The Palestine Chronology

King Hussein returns home fr. trip to Morocco, UK, Germany, Ireland. (JTV 2/20 in WNC 2/24)

FBI chief Louis Freeh arrives in Jordan to discuss extradition of Hamas political leader Musa Abu Marzuq, raising speculation the U.S., Israel prefer to deport him to a 3d country. Freeh arrived in Amman fr. Israel, is heading to Egypt. (NYT 2/21; SA 2/22 in WNC 2/25; al-Ra'i 2/24 in WNC 2/26; JP 3/1; MEI 3/7) (see 2/11)

ILMG closes 2-days of talks on death of 1 Lebanese civilian, wounding of 2 others during IDF shelling 2/18; blames Israel for the death. (RL 2/19 in WNC 2/20; RL 2/20 in WNC 2/21; RL 2/20, 2/21 in WNC 2/24; al-Nahar 2/21, RL 2/22 in WNC 2/25)

IDF mine explodes in s. Lebanon, killing 1 Lebanese civilian. (RL 2/21 in WNC 2/24)

At dusk, Israel begins releasing Palestinian female prisoners. The Victims of Terror group files another last-minute challenge with the High Court (see 2/9), forcing the Israeli authorities to recall some of the women, prompting the rest of them to say they would not go home until all were freed. All 31 women are released by midnight. (MM 2/11; NYT, WP, WT 2/12; JP 2/22)

French DM Charles Millon arrives in Israel for 2-day visit to discuss furthering bilateral defense relations, which began in 1993. (AFP 2/11 in WNC 2/13; MM 2/13; Les Echos [Paris] 2/17 in WNC 2/20; JP 2/22)

IDF continues forced transfer of Jahalin bedouin. 17 families remain at the old site. To date 150 bedouin have been transferred. (WP 2/12; NYT 2/18; JP 2/22) (see 1/27)

To avoid any reprisal attacks, Israeli defense officials tell Netanyahu that they would prefer the U.S. deport Hamas's Abu Marzuq to Jordan, rather than extradite him to Israel. (IDF Radio 2/11 in WNC 2/12; YA 2/12 in WNC 2/13) (see 2/2)

In response to Hizballah's 2/9 attack, Israeli Air Force (IAF) bombs Hizballah's radio station in Baalbek, PFLP-GC bases Beirut's suburbs and nr. the border with Syria (wounding 6). This is Israel's 1st major sortie outside the self-declared security zone since the 4/96 campaign. 3 PFLP-GC mbrs., 1 civilian are injured. (MM 2/11; AFP, QPAR, RL 2/11 in WNC 2/12; NYT, WP 2/12)

SLA expels Lebanese citizen fr. the Israeli self-declared security zone to n. Lebanon. (RL 2/11 in WNC 2/13) (see 12/23)

In Jerusalem, PA negotiator Erakat, Netanyahu adviser Molho exchange lists of negotiators on the 8 subcomms. that will continue talks on implementing issues outstanding fr. Oslo II. (ITV 1/28 in WNC 1/30; PR 1/31)

Arafat makes brief trip to Jordan to meet with King Hussein. (RJ 1/28 in WNC 1/29; JTV 1/28 in WNC 1/30)

Syrian VP Khaddam, FM Shara` arrive in the UAE for talks with Pres. Shaykh Zayid bin Sultan al-Nahayat. (MM 1/29, SATN 1/29 in WNC 1/30)

Belgium increases its 1997 allocation to the PA by $710,000 (to $9.29 m.) to fund a project to supply 380 villages around Nablus with electricity. (Libre Belgique 1/29 in WNC 1/31)

Lawyers for Hamas political leader Musa Abu Marzuq say he is dropping his extradition fight in order to emphasize unjust, illegal Israeli and U.S. judicial practices. (MM 1/28; WP, WT 1/29; WP 1/30; AFP, RMC 1/30 in WNC 1/31; PR 1/31; CSM 2/4; WJW 2/6; MEI 2/7) (see 10/9/96)

IDF demolishes 4 Palestinian homes nr. Ramallah, in area C, for having no permits. (LAWE 2/13) (see 1/23)

Chief of the U.S. Central Command Gen. J.H. Binford Peay says that Iraqi Pres. Saddam Hussein has placed his 1st wife, Sajida Talfah, and 2 daughters under house arrest, because of disputes over the murder of Saddam's 2 sons-in-law (2/23/96). Saddam's son Uday may lose a leg, be paralyzed as a result of the 12/12 assassination attempt. 600 people, incl. 20 senior military officers, have been arrested in connection with the shooting. (WP 1/29; AFP 2/1 in WNC 2/4; WT 2/5; WP 2/10) (see 1/19)

