The Palestine Chronology

In Amman, Netanyahu adviser Gold briefs King Hussein on diplomatic developments. The king urges Israel to implement agmts. signed with the Palestinians. (MA 9/24 in IL 9/24; MM 10/9)

After United Torah Judaism threatens to quit the Likud coalition unless housing problems of its ultraorthodox constituents are solved, PM Netanyahu promises that land will be unfrozen for the construction of an additional 580 apartments in Kiryat Sefer (above the 1,806 approved 9/18), additional 200 in Beitar (above the 900 previously approved). (ITV 9/24 in WNC 9/27; MM 9/25)

ILMG meets in Naqura to discuss Lebanon's complaints about Israel's recent attacks on the south, especially the 8/29 clash which killed 2 civilians. Lebanon also submits a complaint about Israel's expulsion fr. s. Lebanon of 2 Lebanese families 9/21. (RL 9/22, 9/23 in WNC 9/24; CSM 9/23) (see 9/1)

Fearing an IDF attack, Lebanese army sends reinforcements to the western Biqa` valley. (MBC, RL 9/22 in WNC 9/24; MM 9/23)

EA, PLO Exec. Comm. mtg. is held in Ramallah. (VOP 7/6 in FBIS 7/8)

UNRWA opens new headquarters in Gaza. Headquarters Coordinator April Glaspie, Arafat sign agmt. regulating UNRWA's legal relationship with the PA. (UNRWA press release 8/20)

PM Netanyahu presents Sharon's portfolio to the cabinet for approval. Dep. Construction M Meir Porush, fr. UTJ, refuses to relinquish 2 agencies under his control--the Public Works Dept. ($200-m. budget) and the Rural Construction Administration ($40-m. budget for construction of kibbutzim, small settlements)--forcing a delay. (WT 7/6; MM, NYT 7/8)

In Jerusalem, the new Knesset is sworn in. Netanyahu signs final coalition agmts. (with UTJ [4 seats], Yisrael BaAliya [7 seats]) needed to secure his coalition government. Debate with Sharon over cabinet position delays presentation of the new government until 6/18; Gesher's David Levy threatens to withdraw fr. the coalition (see 3/12) if Sharon is not given an adequate portfolio. (MM 6/17; QY 6/17 in FBIS 6/17; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/18; HA 6/18 in FBIS 6/21; WP 6/19; WJW 6/20) (see 6/16)

1-day EU-Mediterranean business conference convenes in Rome. (European Report 6/15) 

PM Peres returns VIP cards to 3 senior PA officials (Sufyan Abu Zayida, `Abd al-Rahman Hamad, Intisar al-Wazir), which were revoked because the officials tried to bring Palestinian students into Israel with their entourages. (QY 6/16 in FBIS 6/19)

Israeli PM-elect Netanyahu releases vaguely worded government policy guidelines. PC Speaker Ahmad Qurai` and Justice M Frayh Abu-Madayn, condemn guidelines as declaration of war. Syria calls guidelines a "coup against the peace process." (QY 6/16 in FBIS 6/17; NYT, WP, WT 6/17; IGPO 6/17, ITV, VOP 6/18 in FBIS 6/18; MM, WP, WT 6/18; SARR 6/18, 6/19 in FBIS 6/19; WJW, WT 6/20; CSM, PR 6/21)

In last stages of building a government, Israeli PM-elect Netanyahu signs several coalition agmts. with National Religious Party (NRP), Shas, Third Way, assuring support of 55 of the 120 MKs. All 3 parties support negotiations with the Palestinians, oppose compromise on the Golan. In contradiction to Israeli High Court rulings, these agmts. bar Reform, Conservative Jews fr. serving on religious councils controlling Israel's religious life. Discussion with United Torah Judaism (UTJ), Yisrael BaAliya continue. (QY 6/16 in FBIS 6/17; NYT, WT 6/17; NYT 6/18; JP 6/29)

Arafat personally releases top Hamas mbr. Jamal Mansour fr. custody, promises to release more Hamas prisoners in conciliation gesture. Mansour spent 80 days in solitary confinement in the PA's Nablus police station, following the 2-3/96 suicide bombings. (YA 6/16 in FBIS 6/17; WT 6/17)

In West Bank, unidentified gunmen fire on Israeli car, killing 1 man, wounding his wife. IDF places the nearby Palestinian village of Biddiyya under curfew, closes stores until further notice. (QY 6/16 in FBIS 6/19; CSM, NYT, WP 6/17)

In s. Lebanon, Hizballah attacks SLA convoy, killing 1 soldier. (QY, RL 6/16 in FBIS 6/17; CSM 6/17)