in Cairo to brief Pres. Mubarak on her talks with Barak, Arafat. Albright exchanges ideas with Shara' on possible formulas for renewing Syrian-Israeli talks but tells both him and Mubarak that the Clinton administration's priority in its remaining mos. will be the Israeli-PA track (MENA 6/7 in WNC 6/8; CSM, NYT, WJW, WP 6/8; MENA 6/8 in WNC 6/9; MEI 6/16)

UNIFIL begins patrolling s.Lebanon to ensure that the IDF is behind the blue line. (WT 6/7; NYT 6/8)

The donors' Ad Hoc Liaison Comm. (AHLC) opens a 2-day mtg. in Lisbon. (AYM 6/7 in WNC 6/8; AHLC press release, MENL 6/8; PR 6/28; UN press release 7/28) 

The Knesset passes (61-48, with 11 absent) a preliminary motion to dissolve parliament, call new elections. (CSM, IsRN, MA [Internet], MM 6/7; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/8; CSM 6/9; NYT 6/10; AYM 6/10 in WNC 6/13; MEI 6/16) (see 6/5) 

In light of the need to expand UNIFIL, UN Secy.-Gen. Annan meets with mbrs. of Congress to urge them to release money that the U.S. has pledged to UN peacekeeping. Currently, 4 missions (Congo, East Timor, Kosovo, Sierra Leone) are underfunded because the Senate Appropriations Comm. has placed a hold on $368 m. (WT 5/26)

Israel's Interior M Natan Sharansky meets with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata, informs her of Israel's intention to establish a national body to handle requests for asylum fr. 1,500 SLA mbrs. and their familles, totalling 6,420 persons in all, who have fled Lebanon with the IDF pullout. (MM 5/25; WJW 6/1; JP, MEI 6/2)

Hizballah gen. secy. Hassan Nasrallah says that his organization will turn over to the Lebanese authorities tanks, guns, and ammunition abandoned by the IDF and SLA but does not offer to disarm itself. Nasrallah says Hizballah refuses to commit its military resources to either Syria or the Palestinians in their quests to liberate their land fr. Israel, though it supports both goals. (NYT, WP 5/26)

The IDF lifts the ban on Israeli travel to Jericho. (NYT 5/26; JP 6/2) (see 5/21)

UNIFIL adviser Timur Goksel says the situation in s. Lebanon is remarkably calm following the IDF pullout and says that the real credit for this goes to Hizballah, which "has been acting very responsibly." UN special envoy Terje Larsen arrives in Beirut on the 1st leg of a 1-wk. shuttle mission to coordinate the UN's next steps with Israeli, Lebanese, Syrian officials. (MM, WT 5/24; NYT, WP, WT 5/25; ANSA, XIN 5/25 in WNC 5/26; MM, WP 5/26; MA 5/26, DUS 5/27 in WNC 5/30; MA 5/30 in WNC 5/31; JP 6/2)

The PA allows al-Watan TV to resume broadcasts. (LAW 5/30)

As the IDF withdraws fr. s. Lebanon, Hizballah mbrs. enter vacated areas, Lebanese civilians arrive en masse fr. the north to celebrate and visit, SLA mbrs. desert or flee toward Israel seeking asylum. Israeli tanks and warplanes repeated fire close to crowds to halt their advance, killing 6 civilians, including aLebanese driver for BBC, and wounding lOs. Israeli planes also bomb IDF tanks, artillery, armored personnel carriers abandoned by the SLA. (MM 5/22; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/23; Interfax, al-Quds 5/23 in WNC 5/24; WP, WT 5/24; MEI 6/2, 6/30)

With cabinet approval, Barak orders an accelerated evacuation of IDF troops fr. the remaining half of s. Lebanon still under Israeli control and sends tanks and troops fr. deep inside Israel to reinforce the northern border. 1,OOOs of Israelis leave their homes in towns nr. the Lebanese border and stream south, fearing cross-border shelling fr. Hizballah. (MM 5/22; MA [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT, YA [Internet] 5/23; CSM, WP 5/24; AYM 5/24 in WNC 5/26)

To speed UN verification of Israel's withdrawal fr. Lebanon, UN Secy.-Gen Kofi Annan recommends that the UN immediately expand UNIFIL fr. 4,500 to 5,600 troops and draft aseparation line ("blue line") conforming to, but not constituting, the internationally recognized border. (MM, NYT, WP 5/23; MM, WT 5/24)

PA, Israel resume their Stockholm channel of final status talks. IsRN, MM 5/18; NYT 5/20)

In the heaviest fighting in 2 wks., 2 IODF soldiers, 2 SLA mbrs., 1 Hizballah mbr., 1 soldier with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and 4 Lebanese civilians are injured in s. Lebanon. Recently, Hizballah has stepped up attacks on the IDF and SLA, wanting Israel's withdrawal fr. s. Lebanon to occur under pressure. Hizballah has also increased videotaping its attacks, so they can be aired on Lebanese television. (MM, NYT, WP 5/19)

The PA High Court voids the Acting Council of the Palestinian Bar Association's revocation of the certification of38 Palestinian lawyers, allowing them to practice legally again. (MENL 5/18) (see 5/17)

On the 3d day of mtgs. in Elat, Israel for the 1st time presents the PA with maps that show how it envisions the final status. The PA walks out, saying the maps show Israel plans to annex large areas of the West Bank, leaving 3 noncontinuous parcels to the PA and preserving numerous West Bank and Gaza settlements. U.S. special envoy Ross arrives in Elat this evening. (MM 5/2, 5/3; CSM 5/5; NYT, WP 5/8; Financial Times, MA 5/11; AYM 5/11 in WNC 5/12; MEI 5/19)

