The Palestine Chronology

Arafat meets with Netanyahu's coalition chmn. Meir Shitreet. (ITV 7/23 in WNC 7/27; MM 7/24; MA 7/24 in WNC 7/28; NYT 7/25; MM 7/28)

CPMAJO initiates ad campaign in major U.S. papers, sends letter to Arafat calling on him to reprimand Palestinian journalists, officials who deny or belittle the Holocaust. Zionist Organization of America pres. Morton Klein, an outspoken opponent of the peace process, started the CPMAJO initiative based on unattributed reports in the Palestinian press. PA says that does not deny the Holocaust; thinks "recognition of the immorality of the Holocaust is a basic moral component"; does not understand why CPMAJO is pursuing the unconfirmed reports at a crucial time in the peace process; notes that the PA has no authority over the content of the Palestinian press, criticisms should be directed to the papers directly. (NYT 7/24)

Turkish PM Mesut Yilmaz gives a public address full of veiled threats to Syria. Syria accuses Turkey of escalating tensions. (MM 7/24, 7/27, 7/31) (see 7/1)

Israeli ministerial team on FRD meets again, without Levy. (MM 1/6) (see 1/4)

U.S. special envoy Dennis Ross arrives in the Middle East, meets separately with Arafat, Netanyahu to prepare for individual mtgs. each will have with Pres. Clinton in Washington later this mo. (MM 1/6; IDF Radio 1/6 in WNC 1/7; CSM, MM, WP, WT 1/7; ITV 1/8 in WNC 1/11; JP 1/17)

In Paris, Pres. Chirac, PM Lionel Jospin, FM Vedrine discuss the peace process with Syrian VP `Abd al-Halim Khaddam, FM Shara`. (SANA 1/6 in WNC 1/7; Iraq Television Network 1/8 in WNC 1/12; MM 1/16)

Smithsonian removes cosponsor of its upcoming lecture series on Israel's 50th anniversary under pressure fr. conservative American Jewish groups (such as the American Jewish Comm., the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, the Zionist Organization of America) and Congressman Michael Forbes (R-NY), who claim that the tentative schedule (including speeches by 2 Likud reps.) reflects only the "biased," anti-Likud views of the series cosponsor, the New Israel Fund, a liberal philanthropic organization that supports reconciliation btwn. Arabs, Jews. (NYT, WP, WT 1/7; WJW 1/8; MEI 1/16)