The Palestine Chronology

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 1 Palestinian dead. A 2d, ailing Palestinian dies at an IDF checkpoint after soldiers bar him fr. crossing to reach a hospital in Ramallah. The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire on residential areas of Hebron, Qalqilya, Tulkarm. Jewish settlers bulldoze Palestinian land around Ashkalot settlement, place new caravans on the site. Settlers are also reportedly moving boundary fences, adding trailers, bulldozing Palestinian land around Beit Hagay, Gush Etzion, Karme Tzur, Nahal Najhout, Tene settlements. (HP 2/26; HJ 2/26 in WNC 2/27; LAW 3/1)

U.S. Secy. of State Powell meets with Sharon in Israel, PA head Yasir Arafat in Ramallah (marking only the 2d time Israel has allowed Arafat into the West Bank since 9/28/00); urges them to halt violence, resume security cooperation, improve Palestinian economic conditions in the West Bank, Gaza; ensures Sharon that the U.S. commitment to Israel's security will remain solid under the Bush administration. Powell then stops in Amman to meet King Abdallah of Jordan, heads on to Kuwait for celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of the end of the Gulf War. (AP, HA, REU 2/25; MM, NYT, WP 2/26; JT, MA 2/26 in WNC 2/27; AYM 2/26 in WNC 3/5; HA 2/27; MM 2/28; QA 2/28 in WNC 3/1; MA 3/1, SA 3/4 in WNC 3/5; JP, MEI 3/9)

Extended Palestinian leadership suspends 4 days of meetings in Tunis, postpones decision on resumption of talks until 4/18-19 FMs meeting in Amman. Hamas declined invitation to attend. (RMC 4/3 in FBIS 4/5; Radio Algiers 4/5 in FBIS 4/6)

Palestinian Christians demand access to East Jerusalem on Easter. O.t. have been sealed since 3/31. (WT 4/6)

Fateh commander in Lebanon accuses Lebanon and Syria of aiding Fateh Revolutionary Council (Abu Nidal) to force Palestinians to resume talks with Israel, declares open war on FRC. Fateh fires rockets at Israel, landing harmlessly in"security zone," in retaliation for 4/1 assassination-lst Fateh attacks on Israel since 10/91. (WT 4/6; AFP, VOL 4/6 in FBIS 4/7)

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) labor. mins. meet in Amman, first such meeting in Jordan since the Gulf war. Kuwait announces it will honor its compensation pledges to Jordanians and Palestinians who lost their jobs after the war. (MM 4/2, 4/14)

UN Sec. Council votes 12-1 with 2 abstentions to approve resolution 687 outlining strict terms and timetable of cease-fire in Gulf war. Cuba votes against; Yemen and Ecuador abstain. Resolution becomes effective once it is accepted by Iraq [NYT, WP, LAT 4/4; BADS 4/4 in FBIS 4/5; MET 4/16].

Kurdish leaders continue to appeal for international help as failed rebellion causes mass exodus towards Turkish and Iranian borders. Senior State Dep't. official meets with Iraqi dissident intellectuals in Washington in show of sympathy for Kurds; Ankara says it will not permit mass entry of Kurds into Turkey; Iran says it will accept refugees, and asks for international aid [NYT, LAT 4/4].

Jewish Agency head Simcha Dinitz reports Soviet Jewish immigrants to Israel reached almost 15,000 during March and is expected to climb to 25,000 during April [NYT 4/4].

U.S. military officials proclaim emergency relief program for Kuwait nearly complete, but express concerns about Kuwait gov't.'s ability to continue reconstruction after Americans leave [WP 4/4].

Spokesperson for DFLP in Amman states that Sec.-Gen. Nayif Hawatimah has dismissed his deputy, Yasir Abd Rabbo, and replaced him with Taysir Khalid; DFLP wing in Tunis proclaims Abd Rabbo its leader [MEM 4/4; RAY, KUNA, DUT 4/5 in FBIS 4/8].

U.S. Air Force fighter shoots down 1 of 2 Iraqi fighter-bombers spotted above Tikrit, Iraq. Planes were flying in violation of temporary Gulf war cease-fire and in defiance of American warnings that Iraqi combat planes in the air would be fired upon [NYT, LAT, WP, WT 3/21; DUS 3/21 in FBIS 3/22; MET 4/2].

