The Palestine Chronology

Israel announces it will turn over $8.3 m. of tax money to PA. (MM 11/23; PR 11/27; QY 11/23 in FBIS 11/29; NYT 11/24) (see 11/20)

Jordanian Council of Ms approves creation of 4 comms. to address implementation of Jordan-Israel treaty: a Jordanian Consultants Steering Comm., a Jordanian comm. to follow up on implementation decisions, the Jordanian delegation to the joint Jordanian-Israeli comm. on implementation, the Jordanian delegation to the joint comm. on Jordan Rift development. (RJ 11/23 in FBIS 11/25)

4 Fateh Central Comm. mbrs. (al-Qaddumi, Abu-Mahir Gunaym, Sakhr Habash, Muhammad Jihad) meet in Tunis; issue statement, objecting to Arafat's attempts to involve Fateh in PA's battles with Islamist opposition. (Al-Majd 11/28 in FBIS 12/2; CSM 12/7) (see 11/22)

Argentine Pres. Carlos Menem ends visit to Syria; announces he brought message fr. Israeli FM Peres to Pres. al-Asad, expressing Israel's willingness to withdraw fully fr. Golan. Peres denies Menem's remarks. (Telam 11/21 in FBIS 11/22; MM 11/24; QY, SATN 11/23 in FBIS 11/25; WT 11/24; JP 12/3) (see 9/27)

1st shipping agmt. btwn. Israel, Jordan reached; allows free passage of small vessels on both sides of Gulf of Elat, shipping licenses, radio communications. (QY 11/23 in FBIS 11/23; RJ 11/23 in FBIS 11/25)

3,000 rally in Jericho in support of Arafat, peace process. PA Preventative Security Forces (PSF) men, inc. Col. Jibril Rajub, get into fistfight with mbrs. of Arafat's presidential guard over which group is allowed to carry arms at rally. (MM, NYT, WP 11/24; CSM 11/28)

PA, Islamist opposition reach agmt. to avoid future clashes, pursue mediation, reconciliation in wake of 11/18 incident. Agmt. is signed by Arafat adviser, Ahmad al-Tibi, leader of Islamic Movement inside Green Line, Shaykh `Abdullah Nimr Darwish. (MM 11/24; AFP 11/23, VOP 11/24 in FBIS 11/29)

Israeli, PLO negotiators open talks in Cairo on "early empowerment" of Palestinians in West Bank, expansion of self-rule area, redeploying IDF, elections.  Israeli side headed by IDF Maj. Gen Danny Rothschild, PLO by PNA Planning M Nabil Shaath.  Separate talks on settling issues remaining fr. 5/4 agreement, including borders of Jericho area, resume.  (MENA 7/11, 7/12 in FBIS 7/12; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WSJ, WT 7/12)

IDF kills 2 Hamas mbrs. in Nablus after firing anti-tank missles at house they were hiding in.  The 2 had been wanted for a year.  Several buildings in area destroyed.  (Qol Yisra'el 7/11 in FBIS 7/12; MM 7/12; TJT 7/15; JP 7/23)

Qiryat Arba settlers vacate Hebron apartments occupied 7/8 in compromise with Housing M.  (MM 7/12)

PLO Chmn. Arafat departs Tunis for Cairo on way to take up permanent residence in Gaza Strip.  Arafat meets Israeli Dep. FM Beilin to discuss early empowerment of Palestinians in o.t. before his departure.  (Qol Yisra'el 7/11 in FBIS 7/12; NYT, WP, WSJ, WT 7/12)

Israeli PM Rabin accepts King Hussein's offer for a public summit mtg.  (MM 7/11; WP, WSJ, WT 7/12)

Israeli FM Peres announces he will meet Secy of State Christopher, Jordanian PM and FM `Abd al-Salam al-Majali in Jordan 7/20 in 1st public visit of an Israeli official to Jordan.  Israeli-Jordanian bilateral talks to resume 7/18 at Ein Evrona, southern Israel.  Jordanian spokesman says emphasis in talks will be on border, water issues.  (MM 7/11; MM, NYT, WP, WSJ, WT 7/12)

Jordan receives over $900,000 fr. UN for claims by Jordanian families for losses in 1990-91 Gulf war.  (WSJ 7/12)

IAF raids Hizballah positions in Biqa` Valley.  (Qol Yisra'el 7/11 in FBIS 7/11)

