The Palestine Chronology

U.S. delegation led by Dennis Ross meets with PM Rabin, FM Peres at start of tour of Israel, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. Ross says trip is to "narrow the gaps" in Israeli, Arab positions. (NYT 7/9)

Arafat and King Hussein at meeting in Amman establish Palestinian-Jordanian joint committee made up of Jordanian ministers, PLO Exec. Comm. mbrs., peace delegates. (al-Dustur 7/8 in FBIS 7/9)

Fateh Cent. Comm. mbr. Khalid al-Hasan proposes Swiss-style cantonal solution to Palestinian-Israeli conflict. (AFP 7/8 in FBIS 7/9)

IDF kills wanted Palestinian in Rafah, Gaza Strip. (Qol Yisra'el 7/8 in FBIS 7/8; NYT 7/9)

PFLP-GC fighters ambush IDF patrol in southern Lebanon, killing 2 and wounding 3. (WP 7/12)

7 Islamic fundamentalists, followers of Shaykh 'Abd al-Rahman, hanged in Cairo. (NYT 7/9)

U.S. amb. to Israel William Harrop criticizes pace of economic reform in Israel, and warns of possible U.S. aid cuts. (WT 3/5)

New York Times op-ed says Pres. Asad told Secy. of State Christopher that he would agree to implement a peace agreement "gradually" (see 2/21). (NYT 3/4; MM 3/5)

Hamas spokesman in Amman Ibrahim Ghawshah says it was Hamas that suspended talks with U.S. when the latter did not agree to a 3rd meeting with its amb. in Amman, and that the 2 meetings with lower diplomats focused on the deportees (see 3/2). (Sawt al-Sha'b 3/5 in FBIS 3/5)

Belgium raises status of the PLO mission in Brussels, still short of full diplomatic recognition; Israel protests. (Algiers VOP 3/4 in FBIS 3/5; MM 3/5)

Yeshiva student stabbed in Jerusalem's Old City. (Qol Yisra'el 3/4 in FBIS 3/5)

Palestinian-born Muhammad Salameh is arrested and charged in connection with 2/26 World Trade Center bombing. Also arrested is Ibrahim al-Gabrowni, a relative of Sayyid Nusayr (imprisoned on crimes connected with assassination of Rabbi Meir Kahane 2 years ago) and an official at Egyptian Islamic leader Shaykh 'Umar 'Abd al-Rahman's mosque in Brooklyn. 'Abd al-Rahman was tried in connection with Pres. Sadat's assassination in 1981. (WT 3/5; NYT 3/8)

Faisal Husseini and 40 delegation associates visit area in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip, where homes were leveled by IDF 2/11 to offer sympathy, rally support for negotiations. Hamas and PLO supporters chant allegiance. (MM 2/17)

Pres. Mubarak meets with Chmn. Arafat in Cairo. (WT 2/20; MENA 2/17 in FBIS 2/17)

Israeli Aircraft Industries announces U.S. Def. Dept. has awarded them and American co. TRW a $240m contract to build 56 unmanned airplanes. Sen. Daniel Inouye (DHI) announces U.S. has budgeted $57m to improve Haifa port, which will serve as U.S. Navy's major regional anchorage. But as chmn. of Senate def. appropriations subcomm., he tells Israeli officials that they should prepare for a possible cut in U.S. foreign aid. (MM 2/17; WT 2/18)

Jordan appoints Shaykh Sulayman al-Jabari Mufti of Jerusalem. (MM 2/19)

Israeli justice min. announces that Shin Bet agent in charge when Mustafa 'Akkawi died under 2/4/92 interrogation has been disciplined. (WT 2/18)

IDF shoots 2 Palestinian youths dead in West Bank; another shot dead, while fleeing, 10 minutes after curfew, in Gaza City. (NYT 2/19)

Hizballah and Israeli, SLA forces engage in largest artillery battle of the year, killing 3 Islamic fighters, 2 other Lebanese. Israel shells up to 30 villages, including Nabatiyya. (MM, NYT 2/18)