The Palestine Chronology

Donors pledge $14 m. (U.S. $5 m., Denmark and the Netherlands $1.8 m. each, UK $1.55 m., Norway $1 m.) for the UNRWA at an extraordinary session in Amman. The money will fund part of the agency's budget deficit, allowing operations to continue through 1996. (PR 10/4)

In al-Duhayshah refugee camp nr. Bethlehem, 100's of Palestinians demonstrate against Israeli settlement policy. (ITV 9/23 in WNC 9/27)

Fearing a massive IDF strike on Hizballah, the Lebanese army moves 300 commandos into s. Lebanon. (RL 9/23 in WNC 9/24; CSM 9/24) (see 9/22)

UN General Assembly (UNGA) opens its session, braces for battle over reelection of Secy. Gen. Butros Butros-Ghali. (NYT, WP 9/24) (see 7/23)

In Amman, Netanyahu adviser Gold briefs King Hussein on diplomatic developments. The king urges Israel to implement agmts. signed with the Palestinians. (MA 9/24 in IL 9/24; MM 10/9)

After United Torah Judaism threatens to quit the Likud coalition unless housing problems of its ultraorthodox constituents are solved, PM Netanyahu promises that land will be unfrozen for the construction of an additional 580 apartments in Kiryat Sefer (above the 1,806 approved 9/18), additional 200 in Beitar (above the 900 previously approved). (ITV 9/24 in WNC 9/27; MM 9/25)

ILMG meets in Naqura to discuss Lebanon's complaints about Israel's recent attacks on the south, especially the 8/29 clash which killed 2 civilians. Lebanon also submits a complaint about Israel's expulsion fr. s. Lebanon of 2 Lebanese families 9/21. (RL 9/22, 9/23 in WNC 9/24; CSM 9/23) (see 9/1)

Fearing an IDF attack, Lebanese army sends reinforcements to the western Biqa` valley. (MBC, RL 9/22 in WNC 9/24; MM 9/23)

British PM John Major sends letter on peace process to Israeli PM-elect Netanyahu. (MA 6/10 in FBIS 6/10)

In Damascus, Pres. Asad, Iranian FM Ali Akhbar Velayati open 2-day mtg. (SARR 6/9, 6/10 in FBIS 6/10; RMC, SARR 6/10 in FBIS 6/11; AFP 6/16 in FBIS 6/17)

Qatari, Syrian FMs meet in Damascus. (SARR 6/9 in FBIS 6/10; MM 6/10)

Israeli couple is killed in an apparent drive-by shooting in Zekharia, a rural area of central Israel. In belief the assailants are Palestinian, IDF closes shops in Hebron, searches Palestinian cars. PA condemns the killing. (AFP 6/9, QY 6/10 in FBIS 6/10; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/10; CSM, NYT, WP 6/11; WJW 6/13)

In s. Lebanon, 1 SLA soldier is seriously wounded by roadside bomb. IDF responds with heavy artillery bombardment of Hizballah targets in Nabatiyya, Iqlim al-Tuffah, killing 1 Lebanese army soldier; describes situation as very tense. (QY 6/9, MENA, QY, RL 6/10 in FBIS 6/10)

Calling it the hardest decision of his life, Israeli Arab political leader Ahmad Tibi withdraws his candidacy for a Knesset seat, endorses Peres for PM--despite the closure on the self-rule areas, the 4/96 assault on Lebanon--in hopes of uniting Israeli Arab voters behind propeace candidates, against Netanyahu. United Arab List head `Abd al-Wahhab Darawshah also endorses Peres. (MM, NYT 5/21; QY 5/21 in FBIS 5/21; VOP 5/28 in FBIS 5/29)

In Washington, France, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, the U.S. continue talks on cease-fire monitoring comm. Lebanese FM Faris Buwayz says parties have agreed the comm. will be security/military, not political. Issue of chairmanship, structure, decision making, cooling-off period following incidents still not resolved. (RL 5/21, 5/22 in FBIS 5/22; MM 5/22) (see 5/20)

U.S. Secy. of State Warren Christopher charges Iran with planing attacks in Israel before the Israeli election 5/29. (MM 5/22)

Based on information obtained fr. Hamas's Salameh, Israel arrests 19 suspected Hamas mbrs. in the West Bank. (CSM 5/22; PR 5/31) (see 5/17)

Lebanese army reports that Israel's 4/96 offensive targeted 147 Lebanese towns, villages; 11,000 civilians suffered material loss; direct damage to personal property (i.e., not incl. damage to infrastructure, public utilities) totalled $24 m. (MM 5/21)

Israel says its unofficial trade with Iraq is expected to increase significantly (to as high as $100 m./yr.) thanks to the 5/20 UN-Iraq deal. Israel currently sells $2 m. of food, medicine to Iraq. (JP 5/22 in FBIS 5/22; JP 6/1)

PA military court orders Sarraj, arrested 5/18, to be held for 15 days. (NYT 5/22; PR 5/24; NYT 5/28; JP 6/1)

Hamas's political wing and Qassam Brigades issue leaflet denying responsibility for 2/25 bombings, call for a cease-fire with Israel through 3/8 to negotiate a truce. Israel rejects offer. Since the 2/25 bombings, PA security forces have detained over 250 people; most are Hamas affiliates. (QY 2/29 in FBIS 2/29; QY 2/29, al-Hayat, QY, SA 3/1 in FBIS 3/1; MM, NYT, WT 3/1; WT 3/2; NYT 3/4)