PLO-Israel autonomy talks resume, PLO negotiator Nabil Shaath saying PLO Chmn. Arafat to come to Jericho in mid-7/94, Israelis saying they are ready to discuss expanding Palestinian self-rule in West Bank.  (MM 6/28; CSM, NYT, WSJ 6/29)

"Fateh official" in Tunis says 1st elections in self-rule areas to be held 10/94.  (WT 6/29)

PM Rabin quoted as recommending increase in defense budget if no agreement reached with Syria in 3 yrs.  (WT 6/29)

Israel releases 170 Palestinian prisoners, including 2 Hamas leaders, but keeps 650 Hamas, Islamic Jihad prisoners in custody for refusing to sign pledges renouncing violent opposition to Israel-PLO agreements.  IDF Brig. Gen Yomtov Samya, Israeli delegate to Israel-PLO security comm., says more than 4,900 prisoners released, fulfilling 5/4 agreement.  (MM 6/16; CSM, MM,  NYT, WP, WSJ 6/17)

PLO Chmn. Arafat informs Tunisian govt. PLO move to Jericho due to lack of funds to be postponed, PLO to retain 32 buildings in and around Tunis.  (WT 6/22)

Palestinian police chief Gen. Nasr Yusuf, special security unit head Col. Jibril Rajub reportedly feud over authority, Rajub refusing orders fr. Yusuf.  PLO Chmn. Arafat calls special mtg. of Fateh leadership to deal with dispute.  (WT 6/18)

LF cmndr. Samir Ja`ja` indicted for 1990 murder of rival Dany Sham`un.  Ja`ja was charged 6/13 in 2/27 bombing of church in Zuq Mikhail.  (RL 6/16 in FBIS 6/17; MM 6/17)

PLO Chmn. Arafat, addressing OAU summit in Tunis, criticizes "serious delay" in international aid to Palestinian National Authority, continuing Israeli settlement in East Jerusalem.  Arafat orders most PLO offices in Tunis to close, leave for Jericho.  (WT 6/14, 6/15)

FRC ("Abu Nidal" group) mbr. Yusuf Sha`ban, on trial in Beirut for 1/94 murder of Jordanian diplomat, claims responsibility for 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.  U.S. officials doubt claim; evidence in case points to Libya.  (CSM, NYT, WP, WSJ, WT 6/14)

Lebanon indicts Lebanese Forces (LF) cmndr. Samir Ja`ja`, 7 other LF mbrs. for 2/27 bombing of church in Zuq Mikhail, nr. Juniya.  (MM 6/13; NYT 6/14)

Palestinians protesting 5/31 killing in al-Ram attack police station in Ramallah with rocks and bottles.  IDF fires tear gas, rubber bullets, live ammunition in response, wounds 17 Palestinians, 1 critically.  (MM 6/1; NYT, WP, WT 6/2)

PLO Chmn. Arafat meets in Tunis with U.S. Senators Paul Simon (D-IL), Russell Feingold (D-WI), and Harry Reid (D-NV), says he will delay entry into Jericho until promised adequate funds for local admin.  (Algiers VOP 6/1 in FBIS 6/2; WT 6/2)

Informal mtg. of UNRWA donors opens in Amman.  (UNRWA News 6/1)

Palestinian police stop IDF vehicles carrying IDF Brig. Gen. Doron Almog in Gaza Strip.  Standoff continues for 1 hr. until Palestinian police col. issues written order to permit Almog to continue.  (WP 5/26)

Israeli-Palestinian agricultural trade talks open in Tel Aviv to regulate commerce in agricultural products btwn. Israel, self-rule areas.  (Qol Yisra'el 5/25 in FBIS 5/26)

Secy of State Christopher, FM Peres, at joint news conference in Washington, criticize PLO Chmn. Arafat's decree restoring pre-1967 laws in Gaza and Jericho, saying Arafat lacks authority for such a decree.  Israeli FMin. issues statement saying Arafat statement of "no legal validity" and a "breach" of Gaza-Jericho agreement.  (Israeli Govt. Press Office release 5/25 in FBIS 5/25; MM 5/25; MM, NYT 5/26)

PLO Chmn. Arafat orders release of his wife's uncle George Hawa, held for 5 days by PLO officials in Tunis on suspicion of taking kickbacks fr. companies seeking contracts in Jericho, Gaza Strip.  (MM 5/25; WP 5/26; al-Sharq al-Awsat 5/27 in FBIS 6/1)

Trial starts in Beirut of 7 mbrs. of FRC ("Abu Nidal" group) for 1/29 murder of Jordanian diplomat.  (MM 5/25, 5/26)