UN special envoy Larsen flies to Paris to meet with Pres. Chirac regarding Israel's planned withdrawal fr. s. Lebanon. France is expected to provide the bulk of extra troops if UNIFIL is expanded. (Le Monde 5/6 in WNC 5/10)

The PC postpones discussions on the implementing the civil service law until 4/5. In response, West Bank Palestinian teachers resume their strike for higher wages, which was called off 3 wks. ago; schools in Gaza are not affected. (MENL 5/2, 5/3) (see 4/2)

Jordanian parliamentarian Ishaq Farhan, a university president and prominent moderate Islamist political leader who received his PhD fr. Columbia University, arrives at JFK airport in New York with a multiple-entry diplomatic visa issued by the U.S. State Dept. that is valid until 2003. Nonetheless, he is held by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) for 6 hrs. of questioning on his "terrorist" connections, forced to buy a $2000 return ticket to Jordan, and deported. The State Dept. says it revoked Farhan's visa last yr. without informing him and gives further explanation. U.S. emb. in Jordan says it considers Farhan an important moderating political force, cannot comprehend the INS or State Dept.'s actions. (MM, NYT, WP 5/5; DUS 5/5, 5/7 in WNC 5/8; DUS 5/5, 5/8 in WNC 5/10; MM 5/9; WT 5/13)

In Beirut, UN special envoy Larsen meets with Lebanese pres. Lahoud, PM Huss to discuss a new mandate for UNIFIL following an Israeli withdrawal fr. s. Lebanon. (Le Monde 5/6 in WNC 5/10)

In Shiraz, numerous foreign diplomats, observers fr. international human rights groups attend the opening of the trial of 13 Iranian Jews accused of spying for Israel. (8 Muslims were also arrested on the same charges but will be tried separately.) 1 defendant confesses to the court and on national television, but human rights groups are skeptical of the validity of his statement. (CSM 5/1; IRNA 5/1 in WNC 5/2; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/2; WP, WT 5/3; NYT, WJW, WP, WT 5/4; JP 5/5; WP, WT 5/9; NYT, WJW, WT 5/11; IRNA 5/15 in WNC 5/16) (see 3/17)

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails begin a hunger strike to protest their conditions. (WT 5/3)

For the 2d day, IDF troops forcibly remove settlers fr. a makeshift encampment in the Palestinian section of Hebron. (NYT 5/2)

In Washington, Clinton holds talks with Arafat on final status negotiations, which the U.S. announces are set to resume after Passover ends on 4/27. The U.S. says there has not been enough progress in the Bolling sessions to meet the 5/13 FAPS target date, so all efforts will be directed toward the 9/13 deadline. At the request of both sides, the U.S. agrees to take a "more intensified role." (MM 4/20; XIN 4/20 in WNC 4/24; NYT, WP, WT 4/21; AYM 4/23 in WNC 4/26)

The UN says it may nearly double its the size of UNIFIL fr. 4,500 to 8,000 troops to prevent formation of a security vacuum in s. Lebanon following an IDF withdrawal. Secy.-Gen. Annan dispatches his special envoy Larsen to the region to coordinate plans with Israel, Lebanon, Syria. (MEI, WP 4/21)

Jordan opens the trial of 15 alleged Bin Laden associates charged with conspiring to attack Israeli, U.S. targets. (CSM, NYT, WP 4/21; MEI 5/19) (see 3/28)

In Geneva, Israeli FM Levy assures UN Secy.-Gen. Annan that Israel will withdraw fr. s. Lebanon in 7/00 in coordination with the UN. Annan says that he will discuss with the UN Security Council (UNSC) possibly expanding UNIFIL's 4,500-mbr. force. (MM 4/4; MM, WP, WT 4/5; WJW 4/6; MM 4/7)

In Amman, U.S. Defense Secy. Cohen, King Abdallah discuss cooperation efforts to modernize the Jordanian army, improve living conditions in the kingdom. Cohen also complains about the violation of the embargo on Iraq by an Italian plane that departed Amman on 4/3. (MM 4/4)

At Haifa University, a fist fight breaks out btwn. several Israeli Arab and Right-wing Jewish students over insults by the Jewish students regarding an Israeli Arab demonstration on campus 4/3. Israeli police intervene, detain 1 Arab and 1 Jewish student for questioning. Irate students attack the police, sparking a riot that lasts 2 hrs. (HA [Internet] 4/5)

In Amman, Jordanian police clash with University of Jordan students protesting a decision by the school administration to appoint half of the 80 student council mbrs. so as to reduce the influence of pro-Islamist student groups. (WT 4/5; JT 4/7 in WNC 4/11; MM 4/12; MEI 4/21)

The IDF presents Barak with a proposal called "Morning Twilight," under which the IDF would withdraw fr. all but 8 strategic sites in s. Lebanon in 7/00. When the gist of the plan is leaked by the Israeli press, Lebanon, Syria, UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) term it a "doomsday option" (UNIFIL adviser Timur Goksel's term) that would exacerbate instability and violence. (MM 3/13, 3/15; MEI, MM 3/24; MEI 4/7)

At the close of the 2-day Arab League mtg. in Beirut, FMs declare their support Lebanon's right to resist Israeli occupation, urge Arab states to unite and resist normalization with Israel until a comprehensive peace is achieved. Israel considers the statement extremist, hostile to the peace process. (NYT, WP, WT 3/12; IRNA, MENA 3/12 in WNC 3/13, 3/14; MM, NYT 3/13; MENA 3/13 in WNC 3/15; MM 3/14; AYM 3/14 in WNC 3/20; WJW 3/16; MEI 3/24) (see Doc. B3)

10s of Palestinians demonstrate outside the PC in Ramallah to protest the PA's decision to raise fuel prices given worldwide gas price hikes. (MENL 3/12; AYM 3/14 in WNC 3/20)