Lebanese army imposes an 11-hr. country-wide curfew to prevent a series of protests planned by supporters of the Lebanese Confederation of Trade Unions (LCTU) angry about the government ban on demonstrations, plans to tighten control over the press. The government had threatened to cut number radio stations fr. 150 to 10 and television stations fr. 50 to 6. 1,600 are arrested for braking curfew. (RL 2/28, VOL 2/29 in FBIS 2/29; NYT 2/29; AFP, RL 2/29, VOL 3/1 in FBIS 3/1; WT 3/2; MM 3/4) (see 2/27)

According to the French Press Agency, 200 of the SLA's 3,000 mbrs. have deserted since the beginning of the year. (CSM 2/29)

In Jerusalem, car driven by a Palestinian-American rams into a crowded bus stop, killing 1, injuring 23. 2 Israeli settlers shoot, kill the driver. Israeli police are unsure whether the man lost control of the auto or deliberately crashed it. (IDF Radio, ITV, QY 2/26, HA 2/27 in FBIS 2/27; CSM, MM, NYT, WP 2/27; WP, WT 2/28; MEI, PR 3/1)

PM Peres convenes a special session of the Knesset to discuss recent attacks, vows to wage war on Hamas; hints that if there are any more attacks, Israel might delay its withdraw fr. Hebron. (ITV 2/26 in FBIS 2/27; NYT 2/27)

IDF raids the Hebron homes of the families of 2 missing men suspected in the 2/25 bombings. Hebron is still under Israeli military control. (NYT 2/28)

2 IDF soldiers are slightly wounded when Hizballah shells their outpost in s. Lebanon. (QY, RL 2/26 in FBIS 2/26)

Israel says Lebanese military intelligence officers have kidnapped a Lebanese national allegedly working for Mossad in s. Lebanon. Lebanon tried and convicted the man, Ahmad Hallaq, in absentia for the 12/21/94 bombing that killed the brother of a Hizballah leader. (ITV, MENA 2/26 in FBIS 2/27) (see 12/28/94)

Yusif Maggid Molqi, sentenced to 30 yrs. for killing Leon Klinghoffer during the 1985 hijacking of the Achille Lauro, disappears while on furlough fr. an Italian prison. (WT 3/6)

At close of a 2-day mtg. in El Arish, Egypt, PLO Exec. Comm. mbrs. delay indefinitely setting date for PNC mtg. to amend 12 articles of the PLO charter. (MM 2/6; MENA, RE, RMC 2/6 in FBIS 2/6; VOP 2/6 in FBIS 2/7; CSM, WP 2/7; WT 2/8)

In Damascus, Secy. of State Christopher, Pres. Asad hold 3 hrs. of talks after which Asad agrees to hold 3d round of talks with Israel in Maryland 2/26. (MM 2/6; SARR 2/6 in FBIS 2/6; SARR 2/6 in FBIS 2/7; NYT, WP, WT 2/7; WT 2/8)

PM Peres visits SLA Cmdr. Lahd in Marja'uyun, s. Lebanon, to check on the status of troops in the self-declared security zone. (QY 2/6 in FBIS 2/7; MM, WT 2/7) (see 1/23)

Lebanese military prosecutor files lawsuit against 89 fmr. Lebanese army soldiers for collaborating with Israel. (WT 2/7) (see 1/16)

Jordan's state security court sentences Atta Abu Rushteh, spokesman of the banned Islamic Liberation Party, to 3 yrs. in jail for slandering King Hussein by giving a statement critical of Jordan's normalization with Israel. (WP 2/7) (see 12/19)

PM Peres demands Lebanon stop "mistreating" the SLA, warns no peace can be made with Lebanon without a full agmt. for integrating the SLA in to the Lebanese army, says warrant on SLA Cmdr. Lahd is "an insult to . . . a great Lebanese patriot, and we will not ignore it." (IGPO 1/17 in FBIS 1/18; MM 1/30) (see 1/16)

Knesset rejects bill to expand Jerusalem jurisdiction to include Beitar, Givat Ze'ev, Gush Etzyon, Ma'ale Admunim. Bill was sponsored by Likud and supported by 42 MKs fr. Likud, Moledet, National Religious Party, Shas, Tsomet, United Torah Judaism. 48 MKs fr. Labor, Meretz, Arab parties vote against. (JP 1/18)

Meretz leader MK Shulamit Aloni announces she is leaving the party but says she will remain active in politics. (ITV 1/17 in FBIS 1/18; MM 1/18; QY 1/28 in FBIS 1/30)

Knesset passes 1st reading of bill on implementing Oslo II. (MM 1/9)

During a press conference, PM Peres offers Lebanon a limited withdrawal fr. part of s. Lebanon to test the Lebanese army's ability to keep border security. (AFP 1/8 in FBIS 1/1)

In Paris, PA, France sign economic agmt. (PWR 1/23)

In Jerusalem, U.S. Defense Secy. Perry meets with PM Peres. (MM 1/8; IDF Radio 1/8 in FBIS 1/11; WT 1/9)

Shin Bet head Karmi Gilon, until now known only as "K," resigns under pressure for not preventing Rabin assassination. (IDF Radio, QY 1/8 in FBIS 1/11; MM, WP, WT 1/9; WJW, WP 1/11)

Shin Bet requests deportation of American David Ben Ariel, a mbr. of Temple Mount Faithful who was arrested 1/4 for plotting to blow up al-Aqsa mosque. (JP 1/8 in FBIS 1/11)