Israel closes off Jericho self-rule area for 1 day after Palestinian police disarm 2 settlers.  Closure ostensibly to allow Palestinian police to organize.  (Qol Yisra'el 5/24 in FBIS 5/24; MM 5/24; NYT, WP, WT 5/25)

PM Rabin tours Gaza Strip to inspect IDF redeployment, new security fence.  IDF Chief of Staff Amnon Shahak tells Knesset comm. Rabin has ordered IDF to draft contingency plans in event agreements with PLO are broken.  (Qol Yisra'el 5/24 in FBIS 5/25; MM 5/24, 5/25)

East Jerusalem Arabic newspapers publish decree by PLO Chmn. Arafat reinstating pre-1967 laws in areas under Palestinian control.  Decree signed in Tunis 5/20.  Israeli F Min Legal Adviser Joel Singer calls decree violation of Gaza-Jericho agreement. (al-Quds 5/24 in FBIS 5/25; CSM, MM, WP 5/24)

PLO appoints Morgan Stanley Asset Management to manage foreign aid for development and admin. of West Bank and Gaza Strip.  (Algiers VOP 5/24 in FBIS 5/25; MM 5/24; NYT 5/27)

Israeli FM Peres arrives in Washington for 2-day working visit, including talks with VP Gore, Secy of State Christopher, National Security Advisor Lake, EPA Director Browner, and AFL-CIO officials.  (WT 5/24)

U.S. District Court in NY sentences 3 Palestinians, 1 Egyptian to 240-yr. prison terms in 2/23/93 bombing of World Trade Center.  (MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/25)

Frmr. Palestinian negotiator Dr. Haydar 'Abd al-Shafi leads delegation to Tunis to demand that PLO Chmn. Arafat share power, set up collective leadership. (NYT, WT 1/3; NYT 1/4)

Israel informs PLO talks scheduled to resume 1/3 will not take place because Chmn. Arafat reneged on Cairo agreement. Arafat rejects Israeli criticism, telling Jericho rally "If Rabin thinks he is able to humiliate the Palestinian people, he is wrong.' PLO negotiator Nabil Shaath calls Rabin's criticisms "blackmail." (Algiers VOP, Qol Yisra'el 1/2 in FBIS 1/3; CSM, NYT, WP 1/3)

Demonstrations against DoP in Gaza end with 4 Palestinians shot and wounded by IDF (WP 1/3)

Shin Bet arrests 2 alleged Fateh mmbrs. in Khan Yunis for 12/31 killing of Israelis in Ramla. (MM 1/4)

PLO Chmn. Arafat meets Israeli Dep. FM Yossi Beilin in Tunis, presses for progress toward Israeli-Syrian accord. (WT 10/14)

Palestinian and Israeli negotiators open meeting in Taba, Egypt, as Palestinian-Israeli DoP enters into force. PLO delegation headed by Nabil Shaath; Israeli, by IDF Dep. Chief of Staff Amnon Shahak. Talks center on size of Jericho autonomous region, size and powers of Palestinian police force, redeployment of Israeli troops, control over water resources, and security of Israeli settlers in o.t. Palestinians contend Jericho includes entire 133 sq. mi. Jericho district, while Israelis assert only town of Jericho, about 10 sq. mi., is to be handed over to Palestinians. PLO security official Amin al-Hindi excluded fr. Palestinian delegation over Israeli protests he was responsible for murder of Israeli athletes at 1972. Munich Olympics. Simultaneously, Israeli FM Peres and PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Mahmud 'Abbas meet in Cairo, agree on 5 steps for future negotiations including setting up liaison comm. and ministerial-level economic comm. Two sides urge "early resumption" of Arab-Israeli talks in Washington. (NYT, WP 10/14)

PLO Chmn. Arafat dismisses Fateh cmdr. in Lebanon Munir al-Maqdah, who had been critical of DoP and called for Arafat's resignation (see 8/23). (VOL 10/14 in FBIS 10/18)

General strike in o.t. called by Palestinian factions opposed to DoP observed throughout West Bank and Gaza Strip with exception of Jericho. (MM 10/13; CSM 10/15)

Lebanese FM Faris Buwayz, in interview with WT, faults DoP for not affirming Palestinian right of return, says "It is not fair to solve the Palestinian problem to create a Lebanese one.... implanting 400,000 Palestinians in Lebanon will create political, confessional, religious problems." (WT 10/13)

