The Palestine Chronology

Israeli police investigatory board determines police acted properly upon a report that armed men were present in building housing the Islamic court of E. Jerusalem, other offices shortly before police forces raided the site. Report also claims no documents were taken in 11/18 action. (MM 11/21)

EC announces appointment of its first representative to o.t., to be based in Brussels under terms of compromise recently reached between EC, Israel. EC sought to place delegate in the o.t.; Israel objected, fearing this would imply that the o.t. constitutes adiplomatic entity, and sought to attach the representative to EC mission in Tel Aviv. (MM 11/21)

Hizballah leader 'Abbas Musawi states that fate of Western hostages is separate from that of Arab prisoners held by Israel. (MM 11/20; NYT 11/21)

Girl is killed, five others wounded as SLA blows up two houses of suspected Hizballah guerrillas in Majd al-Sahm, S. Lebanon. Raid comes in midst of increased tension in S. Lebanon. (MM 11/20)

Israeli state attorney recommends that Israel take no action against Hanan Ashrawi for her alleged contacts with PLO officials, as had been recommended by Israeli police. Israeli attorney general must now decide Ashrawi's fate. (MM 11/19)

Jerusalem chief of police apologizes for 11/18 raid on Islamic court offices in E. Jerusalem (but does not return documents) as some 100 Palestinians, including members of the Islamic Higher Council, demonstrate against the raid in E. Jerusalem. Merchants in Hebron joined with those in the old city in strike to protest the raid. (MM 11/19)

E. Jerusalem, Hebron merchants strike ends. Nablus merchants strike 11/18 death of imam shot by IDF. (MM 11/19)

Labor party opens national convention in Jerusalem, struggles to develop a new election program to attract voters. (MM 11/19, 11/20)

European Commission announces EC will donate $61 million in aid to Palestinians in o.t. to help overcome economic effects of Gulf war. Grant is first expenditure from a $280- million assistance package established by EC in March 1991. (MM 11/19)

PM Shamir declares Israel will not release more Lebanese prisoners until it receives its missing servicemen. FM Levy calls on UN, Western countries to avoid "discrimination" during prisoner-hostage release negotiations, a reference to increased Israeli concern that such talks are focusing solely on Western hostages and ignoring Israeli demands for information on its servicemen missing in Lebanon. Israeli negotiator Uri Lubrani travels to New York for talks with UN Secy. Gen. Perez de Cuellar to push for progress on releasing airman Ron Arad, only Israeli hostage believed to be alive. Reversing earlier UN policy seeking a multilateral release, Perez de Cuellar states that he now accepts separating question of Western hostages from that of Israeli captives. (Qol Yisra'el 11/19 in FBIS 11/19; WP 11/21)

Lebanese Pres. al-Hirawi states that as long as Israel refuses to implement UN Sec. Council Resolution 425, calling for Israeli withdrawal from S. Lebanon, he cannot stop attacks by anti-Israeli resistance forces. (MM 11/19)

At Helsinki summit, Pres. Bush and Pres. Gorbachev issue strongly-worded statement declaring unconditional support for economic and political sanctions against Iraq [LAT, NYT, WT, WP, CSM 9/10]; Pres. Bush drops longstanding opposition to Soviet involvement in Middle East peace process [NYT, WT, WP 9/11].

Israeli gov't is reported to have won court order temporarily blocking Canadian publication of Victor Ostrosky and Claire Hoy's book By Way of Deception: A Devastating Insider's Portrait of the Mossad [NYT 9/10; JPD 9/10 in FBIS 9/10].

Israeli police investigators recommend placing 9 police officers on trial for torturing Palestinians at Jerusalem's main jail, but high-ranking officials request review of evidence before charges are filed [NYT 9/10].

Saudi officials say their country will continue to support the Palestinians until they achieved an independent state, despite Palestinian support for Iraq [WT 9/10; MET 9/18].

More than 300 American women and children evacuated from Kuwait leave Amman to U.S. [WP 9/10; ADS 9/9 in FBIS 9/10].

'Abd-al-'Aziz Rantisi, a founder of Hamas, calls on Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait, urging Saddam to act according to Muslim law rather than according to personal likes and dislikes; Rantisi also calls for removal of U.S. troops from region [HAA 9/10 in FBIS 9/11].

Palestinians in O.T. observe general strike to mark beginning of 34th month of intifada [FJ 9/17].

After 3 days of fierce gun battles in S. Lebanon, Fateh troops loyal to Arafat over-run last stronghold of forces loyal to Abu Nidal; 18 people are reported dead [BDS 9/9 in FBIS 9/10; NYT, WP 9/10; WT 9/11; MET 9/18].