The Palestine Chronology

Italian PM Massimo D'Alema, in Bethlehem to attend PA Christmas celebrations, meets with Arafat, announces that direct flights btwn. Gaza and Rome will begin this spring. (ANSA 12/26 in WNC 12/27; al-Quds 12/27 in WNC 12/29)

In Amman, PA, Jordanian trade Ms hold talks on transportation, agricultural cooperation; prepare for planned 3-way trade mtg. with Israel. (JT 12/27 in WNC 12/28)

A Hizballah mbr. is killed, an SLA mbr. is wounded in clashes in s. Lebanon. (RL 12/25 in WNC 12/27; WP 12/26)

Israel carries out 1st stage of FRD. (MM 11/20; YA 11/20 in WNC 11/23; NYT, WT 11/21; RE 11/22 in WNC 11/24; MEI, PR 11/27)

Israel releases the 1st 250 Palestinian prisoners. (MM 11/20; NYT, WP 11/21; AFP, RE, YA 11/22 in WNC 11/24; YA 11/26 in WNC 11/30; MEI 11/27)

Israel, Britain sign a 10-yr. military cooperation pact aimed at facilitating joint research in defense technologies, especially naval high-tech, unmanned aerial vehicles. (JP 11/30)

Italian court rejects Turkey's request for extradition of Kurdish separatist leader Abdallah Ocalan, citing law that bars extradition to country that has the death penalty. Ocalan, head of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), is freed fr. custody but ordered to stay in Rome. Turkey orders boycott of Italian goods in protest. (RAI Televideo Teletex 11/20 in WNC 11/23; NYT 11/21; ATL 11/21 in WNC 11/24; WP, WT 11/22; MM 11/23; NYT 11/24; CSM 11/30) (see 11/12)

2 MKs request that the Israeli High Court block work at Har Homa until it hears petitions against the construction project on 3/20. (YA 3/17 in WNC 3/19)

Palestinian protesters erect tents nr. Har Homa. IDF snipers take up positions nearby to watch them. (CSM, WT 3/18; PR 3/21)

Netanyahu defeats (54-46) a no-confidence vote. (WT 3/16)

In Damascus, Syrian pres. Asad, Italian PM Romano Prodi discuss the peace process. (RAI Televideo [Rome], SATN 3/17 in WNC 3/19; SATN 3/18 in WNC 3/20)

Jordanian police ban 200 activists (incl. 21 opposition deputies) fr. visiting home of Pvt. Ahmad Daqamsa, the soldier who shot 13 Israeli girls on 3/13, to express their solidarity. The deputies condemn the killings but demand a fair trial for Daqamsa, oppose Israeli intervention in the investigation (see 3/15) (AFP, RMC 3/17 in WNC 3/19; JT 3/19 in WNC 3/20; MEI 3/21)

Lebanon bans potato imports fr. Egypt. Egypt threatens economic retaliation. (RL 3/17 in WNC 3/19) (see 3/8)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: P. M. Shamir says releasing Arab prisoners in accord with demands of Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine is "out of the question." Other Israeli officials said SLA may release some of its prisoners [PI 2/6].

Other Countries: Italian officials end year-long investigation of terrorist attack at Rome's' Leonardo Da Vinci airport and request indictment of Sabri al-Banna (Abu Nidal) and 2 other Palestinians [WP, NYT 2/6]. U.S. announces abandonment of plans for meeting on counterterrorism strategy. U.S. also announces reduction in naval force in Mediterranean [WP 2/6].