Appearing before Senate Foreign Relations Committee, U.S. ambassador to Iraq April Glaspie says she warned Saddam Hussein that U.S. would come to defense of Arab allies in Gulf, and that Saddam "clearly" assured her that Iraq would not seize Kuwait [NYT, LAT, WP, WT 3/21].

Kuwaiti cabinet resigns in effort to defuse growing public anger at apparent gov't. paralysis and increasing demands for democracy [LAT, NYT, WP, WT 3/21; KUNA 3/20 in FBIS 3/20; MET 4/2].

In measure attached to Gulf war spending bill, Senate votes 92-8 to officially halt the $57.2 million in economic and military aid to Jordan this year in retaliation for Jordan's support of Iraq (cf. 3/21, 3/22) [NYT, LAT, WP, WT 3/21].

Iranian embassy officially opens in Amman as Iran and Jordan restore diplomatic relations, putting into effect agreement reached last January [JTE 3/21 in FBIS 3/21; MET 4/2].

Pres. Bush gives Saddam Hussein "until noon Saturday [2/23] to ... begin his immediate and unconditional withdrawal" or face huge ground attack; Bush gives Iraq 7 days to complete withdrawal. Baghdad calls demand "disgraceful" [BADS 2/22 in FBIS 2/25; MEM 2/22; NYT, LAT 2/23].

Soviet Union and Iraqi F.M. Aziz radio Saddam Hussein with proposals for new Iraqi concessions in effort to forge settlement before Pres. Bush's deadline [NYT, LAT 2/23].

King Hussein endorses Soviet peace plan at news conference in Amman; Arafat offers positive but guarded response; 9-country Western European Group gives full backing to Pres. Bush's ultimatum, as does majority of Congress [JTE, AVP 2/23 in FBIS 2/25; ADS 2/22 in FBIS 2/27; NYT 2/23].

Allied fighter-bombers attack Iraqi troops in Kuwait, flying record number of sorties despite heavy black smoke from oil well fires that cover almost 1/4 of Kuwait [WAKH, IRNA 2/23 in FBIS 2/25; NYT, LAT 2/23].

U.S. announces that about 51,000 refugees who fled upheavals in Kuwait, Lebanon, and Liberia will be allowed to remain in U.S. for at least another year [NYT 2/26].

Israeli ambassador to U.S., Zalman Shoval, submits to State Dep't. Israeli gov't.'s formal request for $1 billion in emergency military assistance to cover outlays stemming from Gulf war [JPD 2/25 in FBIS 2/26; MEM 2/25].

For 1st time in 20 years, DFLP holds public rally in Amman to celebrate its 22d anniversary. Reports say about 20,000 people attend [JTE 2/23 in FBIS 2/28].

UNLU issues 2d addendum to call no. 67; 2d is more moderate than 1st, indicating tactical differences within UNLU leadership over PLO Gulf war policy [JPD 2/26 in FBIS 2/28].

France issues 6-point 11th-hour initiative calling for Saddam to leave Kuwait; similar appeal is made by Yemen, Algeria, Tunis, and Libya. EC gov'ts., frustrated by seeing diplomatic efforts rebuffed by Baghdad, say they plan no new initiatives before the deadline [TDS, AFP, AES 1/14 in FBIS 1/15; NYT, LAT, WT, WP 1/15]; touting French plan, Algeria's Pres. Benjedid leaves for Baghdad [AGS 1/14 in FBIS 1/15].

Revolutionary Command Council votes unanimously to follow Saddam Hussein in defying UN resolutions; measure also authorizes Saddam to undertake last-minute political settlement [ADS 1/14 in FBIS 1/14; INA 1/15 in FBIS 1/15; MEM 1/14; NYT, WP 1/15]; Saddam sends "open message" to King Fahd decrying Saudi's Gulf stance [BADS 1/14 in FBIS 1/15].

PLO's second-ranking official, Abu lyad [Salah Khalaf] is assassinated in Tunis; Abu al-Hol [Hayel Abdel Hamid] and aid Fakhri al-Omari are also killed (cf. 1/15) [TDS, AFP, SPA 1/15 in FBIS 1/15; NYT, LAT, WT, WP, MEM 1/15].

