The Palestine Chronology

Intervening in a longstanding dispute btwn. rival denominations of the Russian Orthodox Church, the PA forcibly evicts expatriate monks, nuns fr. Hebron's only Christian church, turns control over to reps. of the Russian Patriarch in Moscow. The emigre church leaders recently refused a PA request to lease some church-owned land to the Authority. (NYT 7/11; JP 7/19)

Taunted by stone-throwing settlers cursing the Prophet Muhammad, Palestinians clash with IDF soldiers guarding the Jewish enclaves of Hebron. IDF opens fire with rubber bullets, wounding 1 Palestinian. (NYT, WP, WT 7/6)

In Damascus, Syria, Oman hold talks on military cooperation. (SANA 7/5 in WNC 7/8)

For the 1st time, Lebanon issues $100 m. worth of World Bank-guaranteed treasury bonds in the U.S. (RL 7/5 in WNC 7/8)

Unnamed Western, Arab diplomats report that Syria is concentrating 3-4 army divisions at strategic points nr. Israel, including moving the 14th Special Forces Division to the Mount Hermon foothills, the 51st Division e. of Lebanon's Biqa` Valley. Syria says the redeployments are defensive. (WT 7/5)

Jordan announces that it has submitted to the World Bank 58 water sector proposals that would provide Jordan with 676 mcm of additional water fr. 1997 to 2000. (JT 7/5 in WNC 7/8)

IDF bans entry into the PA-controlled enclave of Hebron (H1) to prevent Palestinians fr. outside Hebron fr. entering H1 to take part in demonstrations. (Hatzofe 7/6 in WNC 7/8)

In Nablus, 30,000 Palestinians angered by distribution of anti-Muslim posters in Hebron stage protest, clash with IDF. Demonstrations also continue in Hebron, where the IDF wounds 6 Palestinians with live ammunition, 29 with rubber bullets. Netanyahu accuses Arafat of doing nothing to halt the protests. (NYT, WP, WT 7/5) (see 7/2)

In Ba'albeck, 10,000 Lebanese join the unauthorized "Revolution of the Hungry" demonstration called by fmr. Hizballah chief Shaykh Subhi Tufayli (who split with Hizballah Secy. Gen. Hassan Nasrallah in protest over Hizballah's decision to participate in the 1992, 1996 elections) to protest the government's economic policies, neglect of the Biqa` region. Lebanese army sends many troops, military police to monitor protesters. No clashes are reported. (MM 7/4; RL, RMC 7/4 in WNC 7/8; al-Safir 7/5 in WNC 7/9; al-Diyar 7/6 in WNC 7/11; MEI 7/11; MM 7/14; MEI 7/25)

In Amman, King Hussein discusses peace process with Labor Chmn. Barak. In Petra, Arafat meets with PM Majali. (JTV 6/9 in WNC 6/11; MM 6/10)

World Bank offers Jordan a $100 m. loan for energy, social security projects. (JT 6/9 in WNC 6/10)

In Beirut, 5 suspected Japanese Red Army mbrs. go on trial on charges of passport forgery, illegal entry into Lebanon. (NYT, WP 6/10; MEI 6/27) (see 4/3)

Iraqi pres. Saddam Hussein's son Uday leaves a Baghdad hospital 6 mos. after an assassination attempt against him. According to government media reports, his leg has not fully healed, but he has no signs of paralysis. Opposition press says he is partially paralyzed, cannot walk. (WT 6/10, 7/2, 7/10) (see 1/28)

Arafat arrives in Washington fr. Cairo; meets with U.S. special envoy Dennis Ross, World Bank Pres. James Wolfensohn. (MM 3/3)

Likud central comm. mtg. is held. Senior party officials accuse PM Netanyahu of bringing "professional hecklers" to cheer him, shout down his opponents and the media on cue; preventing opposition fr. speaking. (IDF Radio 3/2 in WNC 3/4; MM, WJW 3/6; WT 3/8; JP 3/15)

Israeli DM Mordechai approves construction of 1,500 houses, 3,000 hotel rooms on 2,500 acres of land btwn. Jerusalem, Ma'ale Adumim settlement. (MM 3/3; WT 3/4)

In Amman, Jordanian PM Kabariti, Israeli Labor party mbr. Ehud Barak hold talks on bilateral relations. (RJ 3/2 in WNC 3/4; JTV, RJ 3/2 in WNC 3/7)

Japanese envoy arrives in Lebanon to confirm identities of alleged Red Army detainees. (RL 3/2 in WNC 3/4; MM 3/3) (see 2/18)