The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 2 residential structures and seized 1 Palestine TV broadcasting van near Tubas. Israeli forces also seized 1 Palestinian-owned vehicle near Tubas and demolished 1 shack in Beita. 7 Palestinians were arrested during raids in al-‘Arub refugee camp, Qalqilya, ‘Anata, Shu‘fat refugee camp, and Dayr Balut. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinians were arrested during a late-night raid in Issawiyya; clashes ensued during the raid, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen west of Bayt Lahiya within the allocated fishing zone; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA 9/29; PCHR 9/30; PCHR 10/1)

At a speech to the UN General Assembly, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Hezbollah is storing missiles in a neighborhood in Beirut and that Iran is a few months away from enriching enough uranium for 2 nuclear bombs. The secretary-general of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah said that Netanyahu’s speech was made to incite the people of Lebanon against Hezbollah and that he was lying about his claims. (HA, REU 9/29)

The emir of Kuwait Shaykh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabar al-Sabah died at the age of 91, leaving the throne to his 83-year-old brother Shaykh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, who was appointed crown prince in 2006 when Emir Shaykh Sabah took office. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, REU, WAFA 9/29; AJ 9/30)

The student body at Columbia University passed a referendum to recommend that the university divest from “stocks, funds and endowment from companies that profit from or engage in the State of Israel’s acts towards Palestinians.” (AJD 9/29; JP, MDW, TOI 9/30; WAFA 10/2)

The PA and India signed a memorandum of understanding for Indian contributions of $36.1 million for 1 hospital in Bayt Sahour and contributions for the national printing press and 2 schools. (WAFA 9/29)

Israeli, PA teams open 2 sets of talks nr. Washington: final status issues at Andrews air force base (AFB) and interim issues at Bolling AFB. (MM, WT 6/13; NYT, WP, WT 6/14; WP 6/15)

Funeral ceremonies for Syrian pres. Hafiz al-Asad are held in Damascus, Latakia, and Asad's childhood home of Qardaha, where he is laid to rest in the family mausoleum. Attending are the heads of state of Egypt, France, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Turkey, and Yemen; the heads of the PA and Hizballah; plus senior reps. from Iraq, Russia, the U.S. Secy. of State Albright meets alone with Bashar al-Asad for 15 mins., says he is ready to continue discussions on talks with Israel. (MM, WT 6/13; ATL, DUS, HINA [Zagreb], Interfax, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, MENA, al-Quds, Rompres [Bucharest] 6/13 in WNC 6/14; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 6/14; MA, al-Quds 6/14 in WNC 6/15; JP, MEI, MM 6/16; Sabah [Istanbul] 6/15 in WNC 6/21; MIL 6/19 in WNC 6/27; MM 6/20; MEI 6/30)

After a wk. of coalition bargaining to keep his government together following the 6/7 Knesset vote, PM Barak's main partner, Shas (17 Knesset seats), announces it will quit the coalition at the next cabinet mtg. unless Barak agrees to bail out its financially strapped schools, to remove its schools fr. Education Min. oversight, and to legalize its pirate radio stations. Shas's departure would leave Barak with a minority government. (MM 6/13; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/14; MM 6/15; MA 6/16 in WNC 6/19; WP 6/20; WJW 6/22)

The IDF bulldozes a Palestinian home in East Jerusalem to make way for a road. This is the 13th house demolition in East Jerusalem this yr. (WT 6/14)

In Washington, Jordan's King Hussein, Pres. Clinton discuss peace process, Iraq, Jordanian economy. (JTV 1/5 in WNC 1/7; WT 1/6; al-Dustur 1/7 in WNC 1/8)

Confidants say that UN Secy. Gen. Annan has received convincing evidence that UNSCOM inspectors collected eavesdropping intelligence used in U.S. efforts to overthrow the Iraqi regime, is concerned it could undermine UN credibility. UNSCOM head Butler denies the reports. (WP 1/6; MM 1/7)

Kuwait's Dep. PM Shaykh Sa'd al-Abdallah al-Sabah visits Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan; says Jordanian-Kuwaiti ties are developing, Jordan's emb. in Kuwait City may reopen soon. (MM 1/5; RJ 1/5 in WNC 1/6; RJ 1/5 in WNC 1/7; MM 1/6; al-Dustur, al-Ra'i 1/7 in WNC 1/8; SA 1/9, 1/13 in WNC 1/14)

Jordan's governor of Irbid bans planned pro-Iraq rally. (al-Dustur 1/6 in WNC 1/7)

In 2 separate incidents, Iraqi planes challenge U.S. planes in the s. no-fly zone but do not shoot. U.S. fires on the 4 planes but misses. (GIU, NYT, WT, WP 1/6; CSM 1/7)

An IDF soldier is seriously wounded in s. Lebanon by a Hizballah remote-controlled bomb. (MM 1/6)

Nayif Hawatma, leader of one of two factions now using the name DFLP, states DFLP, PFLP, Fateh have agreed on common stance concerning Palestinian participation in peace conference, including insistance on PLO's right to present a delegation comprised of Palestinians from within and outside the o.t., including delegates from E. Jerusalem. But the three groups failed to adopt a joint statement to this effect for presentation to the upcoming Palestine National Council (PNC) meeting. (Radio Monte Carlo 8/18 in FBIS 8/19)

Pres. Bush refuses to grant pardon to Jonathan Jay Pollard, convicted of spying for Israel. (JP 8/18 in FBIS 8/21)

Hizbullah leader Shaykh 'Abbas al-Musawi, other Hizbullah officials, arrive in Tehran for discussions with Iranian leaders on comprehensive Middle East prisoner-hostage exchange. (NYT 8/19)

Israeli for. ministry declares Ethiopia will allow remaining 2,600 Jews in Ethiopia to emigrate to Israel. (WP 8/17)

Iranian Oil Minister Gholam Reza Qaqzadeh-Kho'i presents Kuwaiti leader Shaykh Jabir al-Ahmad al-Sabah with letter from Iranian pres. Rafasanjani on protecting the rights of the Palestinian people. Letter follows recent diplomatic activity indicating increased PLO-Iranian ties. (Tehran Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran 8/17 in FBIS 9/1)