UN Sec.-Gen. Perez de Cuellar arrives back in New York from Baghdad, having failed to secure any concessions from Saddam Hussein [NYT, LAT 1/15].

Kuwaiti Crown Prince and P.M. warns that multinational forces would strike at civilian as well as military targets in Iraq: "If he [Saddam] bombs Kuwait cities, we'll do the same to Iraqi cities" [NYT, WP 1/15].

Allied officials agree that U.S. and British troops will conduct all offensive military operations while French and Arab troops will remain in defensive positions in war [LAT 1/15].

FBI rejects requests to stop interviewing Arab-American leaders about potential terrorist plans, but agrees to discontinue certain political questions such as "How do you feel about the Gulf situation?" and "How do you feel about Saddam Hussein?" [LAT 1/15].

Saddam Hussein orders the phrase "Allahu Akbar" ["God is great"] be added to Iraq flag [INA 1/14 in FBIS 1/14].

Israeli High Court orders defense establishment to distribute gas masks to Palestinians in o.t.; since only limited number are available, Palestinians in Jerusalem area and those closest to Israel will receive masks [JDS, IDF 1/14 in FBIS 1/15; WP, MEM 1/15].

King Hussein and Chrmn. Arafat discuss Gulf crisis at meeting in Amman [ADS 1/15 in FBIS 1/15].

Pres. Bush holds meetings and press conference with Pres. Mubarak in Cairo, then flies to Geneva for talks with Pres. Asad; in Geneva Bush says Syria "is lined up witlh us . . . standing up against aggression" [MENA 11/23 in FBIS 11/23; CDS, MENA 11/23, PRA 11/25 in FBIS 11/26; NYT, LAT, WP 11/24; MET 12/4].

More than 4,000 Jordanians march through Amman's main marketplace denouncing Pres. Bush's visit to Gulf region [NYT 11/24].

Chinese and Soviet F.M.s meet in Beijing, issue statement on Gulf crisis urging world to seek peaceful solution [NYT 11/24].

Iraq begins calling up battle-experienced reservists in their 30s for deployment in Kuwait [BADS 11/23 in FBIS 11/26; LAT 11/24].

Israeli soldiers shoot dead Druze Arab, capture another trying to cross from Golan Heights into Syria [LAT 11/24; JPI 12/1].

Israeli Chamber of Commerce opens Moscow office [TASS 11/23 in FBIS 11/26].

3-day "Popular Kuwaiti Congress" grouping 1,200 Kuwaiti exiles opens in Jeddah with Crown Prince suggesting the country's defunct parliament would be revived and free elections held once Kuwait is liberated from Iraq (cf. 10/15) [NYT, WP 10/14].

Responding to UN Sec. Council vote calling for UN investigation into Haram al-Sharif shootings, Israeli cabinet sec. says: "We will not cooperate with them. We don't need to give any reports, remarks, or excuses to this delegation." P.M.'s office says delegation will be admitted to Israel, but will not be helped by anyone in the gov't (cf. 10/14) [NYT, WP 10/14]; Sec. Baker sends letter to F.M. Levy making clear that admin.'s "sense of concern over Israel's handling of the situation [on 10/8] would have led us [U.S.] to support UN Sec. Council action regardless of the situation in the Gulf" [NYT 10/16].

British For. Sec. Douglas Hurd meets in Cairo with Pres. Mubarak to discuss Gulf crisis [MENA 10/13 in FBIS 10/15; NYT 10/14].

King Hussein meets in Amman with Iraqi F.M. Aziz about the continuing diplomatic ef- fort to persuade Iraq to leave Kuwait [NYT 10/14].

Gen. Michel Aoun, leader of Christian militia that opposed Syrian-backed Lebanese gov't for 11 months, surrenders after Syrian air and ground attacks in E. Beirut; seeks refuge in French embassy [BVL 10/13 in FBIS 10/15; NYT, WP 10/14].

Saddam reportedly visits Kuwait for 1st time since invasion [LAT, NYT, WT 10/4].

Pres. Mitterrand leaves for 36-hour visit to Gulf to review French troops, meet UAE leaders and King Fahd [ATS 10/3 in FBIS 10/4; MEM 10/3; NYT 10/4].

Soviet envoy Primakov arrives in Amman to meet King Hussein and Chrmn. Arafat [MEM 10/3; NYT 10/4, 10/5].

