The Palestine Chronology

U.S. Middle East peace talks coordinator Dennis Ross arrives in Tunis for 2 mtgs. with PLO Chmn. Arafat. Ross joins Norwegian Dep. FM Terje Rod Larsen and Israeli delegation seeking Israel-PLO agreement on security for Palestinians in o.t. Palestinian officialsay they are "refining" Norwegian proposal on security force. U.S. role in talks is described as marginal. (MM 3/21; NYT 3/22)

IDF Brig. Gen. Moshe Yaalon, West Bank cmdr. 1992-93, tells commission of inquiry into Hebron massacre of "absolute prohibition" on using live ammunition against settlers. Israeli press reports that PM Rabin told Israeli cabinet 3/20 that commission's hearings were causing "incalculable" damage to Israel's reputation. (NYT 3/22)

Settler bus ambushed nr. Ateret, 14 mi. north of Jerusalem, in apparent revenge attack for Hebron massacre. 1 Israeli killed and at least 1 wounded. (NYT 3/22)

Hizballah ambush kills 2 IDF soldiers, roadside bombs kill 2 SLA mbrs. Israeli shelling kills 12-yr.-old schoolgirl in Nabatiya, wounds 22 others. (MM 3/21)

Al-Safir reports arrests of 5 suspects in 2/27 church bombing in Zuq Mika'il, Lebanon. Suspects, including 1 monk, are reportedly affiliated with Lebanese Forces (LF) and "Guardians of the Cedar" factions, had sought refuge in Israeli-controlled "security zone." (MM 3/21)

2 IDF guards at Haram al-Ibrahimi tell commission of inquiry they fired into door leading to mosque, contradicting officers' testimony and confirming accounts by Palestinians that soldiers fired on worshippers fleeing massacre. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/18)

Dep. DM Mordechai Gur visits Beit Hadassah, Qiryat Arba settlements toreassure Hebron settlers of govt. commitment to their safety. (CSM 3/18)

PLO accepts U.S. proposal, made in a telephone call by talks coordinator Dennis Ross, for 3/19 mtg. btwn. PLO Chmn. Arafat and Israeli FM Peres to explore resumption of negotiations. Arafat, PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Samir Ghawsha say talks' resumption contingent on passage of UNSC resolution condemning Hebron massacre. (MM 3/17; WP, WT 3/18)

Pres. Clinton telephones Egyptian Pres. Mubarak, Syrian Pres. al-Asad to brief them on his talks with Israeli PM Rabin. Clinton seeks Syrian commitment to rejoin Arab-Israeli peace talks even if PLO stays out. (NYT, WP 3/18)

Senate passes "sense of the Senate" amendment to banking bill urging Clinton admin. to veto any UNSC resolution that "states or implies that Jerusalem is 'occupied' territory." Resolution follows letter to Pres. Clinton signed by 82 senators criticizing UNSC draft resolution on Hebron massacre. (NYT 3/19)

PM Rabin meets Pope John Paul I1 in Rome as Vatican special envoy Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran meets PLO Chmn. Arafat in Tunis. (MM, NYT 3/18)

IDF kills 3 Hizballah guerrillas infiltrating "security zone" in southern Lebanon; later, 2 IAF planes rocket Hizballah base at Mlita, killing 2 guerrillas. (MM 3/17; MEI 4/15)

Israeli police detain Rabbi Moshe Levinger, leader of Hebron settlers, then release him on $1,700 bond after questioning him about 11/93 incident in which he intruded into Haram al-Ibrahimi and threatened mosque official. Also questioned is his wife, Miriam, for 10/93 rampage through Palestinian market in Hebron. (CSM, NYT, WT 3/15)

Israeli police seek to confiscate 23 IDF issued submachine guns fr. settlers, out of 9,000 distributed. (NYT, WT 3/15)

Kach destroys mbrship. lists, other evidence in Jerusalem offices after being banned by 3/13 cabinet decision. Kahane Chai, also banned, closes its Jerusalem office. (NYT, WT 3/15)

Peace Now issues report estimating cost of relocating settlers in Israel proper at $2.5 b. (MM 3/15)

Israeli officials, U.S. Middle East talks coordinator Dennis Ross meet PLO Chmn. Arafat in Tunis to discuss resuming Israel-PLO negotiations. (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 3/15; WP, WT 3/16)

Secy. of State Warren Christopher meets Russian FM Andrei Kozyrev in Vladivostok, urges Russia to coordinate its efforts on Middle East peace with U.S. (CSM, WP 3/15)

