The Palestine Chronology

PA-Israeli final status talks continue at Camp David. Pres. Clinton holds more 1-on-1 mtgs. with Arafat, Barak. Secy. of State Albright, special envoy Ross meet with Israeli, PA teams. PA, Israeli teams hold formal, informal sessions discussing "what the parties need to agree on in order to reach an overall agmt." (White House press briefing 7/12; MM, NYT, WT 7/13; DUS 7/13 in WNC 7/17; AYM 7/13 in WNC 7/18)

In Bethlehem, 100s of Palestinians hold a rally calling on the PA to protect refugee rights at the Camp David talks. (BDL, Reuters [Internet] 7/12)

The Israeli High Court upholds the conviction of Shas leader Arye Deri on bribery, corruption charges. Deri is to begin serving his 3-yr. sentence on 8/13. (MM 7/12; MM, NYT, WP 7/13; MA 7/13 in WNC 7/17; JP 7/21) (see 3/17/99)

A Tel Aviv court issues a 3-mo. continuance in the case of IDF detainees Obeid and Dirani, saying they should remain jailed until their case is decided. (NYT 7/13; WJW 7/20) (see 5/29)

King Abdallah of Jordan meets with Pres. Bill Clinton; says that Jordan is very pleased with Barak's victory, that he sees eye-to-eye with Barak on many issues. The king also meets with World Bank pres. James Wolfensohn, U.S. Trade Rep. Charlene Barshefsky, outgoing treasury secy. Robert Rubin. (NYT, WP, WT 5/19; MM 5/21)

Britain, Iran end 20 yr. rift, restoring ambassadorial relations. (NYT, WT 5/19; GIU 5/20)

Jewish settlers begin digging foundations for a new housing complex in Palestinian neighborhoods of Har Homa/Jabal Abu Ghunaym, Ras al-Amud in Jerusalem. (NYT, WT 5/19; WT 5/24; JP 5/28; MEI 6/4) (see 1/12)

To enhance his party's chance for a place in the new Israeli government, Arye Deri, who was sentenced to jail after being convicted on fraud and bribe-taking charges, gives up his Knesset seat but says that he will stay on as chmn. of Shas. (MM, NYT, WT 5/19; WT 5/20; NYT 5/21; JP 5/28) (see 4/15)

In Tehran, Iran, Jordan open 2 days of talks on expanding bilateral judicial relations, including fighting drug trafficking, exchange expertise, conducting joint studies on crime prevention. (IRNA 5/18 in WNC 5/19; IRNA 5/19 in WNC 5/20)

Hizballah responds to IDF attack 5/17, firing 4 rockets into n. Israel. (MM, NYT, WP 5/18; WT 5/19; MEI 5/21)

Refugee Working Group holds intersessional mtg. in Paris on family reunification. (Shaml Newsletter 2/99)

3 Israeli judges unanimously find Aryeh Deri, leader of the ultra-Orthodox Sephardic Shas party, guilty of fraud, bribe-taking. Shas supporters protest verdict as tantamount to discrimination against Sephardim. Deri's lawyers appeal the verdict to the Israeli High Court. (MM, WP 3/17; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/18; JP 3/19; WJW 3/25; MEI 3/26; JP 4/2)

Israel announces plans to build 120 new housing units in Gilo settlement. (al-Ayyam 3/18 in WNC 3/23)

U.S. suspends nearly daily attacks on Iraq, directing its attention to the crisis in Yugoslavia. (WP 4/3) (see 3/6)

IDF shells targets in s. Lebanon, injuring 1 civilian. (VOL 3/17 in WNC 3/22)

Israel leaks to the press a new FRD offer under which it would withdraw fr. 6-8% of the West Bank. (MM, WP, WT 11/25; ITV, JP, MA, QY 11/25 in WNC 11/27; CSM, NYT, WT 11/26; JP 12/6) (compare 11/23)

French FM Hubert Vedrine arrives in Israel, meets with PM Netanyahu, FM David Levy, DM Mordechai, Labor chmn. Ehud Barak. (YA 11/24 in WNC 11/26; ITV 11/24, Les Echos [Paris], Liberation [Paris] 11/25 in WNC 11/27)

In Brussels, EU, Jordan sign long-awaited association agmt., giving Jordanian products preferential status. (RJ 11/24 in WNC 11/26)

Arafat adviser Mahmud Abbas meets with MK Meir Shitreet, the Shas leader MK Arye Deri to discuss holding regular mtgs. btwn. PA, Sephardic Jewish reps. Deri briefs PM Netanyahu on the mtg. (YA 11/27 in WNC 12/9)

