The Palestine Chronology

UN survey of civilian damage caused by allied bombardment of Iraq calls the results "near apocalyptic," and recommends an immediate end to embargo on food and other essential supplies [NYT 3/22].

Bush admin., moving to counter impression that it had scapegoated Ambassador to Iraq April Glaspie on Kuwait invasion, says it knew Iraqi transcript of Glaspie-Saddam meeting was inaccurate but did not wish to divert attention from coalition by correcting the record [NYT, WT 3/22].

U.S. military says thousands of Iraqi civilians have poured into villages and communities in Iraqi territory controlled by allied forces; many are refugees from civil unrest gripping much of Iraq [NYT 3/22]; heavy fighting occurs in northern Iraq [WP 3/22].

Speaker of the House Thomas Foley (D-Wash.) says he supports Pres. Bush's opposition to measure passed by Senate that cuts off aid to Jordan. White House threatens to veto bill unless aid provision is removed [NYT 3/22].

Palestinian paramedics says Palestinian and Iraqi torture victims are being kept in secret hospital wards accessible only to Kuwaiti doctors, and that at least 2 casualties were beaten while still in hospital's emergency room [WP 3/22].

In report to Congress, State Dep't. says Soviet Jewish emigrants are settling in o.t. at higher rate than Israeli gov't. claims; report adds Jewish population in o.t. is growing by as much as 10% annually [WP, WT 3/22].

Speaking on NBC television, King Hussein says that Jordan would not agree to substitute for PLO in any negotiations, but if PLO asked him to be part of joint delegation, he would consider doing so [MEM 4/3]. 

U.S. forces round up more than 1,400 Iraqi soldiers-including a brigadier general-from island of Faylakah, the last piece of Iraqi-held Kuwaiti territory. Allies hold about 63,000 Iraqi POWs [LAT 3/4].

Refugees crossing into Iran and Syria from Iraq report demonstrations against Saddam Hussein has spread from Basra to 3 other cities in southern Iraq [NYT, LAT, WP, WT 3/4].

At UN, U.S. and allies offer to speed the flow of food and other relief supplies into Iraq after nonaligned nations press for formal easing of sanctions [NYT 3/4].

Pres. Mitterrand makes what diplomats describe as his clearest call yet for a Palestinian state [LAT 3/4]; Mitterrand also calls for international peace conference on Middle East [WP, MEM 3/4].

Presenting 9-item postwar agenda, Pres. Mubarak urges fresh start for Arabs, says Egyptians have no quarrel with Iraqi people and will help rebuild Iraq [LAT, NYT, WP, MEM 3/4].

UNLU issues call number 68, calling for "increased rallying around the PLO and adherence to it as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people" [AFP 3/3, JPD 3/4 in FBIS 3/5; AVP 3/5 in FBIS 3/6; MEM 3/5; JPI 3/16].

Israeli jets fly through Lebanese army machine gun fire and bomb Fateh base in southern Lebanon; it is 1st air strike since Gulf war ended [MEM 3/4; MET 3/12].

Israel lifts curfew on Gaza Strip for 1st time since 16 January, Gaza fishermen are permitted to put to sea; several towns and villages in W. Bank remain under curfew [MEM 3/4].

Pres. Bush says 2/18 Soviet proposal for Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait "falls well short of what would be required" to end war with Iraq [NYT, LAT, WP, WT, CSM 2/20].

F.M. Aziz meets in Tehran with Iranian Pres. Rafsanjani; Baghdad gives no formal response to Soviet plan but reiterates 2/15 proposal. Iranian F.M. Velayati says he believes Iraq is "ready to withdraw from Kuwait unconditionally" [NYT, WP 2/20].

UN Sec. Council authorizes Red Cross to make emergency deliveries of water purification equipment to Iraq [NYT 2/20].

Allied planes attack targets in Iraq and Kuwait; single SCUD missile is launched at Israel, no casualties; U.S. A-10 plane is lost in combat, bringing American total to 22, and allied total to 31; U.S. military official says that Iraqi troops in Kuwait and southern Iraq are suffering "horrendous' casualties [JAA, JDS 2/19 in FBIS 2/20; NYT, LAT, WP 2/20; MET 3/5].

In separate forums, Soviet F.M. Bessmertnykh, envoy Primakov, and spokesman Ignatenko argue against beginning ground offensive against Iraq, saying its effect would only be enormous suffering and destruction; they add that Soviet proposal makes ground war unnecessary [NYT, WP 2/20].

