The Palestine Chronology

Two-day tripartite meeting of foreign ministers of Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia begins in Cairo; this is 3d meeting since Gulf crisis began [MENA, RMC 12/3 in FBIS 12/4; MET 12/11].

Greater Beirut officially comes under control of Lebanese Army after Lebanese Forces militia vacate positions [MEM 12/3; NYT, WT, WP, CSM 12/4; BDS, BVL, RFL 12/3 in FBIS 12/4; MET 12/11].

Def. Sec. Cheney tells Senate Armed Services Committee that military action rather than economic sanctions is only sure way of forcing Iraq out of Kuwait [NYT, WT, WP, MEM 12/4; CSM 12/5].

Soviet television reports that 1,000 of the 3,000 Soviet citizens still held in Iraq will be allowed to return to USSR within next 3 weeks [NYT, WT, WP 12/4].

In separate statements before English-speaking or American audiences, Israeli D.M. Moshe Arens, Housing Min. Ariel Sharon, Deputy F.M. Benjamin Netanyahu, and several MKs offer sharp warnings that Iraq should not be left with its army and weapons intact after Gulf crisis [NYT 12/4; WP 12/6]; Sharon compares Sec. Baker's proposed Baghdad trip to Neville Chamberlain in World War II [JDS 12/3 in FBIS 12/4].

Israeli military court sentences to 30 years each of 12 Arabs apprehended in PLF's May 1990 attempted attack on Tel Aviv beach [IDF 12/3 in FBIS 12/5; LAT 12/4; MEM 12/4; MET 12/11].

Quoting B'Tselem data, HaAretz reports that Palestinians are prohibited from building on 68% of West Bank's 5.5 million dunums [HAA 12/3 in FBIS 12/5].

Israeli air force and navy confront "fishing vessel that appeared suspicious" off coast of Gaza; force it ashore and shoot dead 1 crew member who tries to flee; five others are detained [JDS 12/4 in FBIS 12/4; MEM 12/4].

At least 10 "anti-Israeli combatants" are killed in 2 incidents of fighting with IDF, SLA troops in S. Lebanon [IDF, AFP 12/3 in FBIS 12/4]. 

Sec. Baker holds 4-hour meeting with Soviet F.M. Shevardnadze in New York on Gulf situation; agree on need to increase pressure on Iraq. Baker begins meeting by praising Shevardnadze's UN speech [NYT, WP 9/27].

Sec. Baker also meets with Israeli F.M. Levy [JPD 9/26 in FBIS 9/26]; Levy says Israel will not move forward with Israeli-Palestinian peace process until after Gulf crisis is settled [JPI 10/6].

USSR and EC issue joint statement in New York on resolved conflicts in Middle East  [NYT 9/27].

In 1st phase of planned over $20 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia, Pres. Bush decides to include the most sophisticated M- 1 tanks and other weapons worth $7.5 billion as immediate response to Iraqi threat [NYT, WP 9/27; LAT 9/28].

With spot-market oil prices topping $40 a barrel, Pres. Bush announces plans to sell 5 million barrels of oil from U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to curb "intensive and unwarranted speculation in oil futures" [LAT, NYT, WP 9/27; CSM 9/28].

25 Jordanian trucks with 400 tons of Palestinian-financed food parade through Baghdad as Iraq tries to demonstrate ineffectiveness of embargo (LAT 9/27].

PLF leader Abul Abbas warns of "war without limits" if Iraq is attacked; threatens to strike against U.S. and W. Europe [LAT 9/27].

Diplomatic note from Iraq to embassies in Baghdad threatens death to anyone caught hiding Western civilians; Sec. Baker calls the note "repugnant" [WP, WT 9/27].

Palestinians in O.T. observe general strike in support of Iraq [WT, CSM 9/27; FJ 10/1]; while leading Palestinians, including Faisal Husayni, meet with Israeli members of Peace Now group [FJ 10/1; MET 10/9].

Palestinian economic experts estimate O.T. losses from Gulf crisis to be about $405 million [QDS 9/26 in FBIS 9/27].