The Palestine Chronology

In an apparent assassination, IDF undercover units fatally shoot Islamic Jihad mbrs. Rabah Abu Dakka, Mazin Badawi (whom the IDF attempted to assassinate on 6/5/03), wound 4 Palestinians in a raid on a Tulkarm r.c. market. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in Hebron, Jenin r.c. (capturing senior Islamic Jihad mbr. Shaykh Bassam Saadi), Nablus, Ramallah; blows up 12 Palestinian homes in Rafah, bulldozes 1 in Dayr al-Balah; bulldozes 9 dunams of land in Dayr al-Balah, 8 dunams in Khan Yunis; shells residential areas of Dayr al-Balah. Israel also bars Palestinian Reuters photographer ‘Abd al-Rahim al-Qawasini fr. traveling to France, where his work is to be exhibited by the group Artists Against War; bars Palestinian reporters Bashar Daraghima, Amin Abu Warda fr. going to Jordan to take courses in international journalism. Another 2 nonactive Israeli pilots sign onto the 9/24 pilots’ letter. (HA, MM 10/1; NYT, PCHR, WP 10/2; al-Quds 10/2 in WNC 10/7; PCHR 10/9)

An Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device outside Shluhot Kibbutz in n. Israel, killing 1 Israeli. In Hebron, where the IDF remains in area A, soldiers fatally shoot 1 Palestinian, wound 3. The PSF detains 2 more Islamic Jihad mbrs., says it is holding 6 Palestinians on Israel's wanted list. Jewish settlers set up a new enclave nr. Keddumim settlement, announce plans for a 2d enclave nr. Beit Hagai. (HP, WT 10/7; MENA 10/7 in WNC 10/9; JP [Internet] 10/8; MEI 10/12; LAW 10/13)

The U.S., with the assistance of commando units fr. Britain and France, begins air strikes on al-Qa`ida, Taliban positions in Afghanistan aimed at disabling their air defense capability. The U.S. says this initial stage of the sustained "antiterror campaign" should last several days. Bin Laden releases a statement vowing that "America will not live in peace until peace reigns in Palestine" and "not before all the infidel armies leave the land of Muhammad." The PA denounces Bin Laden's statement. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/8; NYT, WP 10/9; AYM, JT, Milliyet, al-Ra'i 10/9 in WNC 10/10; MM 10/10; al-Quds 10/10 in WNC 10/12; JP, MEI 10/12; XIN 10/12 in WNC 10/15)

Deadline for start of Israeli withdrawal fr. Gaza, Jericho passes. PM Rabin tells reporters, "There are no sacred dates, and I cannot give a commitment that the implementation of the agreement will be finished by April 13th." Rabin also announces that remaining Palestinians expelled 12/17/92 to Lebanon will be allowed to return this week. (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 12/14)

PLO Chmn. Arafat addresses European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, appealing for EU financial support to Palestinian development and noting financial crisis will limit size of Palestinian police force. (MM 12/14)

IDF announces it has been holding a "dialogue" with Hamas leaders in Gaza Strip. (IDF Radio 12/13 in FBIS 12/13)

Islamic Jihad mbr. Anwar Aziz hijacks ambulance btwn. Bayt Lahiya and Jabaliya camp, Gaza Strip, for suicide-bomb attack. Aziz killed, IDF soldier wounded when Aziz drives explosives-filled ambulance into IDF jeep. 2 other Palestinians, said to be mbrs. of either Islamic Jihad or PFLP's Red Eagles, shot dead by IDF in Rafah. (MM 12/13; NYT, WP, WT 12/14)

41 Palestinian police trained in Jordan take up duty at Orient House, East Jerusalem hq. of Palestinian delegation to peace talks. (WP 12/14)