The Palestine Chronology

As U.S. envoy Zinni meets with PA officials, an Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device on a bus in Hadera, Israel, killing 3 Israelis, wounding 7. The bomber reportedly boarded the bus in the Israeli Arab town of Umm al-Fahm. A Palestinian gunman also kills 1 IDF soldier in a drive-by shooting at a West Bank checkpoint. The IDF opens fire on a Palestinian car at a Jordan Valley checkpoint, killing 2 Palestinians that "acted suspiciously" by making a U-turn to avoid the congested crossing. The IDF also opens fire on a French delegation (135 politicians, journalists, intellectuals) touring homes demolished by the IDF in Khan Yunis; seals Hebron; sets up more roadblocks, especially on the road to Bethlehem; tightens the closure on Tulkarm, bulldozing areas along the Green Line; raids a Palestinian factory nr. Qarni crossing, confiscating electrical equipment; directs heavy machine gun fire on residential areas of Jinin; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis. Jewish settlers, under IDF protection, place caravans on a new settlement site nr. Dayr al-Balah. (AFP, HP 11/29; AFP, AP, HP, MM, NYT, WT 11/30; al-Quds 11/30 in WNC 12/3; LAW 12/5)

Sharon arrives in the U.S. on an official visit, accuses Arafat of having built a "coalition of terror" against Israel. (MM 11/30; NYT 12/1)

Nr. Jinin, an explosion kills 6 Fatah mbrs., 3 of whom are on Israel's most-wanted list, 1 of whom is a PA military intelligence officer. Fatah says they were assassinated by IDF tank fire; Israel claims they were assembling a bomb when it exploded. After Palestinians fire a mortar at Kefar Darom settlement in Gaza, injuring 1 girl, IDF helicopters fire shells at the main PSF headquarters in Gaza City, destroying a building that Israel claims was a mortar factory, injuring 7 PSF officers. The IDF also fatally shoots a PSF officer and an Islamic Jihad mbr. nr. Qarni crossing; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Hebron, Rafah. A small bomb explodes in a supermarket in Pisgat Ze'ev, and a roadside bomb explodes nr. a Jewish settler school bus nr. Ofra, neither causing injuries. Nr. Tulkarm, Palestinian gunmen fire across the Green Line at an Israeli border police car, injuring 3 officers. (AFP [Internet], BBC, NYT, REU, WP, WT 7/30; NYT, WP 7/31; SA 7/31 in WNC 8/1; LAW 8/6; MEI 8/10)

2 Palestinians die of injuries received earlier, including senior Fatah mbr. Bardawil who was wounded on 6/5 in a possible assassination attempt. The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah; raids 3 PA-controlled areas in Gaza, 1 in Hebron; occupies an uninhabited building in Nablus for use as an IDF post. Palestinians fire mortars at 2 Gaza settlements, causing no damage. Jewish settlers attempt to set up a new enclave nr. Nablus, where a settler was killed a wk. ago, but the IDF intervenes, declares the area a closed military zone. IDF troops bar an ambulance carrying a Palestinian man suffering a heart attack fr. crossing a checkpoint to reach a hospital; the man dies en route to the hospital via a 2d, longer path. Troops also bar a Palestinian woman in labor from crossing a checkpoint to reach Jericho hospital 40 m. away; after she gives birth, the soldiers allow her to walk through the crossing with her newborn. Israeli security forces arrest a number of Palestinian fr. Hebron working illegally inside the Green Line; escort them to Gaza, where they are barred fr. returning to Hebron. (HA, HP 6/8; HA 6/11)

CIA Dir. Tenet holds preliminary mtgs. with Sharon in Tel Aviv, Arafat in Ramallah. Israel presents two lists of Palestinians it wants arrested immediately: 34 Palestinians who committed anti-Israeli attacks and were released fr. PA prisons since the intifada began; some 300 Palestinians that "participated in the recent violence against military and civilian targets." The PA says it will coordinate with Israel and act on tips to prevent attacks, noting that it has already passed information to Israel regarding 2 possible suicide bombings since 6/1, but will not make preventive arrests without probable cause. (HA, MM 6/7; HJ, MENA, al-Quds, SA 6/7 in WNC 6/8/; MM, NYT, WP 6/8; DUS 6/8 in WNC 6/11; NYT 6/9)

