The Palestine Chronology

Israeli pres. Shimon Peres arrives in Washington for a 3-day visit. He meets today with Secy. of State Clinton; no details are released. (WJW 4/7)

Israel’s Jerusalem planning comm. gives preliminary approval for 942 new settlement housing units in Gilo and the Israeli DMin. announces that it has finished new zoning plans for several West Bank Jewish settlements, retroactively legalizing construction already underway. The State Dept. expresses “deep concern,” stating that the “Israeli settlements [are] illegitimate” and “Israel’s actions run counter to efforts to resume direct negotiations.” Israel charges Gazan engineer Abu Sisi (see 3/10) with developing rockets for Hamas and establishing a “military academy” in Gaza to train Hamas commanders. Hamas and Abu Sisi deny the charges. In Jenin r.c., unidentified assailants fatally shoot Israeli actor Juliano Mer-Khamis (half Jewish and half Palestinian) who runs a theater troop for Palestinian children in the camp (see Quarterly Update for details). Meanwhile, the IDF patrols in ‘Ayn al-Sultan r.c. nr. Jericho in the morning and in 4 villages nr. Jenin and Qalqilya in the afternoon; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Awarta (possibly in connection with the 3/11 Itamar murders). Jewish settlers fr. Taffuh settlement attempt to fence off a nearby plot of Palestinian land; the PA district liaison intervenes with the IDF, which removes the settlers but leaves the fencing marking off the land in place. (AFP, HA, MNA, YA 4/4; NYT, WP, WT 4/5; WP 4/6; NYT, PCHR 4/7; OCHA 4/15)

The IDF directs live fire at Palestinians crossing into Ramallah at Surda checkpoint just after a curfew had been reimposed without warning, seriously injuring an 18-yr.-old Palestinian girl; conducts arrest raids in Nablus, destroying the 1 Palestinian home; direct shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis. (LAW 7/8; PCHR 7/10)

Sharon authorizes Peres to reopen high-level meetings (suspended in 3/02) with senior PA officials, excluding Arafat, but bars him fr. discussing political issues. Peres meets with new PA Finance M Fayyad, new Interior M Yahya. (MM, NYT, WP 7/9; XIN 7/9 in WNC 7/10; WT 7/10; SA 7/10 in WNC 7/11; WJW 7/11; AYM 7/12 in WNC 7/16; AFP 7/20, XIN 7/21 in WNC 7/22; HA, NYT, WP 7/21; JP, MM, WT 7/22; WT 7/23)

Bush says that Israel is justified in occupying the West Bank until "security improves." (NYT 7/9; WJW 7/11)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes diminish overall, though sharp fighting is reported on the Gaza coast. (WP 11/4)

On the sidelines of a Euro-Mediterranean economic conference in Spain, Spanish PM José María Aznar hosts a working lunch with Arafat, Peres, Mubarak to discuss the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Although Peres lacks a mandate fr. Sharon to conduct negotiations, the men reportedly hold "serious and intense" talks on the situation. (AFP, MM, REU 11/2; RNE 11/2 in WNC 11/3; MENA 11/2, EFE [Madrid], RNE 11/3 in WNC 11/5; WT 11/3) (see 10/30)

The U.S. widens its campaign to freeze "terrorist" assets to include all groups on the State Dept. list of "terrorist" orgs., including Hamas, Hizballah, Islamic Jihad, the PFLP. (NYT, WP 11/3; WJW 11/8; SAF 11/8 in WNC 11/9; MM 11/13; SA 11/13 in WNC 11/14; JT 11/19 in WNC 11/20) (see 9/24)

Based on new intelligence information, the IDF chief rabbi officially declares dead the 3 IDF soldiers kidnapped by Hizballah in 10/00. (MM 11/2; WP 11/3)

Arafat, en route to Damascus for talks with Syrian pres. Bashar al-Asad, receives word that the visit has been postponed. Shortly thereafter, Peres announces that he will meet with Arafat on 9/26. Although Israeli-Palestinian violence increases today, Sharon does not cancel the mtg. Acceding to Israeli demands to curb incitement, Arafat closes a photo and art exhibit on the uprising in Nablus that features a mock-up of the Jerusalem pizzeria bombed on 8/9. Palestinians fire 2 mortars in Gaza, 1 landing inside the Strip, the other inside Israel, neither causing damage. The IDF forcibly moves 16 bedouin fr. Hebron Hills into area A; opens fire on a Palestinian vehicle nr. Yatta, wounding 4 Palestinians. (AFP, AP, GS, HA, MM, PMC 9/25; Radio Monte Carlo 9/25 in WNC 9/26; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/26; DUS, QA, SAF 9/26 in WNC 9/27; WJW 9/27; SAF 9/27 in WNC 9/28; al-Quds 9/30, al-Majd 10/8 in WNC 10/9)

