The Palestine Chronology

Pres. Mubarak meets with U.S. Senate delegation headed by Robert Dole (R-KS) and including Nunn (D-GA), Warner (R-VA), Garn (R-UT), D'Amato (R-NY), Nickles (R- OK), Symms (R-ID), and Mack (R-FL)
[MENA 8/28 in FBIS 8/28]; Sen. Nunn calls for more Arab military involvement in Gulf [WP 8/28].

Saddam meets with Arafat at Arafat's residence in Baghdad to discuss Gulf crisis [BADS 8/27 in FBIS 8/28]; PLO reports Arafat and Saddam have agreed on plan to solve Gulf crisis within Arab framework [MET 9/4].

Sources says P.M. Shamir is "concerned" and "astonished" over Washington's refusal as of yet to give Israel $400 million in loan guarantees for housing Soviet immigrants. U.S. wants assurances that no immigrants will be settled beyond the green line [HAM 8/27 in FBIS 8/28].

Jerusalem Post reports Gaza lawyers are informed by Civil Admin. that all prisoners under age 16 will be released from detention centers [JPD 8/28 in FBIS 8/30].

Bush admin. expels 36 of Iraq's 55 embassy staffers in Washington, urges 34 other nations with embassies in Kuwait to take similar steps [LAT, WT, WP 8/28; MEM 8/29; MET 9/11].

State Dep't white paper supports Israeli charges that Libya gave "crucial support" to PLF attempted raid on 5/30, but concludes the operation was directed primarily at Tel Aviv beaches and not at military targets, as Israel had claimed [LAT 8/28].

Meeting in Baghdad, PLO Exec. Committee issues statement denouncing U.S. threat to end dialogue, reaffirming that it was faithful to all its pledges and commitments, and was not responsible for 5/30 attempted seaborne attack [BVP, BADS 6/6 in FBIS 6/7].

Four U.S. senators, Mack (R-FL), Lieberman (D-CT), Lautenberg (D-NJ), and Grassley (R-IA) introduce legislation urging Bush admin. to end U.S.,PLO dialogue [WP 6/7].

Bush admin. announces plans to sell $4 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia, including armored vehicles, anti-tank missiles, and improvement parts for Awacs; most American Jewish groups do not object to sale [NYT, WP 6/8].

Israeli authorities announce easing of residency regulations for Palestinians in O.T., saying spouses and children of O.T. residents will be allowed to remain even if they do not qualify for residence status themselves. Military spokesperson says some 250 Palestinians expelled for residency reasons from W.Bank between March and December 1989 will be readmitted [WP 6/7].