IDF kills 1 Palestinian, wounds 80 in clashes in Gaza, worst violence since DoP signed 9/13. IDF cmdr. in Gaza Maj. Gen. Matan Vilnai meets 5 Fateh leaders to discuss cease-fire. Fateh sources say Vilnai agreed to end IDF searches for PLO militants, but IDF sources say only that Israel will reduce troop levels and ease some restrictions. Jacques Neriah, aide to PM Rabin, flies to Tunis for talks with PLO Chmn. Arafat. Arafat provides Neriah with i.d. tag of IDF soldier missing during 1982 war in Lebanon. (MM 11/30, 12/1; NYT, WP, WT 12/1)

Jordanian and Israeli officials meet in Washington for talks on economic cooperation. Working group also includes U.S., hosted by special coordinator Dennis Ross. (MM 11/30, 12/1)

VP Al Gore announces formation of "Builders for Peace," a task force to coordinate U.S. private investment in o.t. Group's co-presidents are James Zogby of Arab American Institute and frmr. U.S. Rep. Mel Levine. (WP 12/1)

U.S. and Russia introduce UNGA resolution drafted by Israel and PLO supporting DoP, Israel-Jordan common agenda. (MM 12/1)

U.S. Undersecy. of Defense Frank Wisner arrives in Jordan fr. Israel to discuss joint security cooperation. Tour also includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Gulf states. (MM 11/30)

CIA Director Adm. James Woolsey, appearing on CNN's "Larry King Live," acknowledges that "Israel is generally regarded as having some kind of nuclear capability" in 1st public U.S. recognition of Israeli nuclear weapons. (MM 12/1)

$7 m. wind turbine farm to supply electricity to Israel opened on Golan Heights. (MM 12/1)

PLO Chmn. Arafat meets in Tunis with U.S. State Dept. official Dennis Ross, NSC official Martin Indyk, then flies to Cairo for meetings with Egyptian Pres. Mubarak, American Jewish Congress trustees seeking end to Arab boycott of Israel. Ross proceeds to Amman for talks with Jordanian officials. (Radio Jordan 10/19 in FBIS 10/20; WP 10/21)

Syria, Saudi Arabia issue joint statement in Riyadh on peace process, saying "'just and comprehensive" settlement only achievable with Israel's "full withdrawal from all the occupied Arab territories," including Golan. (MM 10/10)

Israel frees Salim Husayn al-Zrai, 50, held in prison 23 years. Sentenced to life imprisonment in 1970 for infiltration attempt, Fateh activist released because of PLO adherence to its 9/13 commitment not to attack Israel. Release of this longest-held Palestinian prisoner of Israel interpreted as indicating future mass release of Palestinian prisoners. (CSM, NYT 10/20)

Israeli defense officials announce failure of 10/14 test of U.S.-funded Arrow missile. Another test in August also failed, and the GAO issued a report that month criticizing Israeli management of the program (see 10/23). (WT 10/20)

Likud Central Comm. meets in Tel Aviv to consider plans by Binyamin Netanyahu, Ariel Sharon, and Meir Shitreet on autonomy schemes alternative to DoP. (MM 10/19)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: More Palestinians withdraw their candidacies for mayoralities of West Bank towns, including jamil Tarifi of al-Birah and Muhammad Rashid Ja'bari, of Hebron; Fathi Fahmawi, of Janin, abandons plan to organize municipal council acceptable to Israel [WP, PI 3/5]. Israel Radio reports gun used to kill al-Masri is same as one used in killing of Israeli border policeman in January and an Israeli merchant last August, both in Nablus [WP, PI, LT 3/5]. Jerusalem District Court sends Israeli bailiffs to Palestinian-run Jerusalem Electricity Company to evaluate and mark company's equipment; bailiffs give company 3 weeks to pay $10 million debt to the Israel Electric Corporation before JEC's property will be seized; workers declare partial strike in protest of the measure [JP 3/5, 6].

Arab World: PLO leadership meets in Tunis to discuss response to King Hussein's unilateral break from joint M.E. peace approach [MG 3/5].

Other Countries: New White House National Security Advisor Vice Admiral John Poindexter will replace 2 top M. E. staffers, James Covey and Howard Teicher with Dennis Ross, former senior Pentagon official and strong supporter of close U.S.-Israeli strategic cooperation [JP 3/4].

Military Action

Arab World: Hizballah publishes names of 11 people it executed in reprisal for massive car bombing in W. Beirut last March which it said was intended to kill Hizballah's spiritual leader, Muhammad Husayn Fadlallah; organization states the 11 worked for section of Lebanese intelligence that cooperated with Israeli and U.S. intelligence [JP 3/5].