The U.S. identifies 19 hijackers (fr. Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the UAE), including 7 trained pilots, who participated in the 9/11 attacks; 16 held valid U.S. visas, 12 had lived in Florida (some for yrs.), 2 were the sons of a high-ranking Saudi diplomat once posted to Washington, at least 3 had studied at the same college in Germany. (NYT, WP, WT 9/15; WP 9/18; CNN 9/21)

Asst. Secy. of State for Near East Affairs William Burns official meets with 15 Arab envoys, including the PLO rep., and tell them they must either declare their nations "mbrs. of an international coalition against terrorism or risk being isolated." Later, Arab envoys meet at the home of Saudi Arabian amb. Prince Bandar Bin Sultan to discuss U.S. plans. Egyptian amb. Nabil Fahmy warns the admin. to focus on finding and punishing those responsible for the 9/11 attacks and not to broaden the effort to include other geopolitical goals. (NYT 9/15; MM, WP 9/17; SA 9/17 in WNC 9/19)

Sharon rejects direct appeals by Bush, Powell to hold peace talks with the PA, which would facilitate U.S. efforts to form a coalition to strike at Bin Laden. Instead, he cancels tentative plans to hold an Arafat-Peres mtg. on 9/16, saying it would be "inappropriate" in light of the 9/11 U.S. attacks; tells Bush that Israel opposes the U.S. bringing the PA, Syria into its antiterrorism coalition. (AFP 9/14; AP, HP, NYT, WP 9/15; JP [Internet], WT 9/16; XIN 9/16 in WNC 9/17; WJW 9/27; JP, MEI 9/28)

Meanwhile, 3 Palestinians are killed by IDF fire in Gaza. Israeli authorities detain Mufti of Jerusalem Shaykh Ikrima Sabri following Friday prayers for several hrs. of questioning regarding his recent visit to Beirut. In Gaza's Nussayrat refugee camp, 100s of Palestinians protest against the U.S.'s threat to attack Afghanistan, fearing the U.S.'s "international campaign against terrorism" will be campaign against Muslims; undercover PSF officers confiscate reporters' film. Some 40,000 Israeli Arabs in Umm al-Fahm Israel hold a similar rally, denouncing the killing of American civilians but also condemning U.S. support for Israel. (HP, WP, WT 9/15; WP 9/16; WT 9/17; al-Quds 9/18 in WNC 9/19; WJW 9/20; LAW 9/29)

Israel's Ministerial Comm. on Jerusalem announces plans to set aside an area within the city to serve as a future "embassy row," to begin work on a ring road around Jerusalem. (NYT 11/26; AYM 11/26 in WNC 11/30; JP 12/3)

In Cairo, Egyptian pres. Husni Mubarak, PM Atif Ubayd receive Israel's Regional Cooperation M Shimon Peres for talks on the peace process, economic issues. Peres urges Egypt to convene MENA economic conference. (MENA 11/25 in WNC 11/26)

Outside the PM's office in Jerusalem, 2,000 Israeli Arabs demonstrate for more state funds, an end to discrimination against them by the Jewish population. Police clash with demonstrators injuring several, including MKs Azmi Bishara, Talab al-Sane', Ahmad Tibi. (MM, NYT 11/25; WJW 12/2)

Israel's chief rabbi bans crucifixes, Christmas trees fr. Israeli hotel lobbies during the millennium holidays "because they are offensive to Jews." (WP 11/25; JP 12/3; WP 12/24)

The Lebanese army arrests Fatah cmdrs. Brig. Taha Muhammad `Abd al-Qadir (also known as Khalid Arif), Col. Khalid Shayib nr. Tyre. The PA views the arrests of the men, who have been wanted for yrs., as an attempt to pressure Palestinian refugees in final status talks. (RL 11/24 in WNC 11/26; MM 11/25; AFP 11/25 in WNC 11/29; al-Safir 11/30 in WNC 12/1; AYM 12/1 in WNC 12/2; MM 12/3) (see 10/27)

At the close of their 4th joint economic commission session in Tehran, Iran and Syria sign a memorandum of understanding on economic cooperation, agree to form a joint council of trade officials to expand private sector ties. (IRNA 11/25 in WNC 11/26)

Inside Israel, Arafat holds 3 hrs. of secret talks with Barak. After mtg. is leaked to the Israeli press, Barak's office says that the PM wants to establish a pattern of regular mtgs. with Arafat so that the 2 leaders can closely monitor negotiations. FM Levy, who heads Israel's final status team, is reportedly angry that he was not told about Arafat's visit in advance. (MM 9/17; NYT, WP, WT 9/18; WJW 9/23; JP, MEI 10/1)

Arafat appoints PA Culture and Information M `Abid Rabbuh to lead final status talks with Israel. Arafat adviser Mahmud Abbas will oversee both the final status and interim negotiating teams, liaise btwn. teams and Arafat. Israel reportedly is not happy with the choice of `Abid Rabbuh, thinks he is an "extremist." (AFP 9/16 in WNC 9/17; WP 9/21, 9/22; MM 10/6, 10/26)