U.S. commander Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf says Iraqi military machine is on verge of collapse, losing about 2 battalions of tanks a day to allied air strikes [LAT, WP 2/20].

Pope John Paul II summons bishops from countries involved in Gulf war, including U.S. and Iraq, to unprecedented peace-seeking conference from 3-4 March at the Vatican [MEM 2/19; LAT 2/20].

Moving to contain diplomatic fallout from its support for Iraq, PLO says it accepts the "spirit" of UN Sec. Council resolution 660; PLO also renews its call for talks with Israel [AFP 2/19 in FBIS 2/19].

In Luxembourg, EC "troika" foreign ministers decide to avoid talks with Yasir Arafat in their planned series of Middle East trips (cf. 2/21) [MEM 2/20].

U.S. State Dep't. reiterates its criticism of Israel's policy of administrative detention in light of Taher Shritch case [NYT, MEM 2/201

In testimony to House Foreign Affairs Committee, Sec. Baker calls for creation of U.S.-led NATO-style security structure in Middle East to prevent renewed Iraqi aggression even if present crisis ends without warfare (cf. 9/5) [LAT, NYT, WP, MEM 9/5; CSM 9/6].

Speaking in Vladivostok, Soviet F.M. Shevardnadze calls for international conference on the Middle East that would include the Gulf crisis, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and Lebanon [WT, WP 9/5]; Israel sharply rejects the idea [JPI 9/15].

Washington Post reports that U.S. commander in Saudi Arabia Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf complained to Defense Dep't and White House about Saudi Lt. Gen. Khaled bin Sultan's remarks on 8/29 that any decision to use U.S. forces deployed in Kingdom would have to follow consultations between King Fahd and Pres. Bush. Bush conveyed to Saudi ambassador "military concern that U.S. forces be unquestionably under U.S. command," and ambassador reiterated what Saudis contend was original agreement between Fahd and Def. Sec. Cheney that U.S. forces were invited to Kingdom to defend Saudi Arabia from attack by Iraq [WP, MEM 9/4].

Cheney says U.S. would "consult closely" with Saudis before launching offensive action from Saudi territory, but stops short of saying whether Saudi approval would be required [MEM 9/5].

Bush admin. begins asking economic allies for at least $25 billion to help defray American military expenses and support countries that have been hurt by embargo on Iraq and Kuwait [LAT, WP 9/5].

Israeli finance minister Yitzhak Modai says if U.S. forgives Egypt's debt, Israel will demand that most of its $4.6 billion debt also be erased [LAT 9/5; MET 9/18].

Qatar expels more than 70 Palestinian families, including several PLO members, apparently because of Palestinian support for Iraq [NYT 9/5; MET 9/18].

Media report of growing crisis in Jordan as hundreds of thousands of refugees flee Kuwait and Iraq for the Hashemite kingdom [NYT, WP 9/5; MET 9/18].

As'ad al-As'ad, ass't sec.-gen. of Arab League, is named as acting sec.-gen. until replacement for Chedli Klibi is determined [TDS 9/4 in FBIS 9/5].

Italian F.M. De Michelis, meeting with Israeli F.M. Levy, says PLO made a "mistake" by supporting Iraq and warned that if Arafat doesn't change position "we will have to revise our attitude towards the PLO" [WP 8/17].

Palestinians in O.T. issue statement, reportedly agreed to by all 4 local PLO factions, calling for Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait and "restoration of Kuwaiti selfdetermination" [WP 8/17].

Strike called for by Hamas is observed throughout O.T. [WP 8/17].

Washington Post reports that Israel's sideline role in Gulf crisis (requested by Washington) has prompted Israeli concern that its place as premier U.S. military ally in the region is being undermined [WP 8/16].

GCC holds emergency meeting in Jeddah to discuss Iraqi threat [RIDS 8/15 in FBIS 8/16].

Egyptian authorities have reportedly closed the Rafah border to Palestinians in view of sympathy Gaza Strip residents have shown for Iraq [YA 8/15 in FBIS 8/ 16].

U.S. federal appeals court clears way for Palestinian-American Mahmoud Abed Ahmad to be extradited to Israel; Ahmad is accused of taking part in machine-gun attack on Israeli bus in W. Bank; court rejects Ahmad's argument that the crime was political act not covered by extradition treaty with Israel [WT, WP 8/16]