In Ramallah, reps of the nationalist and Islamist groups give PLO Exec. Comm. secy. Mahmud Abbas a memorandum calling on Arafat to open a "national dialogue" to discuss forming an emergency government that includes all Palestinian factions. (AYM 6/8 in WNC 6/11; HJ 6/10 in WNC 6/12; AYM 6/12 in WNC 6/14)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue. A mysterious explosion rips through a Force 17 office in Ramallah, injuring 3 officers. Israel denies responsibility, though the attack comes within an hr. of an Israeli inner cabinet mtg. to discuss responses to recent Palestinian violence. The PA acknowledges the explosion came fr. inside the building. Reporters witness mbrs. of different PA security forces scuffling with each other; PA police confiscate reporters film, video tape. Later, Palestinian mortars land on both sides of the Gaza-Israel border causing no damage. The IDF fires on several Palestinians suspected of firing mortars, injuring senior Hamas mbr. Khalil Sakani; Hamas admits its mbrs. fired mortars at Kefar Darom settlement. Arafat issues a 2d call to halt mortar attacks across the Green Line; sends a message to Sharon via a visiting U.S. congressional delegation suggesting that both leaders deliver simultaneous public calls for a halt to violence, a renewal of negotiations. Sharon says Arafat should issue cease-fire orders 1st. (AP 4/19; AFP [Internet], HA, WP, WT 4/20; NYT, WT 4/21; al-Quds 4/24 in WNC 4/26; MM 4/27; DUS 4/27 in WNC 4/30)

Israeli FM Peres meets with PA Local Government M Erakat to discuss ways of reducing violence. Later, Peres holds a 2d mtg. with Arafat economic adviser Rashid (see 4/18). (EFE [Madrid] 4/19 in WNC 4/24; AYM 4/24 in WNC 4/25)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue at a high level, leaving a total of 4 Palestinians dead; another 2 Palestinians die of injuries received earlier. In the 1st major Israeli ground assault into PA-controlled territory since 9/28, IDF tanks, bulldozers enter Khan Yunis camp (see 12/13) to remove an embankment and structures that Palestinian gunmen allegedly use for cover when firing on adjacent Jewish settlements, demolishing 28 Palestinian homes, part of an apartment building, and an olive grove. The operation clears a 400-yard strip of land, leaves over 360 Palestinians homeless, sparks fierce fighting in which 2 Palestinians are killed, 25-50 are injured. Arafat calls for a halt to mortar attacks across the Green Line. At U.S.'s urging, Israeli, PA security teams meet this evening at the home of U.S. amb. Indyk to discuss a cease-fire. They make no progress but agree to meet again on 4/16. After dark, Palestinians fire 4 mortars into Nisanit settlement in Gaza, damaging 1 house, causing no injuries. The IDF shells residential areas of Abu Sunayna, Bayt Hanun, al-Haria Valley. (AFP [Internet], BBC, HP, LAW, MM, PCHR 4/11; AFP 4/11 in WNC 4/11; Interfax, MENA 4/11 in WNC 4/12; HP, JP [Internet], LAW, MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/12; JT, SA 4/12 in WNC 4/13; JP [Internet], NYT, WT 4/13; al-Quds 4/13 in WNC 4/16; MEI, WP 4/20; WP 4/21)

Donors hold an informal Ad-Hoc Liaison Comm. mtg. in Stockholm. The EU agrees to give the PA $9 m./mo. for 6 mos., urges Israel to release $120 m. in taxes owed the PA. (REU 4/13; see also AFP 4/2 in WNC 4/3; MM 4/6)