In Amman, Arafat, King Abdallah hold their 1st mtg. since the resumption of bilateral negotiations, agree to forge a common position on finals status issues. (JT 9/19 in WNC 9/21)

Barak's adviser for settlement affairs, Shilo Gal, says that some Jewish settlers in the West Bank may be forced to relocate some settlements may be dismantled under a final peace agmt. with the PA. For 20 yrs., Gal headed the Gush Etzion settlement council, which is opposed to Israeli withdrawals fr. the occupied territories. (MM, WP, WT 9/17; MEI 10/1)

Israel approves PA request to allow Ali Abu Mustafa, the dep. secy. gen. of the PFLP, to return to the occupied territories to live. (MM 9/16; WP 9/17; JP 9/24)

In Amman, Jordanian PM Rawabida, Israeli Regional Cooperation M Shimon Peres for talks on joint projects, promoting the economic objectives of the Jordan-Israel peace treaty and the greater peace process. (Petra-JNA 9/16 in WNC 9/17)

In Amman, Jordanian, Israeli communications Ms discuss bilateral ties, agree to link fiberoptic networks. (Petra-JNA 9/16 in WNC 9/17; JT 9/18 in WNC 9/21) (see 9/14)

In Beirut, retired Lebanese gen. Yasin Suwayd announces the formation of the National Comm. to Resist Normalization with Israel. (RL 9/16 in WNC 9/17)

An explosive charges goes off at a car parts store in `Ayn al-Hilwa refugee camp in s. Lebanon, causing damage but no injuries. (VOL 9/16 in WNC 9/17)

In s. Lebanon, 1 IDF soldier, 1 civilian IDF employee are injured by Hizballah shelling. (AFP 9/16 in WNC 9/17)

Israel approaches the U.S. administration to inquire if it would veto a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution on Har Homa if the issue is brought to a vote. (MM 2/26)

In Jerusalem, an EU delegation submits formal protest to Israel over the decision to build at Har Homa. (AFP 2/25 in WNC 2/27)

Turkish Army chief of staff Gen. Ismail Karadayi arrives in Israel for meetings with DM Yitzhak Mordechai. (MM 2/26; WJW 2/27; JP 3/8)

3 undercover IDF soldiers shoot, beat Palestinians in the village of Hizma in the West Bank, which is under joint PA-Israeli control, killing 1, wounding 3. Troops use teargas to quell ensuing clashes with Palestinians. (ITV 2/25 in WNC 2/27; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/26; PR 2/28; JP 3/8; PR 3/14)

In Florida, an Orthodox Jew, Harry Shapiro, is charged with placing a pipe bomb in a synagogue before a speech by fmr. Israeli PM Shimon Peres in a bid to assassinate Peres, blame the act on an Islamist group. (NYT 2/26; NYT, WT 2/27)

PM Peres says Jerusalem will not be on the agenda during May's final status talks. (CSM 1/29; JP 2/3) (see 12/6)

PA reaches reconciliation agmt. with Hamas; releases 12 Hamas mbrs. (incl. Shaykh Ahmad Nimr, who was arrested 3/3/95 for giving an anti-Arafat sermon) as a confidence-building gesture. (AFP, QY 1/28 in FBIS 1/29; CSM 1/29; RE 1/29 in FBIS 1/30)

Following reports that Israel has secretly discarded nearly all blood donated by Ethiopian immigrants for fear of spreading AIDS, 1,000s of Ethiopians demonstrate in Jerusalem to protest racial discrimination. When protesters converge on the PM's office, throw rocks at police, police attack crowd with rubber bullets, batons, water cannons, tear gas; 17 protesters, 30 policemen injured. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/29; WJW 2/1; NYT 2/4; CSM 2/7)

Jordan denies entry to Hamas mbr. Shaykh Jamil Hamami. Hamami was to speak on the Palestinian elections at Jordan University. (JT 1/29 in FBIS 1/29 al-Bilad 1/30 in FBIS 2/1)

Confessed assassin Yigal Amir takes over his own defense after 1 of his lawyers resigns, 2d lawyer (an American immigrant) cannot be understood by the court because his Hebrew is too poor. (WT 1/29)

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)

Morocco, Israel announce they will open liaison offices in Tel Aviv, Rabat, making Morocco 1st Arab country to establish official ties with Israel since Egypt. Morocco also to open liaison office in Gaza, but diplomatic contacts with PNA will still go through Tunis. (MM 9/1; NYT, WP, WT 9/2; NYT 9/4; WJW 9/8)

Israeli FM Peres tells Arafat that Pakistani PM Bhutto may enter Gaza after all. Pakistan say it is too late to reschedule visit. (MM 8/31; QY 8/31 in FBIS 8/31; JP 9/10)

Schools open for classes in West Bank under PNA control. (NYT, WT 9/2)

Palestinian police release last 4 Hamas mbrs. being held for 8/14 attack. (AFP 9/1 in FBIS 9/2)