In an Atlanta jail, Israeli MK Yuli Edelstein meets with convicted spy for Israel Jonathan Pollard, hands him letter fr. PM Netanyahu, saying that he "is committed to bringing about your release." (MA 11/24 in WNC 11/26)

4 Amal mbrs. are killed in clash with IDF in s. Lebanon. (RL, VOL 11/24 in WNC 11/26; WP 11/25; RL 11/25 in WNC 11/27)

U.S. special envoy Ross arrives in the Middle East; holds talks in Gaza with Arafat, in Jerusalem with Netanyahu. (WP 4/15; CSM, WP 4/16)

EU-Mediterranean business conference opens in Malta. Arafat, Israeli FM Levy meet on the sidelines in the highest level contact since talks broke down in 3/97. (CSM, MM, WT 4/15; Radio France Internationale [Paris] 4/15 in WNC 4/16; CSM, MM 4/16; De Volkskrank [Amsterdam], SANA 4/16 in WNC 4/17; CSM, NYT, WP 4/17; MEI, PR 4/18)

On the sidelines of the Malta conference, Jordanian FM Tarawnah, Syrian FM Shara` discuss improving bilateral relations. (al-Dustur 4/23 in WNC 4/24)

In Surif, 3 critically ill Palestinians die when IDF troops enforcing curfew deny them access to medical treatment. (NYT 4/16)

Israeli police recommend felony indictments in the Bar-On affair be sought against Justice M Hanegbi, chief of staff Avigdor Lieberman, Netanyahu political ally and Shas head Arye Deri. (ITV 4/15 in WNC 4/16; MM, WP, WT 4/16; YA 4/16 in WNC 4/17) (see 2/28)

In Mina, Saudi Arabia, an estimated 210 Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani pilgrims participating in the Hajj are killed, 800 are injured when canisters of cooking fuel ignite tents. At least 70,000 tents are destroyed, leaving 100,000s of pilgrims temporarily without shelter. (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 4/16; MM 4/22, 4/24; MEI 5/2)

SLA releases 7 detainees fr. al-Khiyam prison in s. Lebanon to mark the end of Ramadan. (RL 4/15 in WNC 4/16)

PM Netanyahu says he is willing to have the police investigate his appointment of Bar-On as atty. gen. New allegations suggest that, during the cabinet debate on the Hebron protocol (1/16), Arye Deri's Shas party conditioned its approval of the protocol on Bar-On's appointment (see 1/12). (NYT 1/25; WP 1/26; NYT, WP, WT 1/27; MEI 2/7)

During a State Dept. press briefing and once more during a Larry King Live interview, Secy. of State Albright again refers only to securing a "comprehensive peace." (State Department transcripts [internet]) (see 1/8)

After receiving criticism fr. Jews for signing the Churches for Middle East Peace ad (see 12/21), the National Council of Churches, one of the nation's most influential Christian organizations, says it will revise its Middle East policy in consultation with American Jewish leaders. (WP 1/25)

2-day technical mtg. of the Multilateral Working Group on Refugee Affairs opens in Oslo. (Article 74 7/96)

2-day Syrian-European Cooperation Council mtg. closes in Luxembourg. (SATN 6/11, SARR 6/12, SARR 6/13 in FBIS 6/13)

U.S. says it is not insisting that Israel redeploy its troops in Hebron by today, the deadline set by PM Peres before the 5/29 elections. (MM, WP 6/12)

Netanyahu postpones trip to U.S. scheduled for 6/25 until 7/96. (NYT 6/12; WT 6/13)

Israeli Atty. Gen. Mikhael Ben-Ya'ir informs Netanyahu that 3 candidates for cabinet positions may not legally be qualified: Jerusalem mayor Ehud Olmert is under investigation by the Justice Min. for concealing illegal contributions to Likud in 1988; Shas MK Aryeh Deri is on trial for misusing party funds; Tsomet MK Eitan is under investigation for bribery, misusing classified IDF information. (NYT 6/13, 6/20)

Palestinian human rights groups say Sarraj has been beaten by PA police while in custody. PA military court accuses him of striking an officer. Sarraj's lawyers have still not been permitted to see him. (NYT, WP 6/13; PR 6/21; WT 6/22; WP 6/26) (see 6/11)

In light of the Netanyahu win, Israel's Peace Now decides to shelve its campaign to encourage an Israeli withdrawal fr. the Golan in favor of the "less ambitious" goal of blocking new Jewish settlements in the West Bank. (WP 6/12)

Sharp differences emerge in PA-Israeli water talks. PA wants decision on water included in agmt. on transfer of authority. Israel is willing to discuss water distribution quotas only, says all other water issues must be set aside until final status talks. (QY 7/18 in FBIS 7/18; ITV, VOP 7/18 in FBIS 7/19; WT 7/19; CSM 7/20)