Israeli PM Rabin, in Beijing, admits Israel has sold arms to China, denies Israel broke U.S. laws against technology transfers and disputes CIA estimate that Israel-China arms trade amounts to billions of dollars a year, saying 1992-93 trade totaled $60 m. Rabin says "we have never done anything against American law" and asserts, "We are not stupid enough to endanger" U.S. aid to Israel. Rabin's 4-day visit to China includes meeting with Chinese DM Chi Haotian, tours of Chinese arms plants, and visit to Shanghai. (NYT, WT 10/14)

PLO Central Council ends 2-day meeting in Tunis, votes 63-8 (9 abstentions) to approve Palestinian-Israeli DoP. 25 delegates to the 107-member council do not attend, including reps. of PFLP and DFLP, who boycott meeting, and several opponents of the accord who were not invited or barred fr. entering Tunisia, including Fateh mbr. Hani al-Hasan. Meeting also adopts resolution establishing Palestinian National Authority under Arafat to assume powers transferred by Israel. Turmoil surrounding meeting points to power struggle among Arafat loyalists as PLO figures contend for positions in nascent Palestinian administration in Gaza and Jericho. (WT 10/12; CSM, NYT, WP 10/13)

Applications for the Palestine Central Security Force (Palestinian police) reportedly far outstrip vacancies, with 30,000 applications issued for the 17,000-strong force. 4,000 forms are filled out in Hebron, while 10,000 are submitted in Gaza for 3,800 vacancies. (WT 10/11)

CIA informs Senate Govtl. Affairs Comm. that Israel has been providing China with advanced military technology for over a decade, including fighter aircraft, missiles, and tanks. Report estimates Israel-China weapons trade amounts to "several billion dollars," notes that Israeli weapons companies are expanding presence in China. Report asserts "the Chinese seek fr. Israel advanced military technology that U.S. and Western firms are unwilling to provide." Israeli embassy denies Israel has transferred U.S. technology to China, spokeswoman saying, "Israel adheres to all of its commitments to the United States with regard to its relationship with China." (NYT, WT 10/13)

Israeli PM Rabin meets in Beijing with Chinese PM Li Peng, toasts new Israeli-Chinese pacts on consular affairs, aviation. (MM 10/11; WT 10/12)

Arab League FMs endorse DoP, declare the agreement "an important step toward realizing the land-for-peace principle," but that it "must be completed by immediate steps ... to guarantee Israeli withdrawal fr. the entire Syrian Golan." Iraqi FM Muhammad Sa'id Sahhaf refuses to support declaration. (MM, WP 9/21)

Secy. of State Christopher announces U.S. will convene international conference to raise funds to implement PLO-Israel accord. Christopher also announces U.S. will provide $250 m cver 2 years to Palestinian autonomous authority, urges international community to support PLO-Israel accord to produce "tangible improvements in the security and daily lives of Palestinians and Israelis." (MM 9/20; NYT 9/21; CSM 9/22)

PLO Chmn. Arafat flies to Amman to discuss implementation of Israel-PLO agreement with Jordan's King Hussein. Speaking to reporters, Arafat defends accord as "the maximum we could get," predicts "at the end of this year or the beginning of next year, God willing, I expect to go to Jericho-and Gaza." (NYT, WP, WT 9/21)

Israeli delegation arrives in Tunis to prepare for conference on Palestinian refugees, met by Tunisian, PLO officials. (WT 9/21)

Palestinian negotiating delegation joins PLO Exec. Comm. meeting in Tunis. (MENA 8/29 in FBIS 8/30)

Hamas rejects Gaza-Jericho proposal, urges PLO withdrawal fr. peace talks. (al-Ray 8/29 in FBIS 8/30)

Pro-Arafat rally in East Jerusalem attended by 200 participants. (Qol Yisra'el 8/28 in FBIS 8/30)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Representatives of EEC countries are summoned to Israeli Foreign Ministry and told they will be supporting terrorism if imminent meeting in Tunis between Dutch Foreign Minister Hans van den Broek and PLO Chairman Arafat takes place [LT 5/21]. Muhammad Ahmad Tus of Jaba, leader of group that killed 5 Israelis and wounded 16, is given life sentence by military court UP 5/23]. P.M. Peres proposes in the Knesset tripartite summit with Hussein and Mubarak, opposes dismantling of Jewish settlements in the territories apart of a future peace plan. Forty Jewish families abandon settlement near Jericho due to bankruptcy [JP 5/22].

Other Countries: In Washington, Israeli envoy Ezer Weizman asks U.S. Secretary of State Shultz to return to active role in peace process, particularly to help improve Israeli-Egyptian relations [NYT 5/22].