The Palestine Chronology

Secy. of State Albright says that mos. of behind-the-scenes contacts have narrowed gaps btwn. Syria, Israel on issues of territory, security, and future diplomatic, cultural, trade relations; the cumulative effect of the exchanges made each side confident that they now have a real chance to reach an agmt. (WP 12/13)

In Damascus, Syrian FM Shara` says that he is "so optimistic [as] to say that a few months could be enough to reach a peace agreement" with Israel. In Israel, PM Barak tells his cabinet he thinks an agreement could we reached in a few wks. (NYT, WT 12/13)

Egyptian FM Musa makes 1-day trip to Damascus to give Syrian FM Shara` a message fr. Pres. Mubarak to Pres. Asad, to discuss the peace process. (MENA 12/12 in WNC 12/13; NYT 12/13)

Vowing to block efforts by PM Barak to trade land for peace with Syria, Jewish settlers inaugurate new 390 unit neighborhood in Qatzrin, the largest Golan settlement. There are 17,000 settlers on the Golan. (CSM, WT 12/13)

Israel informs the PA that it will not release any Palestinian prisoners to mark Ramadan until Barak returns fr. talks with Shara` in Washington. Almost 2,000 Palestinians are still in Israeli jails. (AFP 12/12 in WNC 12/13)

In Beirut, Russian dep. FM Sredin holds talk with Lebanese PM Huss on the resumption of Syrian-Israeli talks. (ITAR-TASS 12/12 in WNC 12/13)

Pres. Clinton phones Syrian pres. Asad to brief him on his talks with Israeli PM Barak, encourages Syria to resume negotiations with Israel. (MM 7/20; WT 7/21)

Meeting on the peace process with Pres. Mubarak in Cairo, Arafat says that Barak's 15-mo. timetable for final settlement is unacceptable; says that when the PLO agreed in 5/99 to put of its unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state, it was assured by the EU and the U.S. that an extension would not exceed 1 yr. (MENA 7/20 in WNC 7/21; MM 7/21; CSM, NYT, WJW 7/22; MEI 7/30)

In Washington, Israeli PM Barak holds 2d round of talks with Secy. of State Albright, meets with congressional leaders, departs for London to meet with British PM Tony Blair. Barak tells Congress mbrs. that they should not push for implementation of the Jerusalem Embassy Act now. (WT 7/20; MM, NYT, WT 7/21)

Israel's new interior M, Sharansky, says he wants to stop Israel's policy of stripping Palestinians of their residency rights if they leave Jerusalem for more than 7 yrs. (CSM, NYT 7/21; LAW, WP 7/22; JP 7/30)

In Gaza, IDF troops fire rubber bullets at Palestinians protesting Jewish settlement expansion, injuring 9. (CSM 7/21)

New Israeli government is sworn in, with PM Barak's 7-party governing coalition--comprising the Center party, Meretz, National Religious party, One Israel, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Yisrael Ba'Aliya--will give him control of 75 of the 120 Knesset seats. One Israel's David Levy, who resigned as Netanyahu's FM 18 mos. ago, resumes the FM position. Fmr. Labor PM Shimon Peres is given the new position of regional development minister, which aims to promote economic integration btwn. Israel, Arab states. Oslo architect Yossi Beilin (One Israel) will hold the justice portfolio; Yossi Sarid (Meretz), education; Natan Sharansky (Yisrael Ba'Aliya), interior; Avraham Shohat (One Israel), finance. Barak will serve as DM as well as PM. Shas party mbrs. are given heath, infrastructure, labor, religious affairs portfolios. Barak says he will make peace process his priority; wants to hold simultaneous negotiations with PA, Syria and withdraw troops fr. s. Lebanon. Arafat, Asad issue statements saying they are willing to work with Barak for peace. (MM 7/6; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/7; AFP, France-Info Radio, IDF Radio, JT, JTV 7/7 in WNC 7/8; WJW 7/8; Interfax, MA 7/8 in WNC 7/9; MM 7/9; MEI 7/16)

Arafat makes 1-day trip to Cairo to discuss the peace process with Pres. Mubarak. (WT 7/7)

Syrian pres. Asad leaves Russia after 2 days of talks. Russia, Syria agree to step up technical, military cooperation but do not finalize arms deal. U.S. warns Moscow that it might cancel $50 m. in aid to Russia if it completes a deal with Damascus. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/7; Interfax 7/8 in WNC 7/9; MM 7/9; MEI 7/16)

Palestinian High Court orders the PA to release Hamas mbr. Muhammad Jadallah, who has been detained without charge since 3/24/96. (al-Quds 7/8 in WNC 7/12)

In the West Bank, IDF storms Palestinian homes in 3 villages nr. Hebron, arrests 5 alleged Hamas, Islamic Jihad mbrs. on charges of planning an attack in Israel. At least 36 Palestinian have been arrested in similar raids in the Hebron area over the past mo. (MM, WP 7/7; AYM 7/7 in WNC 7/12)

Israeli gov't. imposes new restriction on Palestinians, forbidding workers to drive their own cars into Israel; gov't. also pledges to accelerate deportations of activists and affirms policy of house demolitions (cf. 4/1, 4/2) [LAT, WP, WT 4/1; JDS 3/31 in FBIS 4/1, 4/2; CSM 4/2; FJ 4/8].

Israel lifts curfew in Gaza Strip and some West Bank locations; Palestinians are still barred from entering Jerusalem [JDS 3/31 in FBIS 4/1; MET 4/9].

Iraqi troops retake city of Kirkuk from Kurdish rebels after 4 days of fighting; soldiers also take Irbil, 50 miles north of Kirkuk; thousands of refugees flee to Turkish and Iranian borders [LAT, WT, NYT 4/1].

In Easter message, Pope John Paul II condemns destruction in Gulf war, calls on world leaders to deal with plight of "oppressed peoples, such as the Palestinians, the Lebanese, the Kurds" [NYT, LAT, WT 4/1].

U.S. Anny announces plan to begin within 2 weeks to withdraw about 20,000 troops from southern Iraq, about 1/4 of its combat forces there [NYT 4/1].

Senior Iranian official accuses U.S. of misleading Iraqi people by encouraging them to overthrow Saddam Hussein, then giving Iraq "green light" to suppress rebellion [NYT 4/1].

Pres. Asad arrives in Cairo to discuss with Pres. Mubarak regional security arrangements in light of Gulf war [NYT 4/1; MENA 3/30, 4/1 in FBIS 4/1; CSM 4/1; MET 4/9].