The Palestine Chronology

Israeli, PA teams open 2 sets of talks nr. Washington: final status issues at Andrews air force base (AFB) and interim issues at Bolling AFB. (MM, WT 6/13; NYT, WP, WT 6/14; WP 6/15)

Funeral ceremonies for Syrian pres. Hafiz al-Asad are held in Damascus, Latakia, and Asad's childhood home of Qardaha, where he is laid to rest in the family mausoleum. Attending are the heads of state of Egypt, France, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Turkey, and Yemen; the heads of the PA and Hizballah; plus senior reps. from Iraq, Russia, the U.S. Secy. of State Albright meets alone with Bashar al-Asad for 15 mins., says he is ready to continue discussions on talks with Israel. (MM, WT 6/13; ATL, DUS, HINA [Zagreb], Interfax, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, MENA, al-Quds, Rompres [Bucharest] 6/13 in WNC 6/14; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 6/14; MA, al-Quds 6/14 in WNC 6/15; JP, MEI, MM 6/16; Sabah [Istanbul] 6/15 in WNC 6/21; MIL 6/19 in WNC 6/27; MM 6/20; MEI 6/30)

After a wk. of coalition bargaining to keep his government together following the 6/7 Knesset vote, PM Barak's main partner, Shas (17 Knesset seats), announces it will quit the coalition at the next cabinet mtg. unless Barak agrees to bail out its financially strapped schools, to remove its schools fr. Education Min. oversight, and to legalize its pirate radio stations. Shas's departure would leave Barak with a minority government. (MM 6/13; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/14; MM 6/15; MA 6/16 in WNC 6/19; WP 6/20; WJW 6/22)

The IDF bulldozes a Palestinian home in East Jerusalem to make way for a road. This is the 13th house demolition in East Jerusalem this yr. (WT 6/14)

Arafat meets with Pres. Mubarak in Cairo. (MENA 3/9 in WNC 3/10; al-Quds 3/10 in WNC 3/12)

Turkish parliamentary delegation arrives in Israel for 3 days of talks on strengthening bilateral ties. (ATL 3/9 in WNC 3/10; ATL 3/12 in WNC 3/17)

Iranian pres. Mohamed Khatami arrives in Italy on 1st visit to Europe by head of state fr. postrevolutionary Iran. Italian FM Lamberto Dini says Italy should help break Iran's international isolation, Iran could be stabilizing force in Middle East region. (WT 3/9; NYT, WP, WT 3/10; NYT, WP 3/11; MM 3/12, 3/15)

IDF demolishes 6 Palestinian homes nr. Jerusalem, Ramallah. (LAW 3/12; PR 3/19)

Qatari officials meeting with U.S. Defense Secy. Cohen say the U.S.'s daily attacks on Iraq should cease. Cohen then heads to Kuwait for more talks on Iraq. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/10; Xinhua 3/10 in WNC 3/11; GIU 3/11)