In Amman, 300 Jordanian, Palestinian-Israeli businessmen open 1st 3-day executive mtg. on reestablishing trade links, defining areas of cooperation. King Hussein, Crown Prince Hassan, FM Kabariti address opening banquet. (JT, JTV 7/19 in FBIS 7/20)

In Amman, Shas party head Arye Deri leads 24-mbr. delegation in talks on Jordan-Israel peace with King Hussein. (JTV 7/18, al-Hayat 7/19 in FBIS 7/19)

PA passes law restricting media coverage of "security issues," prohibiting reports that harm "national unity," requiring publishers to print retractions of any information contested by the PA. (HA 7/19 in FBIS 7/21; WT 7/20; PR 7/28)

Knesset swears in Yossi Beilin as M of Economy and Planning, Ehud Baraq as M of the Interior. (MM 7/17, 7/18; QY 7/18 in FBIS 7/19)

Israeli teenagers are found shot dead in the West Bank, nr. Wadi Kelt in 1st deadly attack since 4/9 bombing. PFLP takes responsibility. 10s of settlers block road outside PM Rabin's office, chanting "We want revenge!" (QY 7/18, MA 7/19 in FBIS 7/19; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/19; AFP 7/20 in FBIS 7/21; PR 7/28)

Palestinian delegation presents Israel with 10-point draft joint statement of principles on self-rule. (MM 5/12)

Lebanese delegation presents 1st official peace talks document to Israel rejecting Israel's 5/4 proposal for joint military working group, demanding timetable for withdrawal before consideration of peace treaty. (Davar 5/12 in FBIS 5/12)

Israeli Int. Min. Aryeh Deri (SHAS) withdraws his letter of resignation just before it would have gone into effect, giving PM Rabin 1 week to replace Ed. Min. Shulamit Aloni (Meretz) with a Laborite. The two mins. relinquish duties of their posts to Rabin for 1 week. (Qol Yisra'el 5/11 in FBIS 5/12; MM, NYT 5/12)

Hamas supporters prevent voting in Hebron U. campus elections. Minor scuffles end when trustees agree to hear grievances about Fateh's tactics in getting out the vote. Fateh supporters win by default in first victory at this Islamist stronghold. (MM, WP 5/12)

Israeli Int. Min. Aryeh Deri (SHAS) resigns from governing coalition, imperiling the ruling majority. Meretz mins. reject PM Rabin's proposal to change Ed. Min. Shulamit Aloni's portfolio. (NYT, WT 5/10; Qol Yisra'el 5/9 in FBIS 5/10)

Dep. Def. Min. Mordechai Gur says govt. has no plans to disarm settlers, although some weapons have been confiscated recently. Settlers are training the "Judea Police" to counter any Palestinian police force; Shin Bet is moving to contain development of radical paramilitary Jewish underground. (ITV 5/7, Qol Yisra'el 5/9 in FBIS 5/10)

Israeli cabinet approves 38,000 permits for o.t. workers. (MM 5/10)

Faisal Husseini and Haydar 'Abd al-Shafi condemn 3/1 killings in Tel Aviv. Husseini receives letter from Secy. of State Christopher through U.S. consul-general in Jerusalem. (Qol Yisra'el, HaAretz 3/2 in FBIS 3/2; al-Quds 3/5 in FBIS 3/8)

U.S. severs contacts with Hamas, saying they were cultivated to keep up with "developments in the Islamic world," denying any "political dialogue." Hamas will for the first time appear in the State Dept.'s annual report on terrorism, tobe issued 4/1. (WT 3/3)

PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Mahmud Abbas meets with Russian FM Kozyrev in Moscow, discusses deportees. (al-Hayat 3/4 in FBIS 3/8)

Israeli Health Min. Haim Ramon (Labor) and Interior Min. Aryeh Deri (SHAS) urge govt. to consider unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. (NYT 3/3; Qol Yisra'el 3/2 in FBIS 3/2)

Council of Jewish Settlements in Judea, Samaria and Gaza calls on settlers to open fire if attacked with stones (first in air to deter, then at body if endangered). IDF strongly rebukes lst-ever such call by settlers. (HaAretz 3/3 in FBIS 3/3)

Peace Now reports settlement expansion in at least 8 sites. (Al Hamishmar 3/2 in FBIS 3/3)

Israeli driver stoned and shot dead by Palestinians in Rafah, Gaza Strip. Shots fired from an Israeli car being stoned in East Jerusalem kill 1 Palestinian. (MM 3/2; NYT 3/3; IDF Radio, Qol Yisra'el 3/2 in FBIS 3/3)