The Palestine Chronology

Chmn. Arafat meets Pres. al-Asad in Damascus, the first time the two bitter rivals have met since 1983. The two reportedly agree that the multilateral Arab-Israeli talks on regional cooperation, envisaged as the third-stage of the peace process, would be futile unless Israel agrees to withdraw from the o.t. (MEM 10/21)

Asad had earlier met with Soviet FM Pankin, while FM al-Sharaa received the U.S., Soviet ambassadors who issued invitation to attend the peace conference. Syria indicated it would formally respond to the invitation in a few days' time. (WP 10/20)

Palestinian negotiator Faisal Husseini submits list of 14 Palestinian delegates to peace conference to U.S. consul in Jerusalem. (WP 10/20)

Jordan formally accepts the U.S.-Soviet invitation to attend peace conference. (WP 10/20)

Gulf Cooperation Council Secy. Gen. 'Abdullah Bishara indicates he will head GCC delegation to peace conference. (AFP 10/19 in FBIS 10/21)

Israel reports it has received positive information that one of its five missing soldiers in Lebanon, Yossi Fink, is dead, in a move which may expedite the ongoing comprehensive prisoner-hostage exchange negotiations. (WP 10/20)

"International Conference in Support of the Islamic Revolution in Palestine" opens in Tehran with 800 delegates from 60 countries in attendance. PNC Speaker 'Abd al-Hamid Sa'ih, delegates from the main constituent PLO groups attend, as do representatives of Hamas, Islamic Jihad of Palestine [Fathi Shaqaqi], and groups within the Palestinian National Salvation Front. Iranian pres. Hashimi Rafasanjani declares Iran is willing to send troops to help establish a Palestinian state. (WP 10/20; MEM 10/21, 10/23)

In Cairo, Arab League meeting opens with introductory speeches; all 21 nation-members attend; pro-Western nations, particularly Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, dismiss Iraq's justifications for occupying Kuwait and hint that they no longer regard PLO as sole representative of Palestinians [NYT, WP 3/31; MENA 3/20 in FBIS 4/1; CSM 4/1].

Palestinians in o.t. hold general strike to mark Land Day, but within Israel, Land Day strike is canceled for 1st time in years, underscoring political differences among Israel's 800,000 Arabs [NYT, WP 3/31; FJ 4/8; MET 4/9].

At news conference in Kuwait, GCC Sec.- Gen. announces member states have decided to cut financial aid to Jordan and PLO because of their Gulf war stands (cf. 4/1) [ADS 3/30 in FBIS 4/1; MET 4/9].

Palestinian military court in Sanaa sentences Hani Muhammad al-Hasan to death for the assassination of Abu Iyad on 16 January [MENA 3/30 in FBIS 4/2]. 

Overnight, at least 19 U.S. sailors on leave from Gulf duty drown off Israeli port of Haifa when ferry carrying them back to USS Saratoga capsizes and sinks [JDS 12/22 in FBIS 12/24; LAT 12/22; NYT, WP 12/23; JPI 12/29; MET 1/1].

Gulf Cooperation Council opens 11th annual summit meeting in Doha, Qatar with the 6 member nations' leaders in attendance [WAKH 12/22 in FBIS 12/24; NYT 12/23; MET 1/1].

New York Times reports that in early November, Pres. Bush authorized American oil companies to import limited amounts of crude oil from Iran, partly relaxing ban on all Iranian goods imposed in 1987 near end of Iran-Iraq war [NYT 12/23].

PFLP reopens its Baghdad office after a 10-year absence [INA 12/22 in FBIS 1/3; MET 1/1].

IDF shoots dead "terrorist" cutting through fence along Israeli-Jordanian border north of Argaman settlement [JDS 12/22 in FBIS 12/24].

PLO statement says 12/20 UN Sec. Council resolution is insufficient and disproportionate compared to the volume of aggressions committed by Israel against Palestinians [AVP 12/23 in FBIS 12/24; AFP 12/22 in FBIS 12/27]. 

Arab League foreign ministers, holding emergency meeting in Cairo, issue statement "condemn[ing] Iraqi aggression against Kuwait. . .reject[ing] any consequences resulting from such aggression," 7 League members-Jordan, PLO, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, and Djiboutido not endorse statement; Gulf Cooperation Council statement condemns invasion, and Egyptian foreign ministry calls for withdrawal of Iraqi troops [MENA 8/3 in FBIS 8/6; MEM 8/6].

UNLU allegedly sends cable of support to Iraqi Pres. Saddam Hussein: "You [Saddam] have taken the first step toward the liberation of Palestine" [INA 8/3 in FBIS 8/6; MEM 8/6].