Foreign ministers or envoys of all Arab nations except Iraq meet at UN in informal session to discuss Gulf crisis; no progress is reported [LAT, NYT 10/4]; F.M.s of GCC nations meet UN Sec.-Gen. Perez de Cuellar [WAKH 10/3 in FBIS 10/5].

Bush admin. says proposed $7.3 billion arms package to Saudi Arabia is vital to long-term strategy to deter attacks against Saudis after Gulf crisis [NYT 10/4].

Amnesty International issues report accusing Iraqi troops of carrying out torture and extrajudicial killings to crush resistance in Kuwait [MEM 10/3]. 

Pres. Bush, Pres. Gorbachev arrive in Helsinki for 1-day summit aimed at coordinating approaches to Gulf crisis; Saddam sends open letter affirming his intention to hold on to Kuwait [NYT, WP 9/9; MET 9/18].

Ending 3 days of talks with leaders of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and UAE, Sec. Baker holds 90-minute meeting with Pres. Mubarak in Alexandria where Mubarak promises to increase Egyptian troop strength in Saudi Arabia [NYT, WP 9/9].

Pres. Mubarak also meets with U.S. congressional delegation headed by Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), chrmn. of defense subcommittee of House Appropriations Committee [CDS 9/8 in FBIS 9/11].

20 forty-ton trucks carrying milk, medicine, and foodstuffs leave Amman for Iraq. Convoy organized by General Union of Voluntary Societies [JTE 9/9 in FBIS 9/10].

Kuwaiti Finance Minister says his country's more than $100 billion in foreign assets around the world have been unfrozen, and the exiled Kuwaiti gov't has "full management" over them [WP 9/9].

45 people are killed during continued fighting between Fateh troops loyal to Arafat and Abu Nidal's forces in S. Lebanon; reports claim battles spill over into Sidon [BVL 9/8 in FBIS 9/10; NYT 9/9].

UN Sec. Council votes 13-0, with Cuba and Yemen abstaining, to give U.S. and other nations right to enforce embargo by halting shipping to and from Iraq. Resolution does not contain explicit authorization for use of "minimal force," but U.S. ambassador to UN Thomas Pickering says resolution is "sufficiently broad to use armed force-indeed, minimum force-depending upon the circumstances" [NYT, WP 8/26; CSM, MEM 8/27; MET 9/4].

Iraqi authorities cut electrical power to U.S. embassy in Kuwait [WP 8/26]. Iraq's leadership says sheltering of foreigners with the aim of hiding them from authorities may be punishable by death [INA 8/25 in FBIS 8/27].

Yasir Arafat arrives in Amman, speaks with King Hussein on Gulf crisis [INA 8/25 in FBIS 8/27]. 

Iraqi occupation authorities order 6,500 American and British citizens in Kuwait to assemble at 2 hotels in Kuwait City [NYT, WP 8/17].

Pentagon announces U.S. naval forces will begin "intercepting" commercial shipping to or from Iraq and Kuwait to enforce UN sanctions [WP 8/17].

King Hussein of Jordan meets with Pres. Bush in Kennebunkport, Maine to discuss Gulf crisis [MEM 8/16; ADS 8/17 in FBIS 8/17; NYT, WP 8/17].

"Troika" foreign ministers from Italy, Luxembourg, and Ireland arrive in Amman and meet with Crown Prince Hasan to discuss crisis [ADS 8/16 in FBIS 8/17].

2d contingent of Egyptian military forces leaves Cairo for Saudi Arabia [MENA 8/16 in FBIS 8/16].

Special UNLU "Leaflet No. 1-the U.S. Invasion of Arab Lands" is distributed; it expresses unequivocal support for Iraq and attacks Pres. Mubarak [YA 8/17 in FBIS 8/17].

Hundreds of Palestinians hold pro-Iraq demonstration in Nablus; police disperse crowd with tear gas and rubber bullets [MEM 8/16; JDS 8/16 in FBIS 8/17]; fearing political repercussions, PLO leadership is seen as trying to distance itself from Iraq, but has been unable to ignore growing grassroots support of Palestinians for Saddam Hussein [WP 8/17].

Contradicting earlier Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood statement, group's leader Muhammad Hamid Abunnasar issues communique denouncing Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and calling for return of Kuwait's "legitimate gov't." [MEM 8/17].