Israel's Likud party holds its 1st ever primary to select its slate of MK candidates, excluding candidate for PM, for the 5/29 elections. Retired Gen. Yitzhak Mordechai is selected to head the list, with fmr. DM Ariel Sharon 2d, Oslo opponent Benjamin Begin 3d, party veteran Dan Meridor 4th. Combined with the coalition agmt. with Gesher, Tsomet (see 3/12), the slate suggests a Likud government would have security-oriented hardliners in its top posts. (MM 3/26, 3/27; QY 3/27 in FBIS 3/27; MM, NYT 3/28; WJW 4/4; MEI 4/12)

PSF head Muhammad Dahlan claims the PSF has discovered a secret group within the Qassam Brigades that is controlled by the Hamas leadership in Jordan; says the PA has detained all but 2 mbrs. (Muhammad Daif, Yahya al-Ghoul) of the Qassam Brigades and a total of 70 percent of Hamas mbrs. overall. (WT 3/27; CSM 4/8)

IDF arrests 10 additional alleged Hamas mbrs. in the Bethlehem, Hebron, Janin, Tulkarm areas. To date Israel has arrested over 400 persons suspected of hostile anti-Israeli activities. (QY 3/26 in FBIS 3/26)

Fmr. U.S. Pres. George Bush meets with Syrian Pres. Asad in Damascus; then drives to Beirut to meet with Pres. Hrawi. Bush is on a regional tour to thank Gulf War allies (incl., Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain) for their support during that conflict. (RL, SARR, VOL 3/26 in FBIS 3/26; RL 3/26, 3/27 in FBIS 3/27; MM 3/27; WT 3/27; NYT 4/5)

Fmr. negotiator, current PC mbr. Hanan Ashrawi (I-Jerusalem) says that she will meet lawyers' requests to submit an affidavit in defense of Hamas political leader Musa Abu Marzuq for his extradition hearing, scheduled for 4/2 in New York. (AFP 3/26 in FBIS 3/26)

In Cairo, Israel, PA sign pact, giving PA control over 8 spheres of West Bank administration. (VOP 8/20 in FBIS 8/21; MM 8/21; QY 8/20 in FBIS 8/22; MENA, VOP 8/27 in FBIS 8/28; WP, WT 8/28; CSM, MM 8/29; JP 9/2; WJW 9/7)

Jordan's King Hussein meets with Israeli PM Rabin, FM Peres in Aqaba to discuss Iraqi defections. (IL 8/28; Al-Aswaq 8/28 in FBIS 8/28)

In Damascus, German Economics M Spranger meets with Pres. Asad. (SANA, SATN 8/27 in FBIS 8/28)

Israel demands extradition of Dudin, Khatib in connection with 12/24/94 Jerusalem bombing, vows to keep closure on Jericho (begun 8/22) in place until pair is turned over. For 1st time, IDF stops journalists fr. entering Jericho while under closure. In continuing crackdown in the West Bank, IDF arrests 12 alleged Hamas mbrs, says recent arrests have prevented 2 bombings, a plan to kidnap IDF soldiers. (QY 8/27, JP 8/28 in FBIS 8/28; MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/28) (see 8/25)

Israeli police release Fatah's Ghunaym. (Al-Quds 8/28 in FBIS 8/30) (see 8/21)

IDF lifts closure on West Bank, but says closure on Jericho will remain in place through 8/30. (QY, VOP 8/27 in FBIS 8/28)

PM Rabin, FM Peres, Arafat end 4 days of talks in Stockholm on elections, Israeli security. Rabin tells Arafat to choose btwn. early elections, no redeployment or protracted negotiations on both issues, delaying elections for 1 yr.; Arafat rejects both. Israel says it no longer rejects Hamas mbrs. participation in elections, only al-Qassam Brigade mbrs. (QY 12/11 in FBIS 12/12; CSM, MM 12/12; CSM, WT 12/13; HA 12/14 in FBIS 12/16; MEI 12/16; JP 12/16 in FBIS 12/19; JP 12/24)

Israeli Atty. Gen. orders Finance M to withhold transfer of Israeli funds to PA until law on implementation of Gaza-Jericho agmt. is enacted. PM Rabin fears delay may affect continuation of talks because large sums are involved. (QY 12/13 in FBIS 12/12) (see 11/23)

Joint Jordanian-Israeli transportation comm. meets at Dead Sea Hotel to discuss investment projects. (RJ 12/12 in FBIS 12/13; RJ 12/13 in FBIS 12/14)

Representatives fr. Israel, Jordan, Egypt, PA meet in Aqaba to discuss linking electricity grids. (JTV 12/12 in FBIS 12/13)

Israeli-Palestinian Center for Research and Information opens 2-day conference on environment in Jerusalem, attended by Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian, Egyptian representatives. Parties announce establishment of joint Eco-Peace Task Force to monitor effects of increased development on environment. (JP 12/13 in FBIS 12/13)

PA calls on Mubarak to pressure Libya to let into the country 200 Palestinians stranded on Egyptian, Tunisian borders. 2 children have already died awaiting entry. (ITV 12/12 in FBIS 12/13; VOP 12/13 in FBIS 12/14) (see 12/11)

PA refuses Israeli request to extradite 2 Palestinian policemen who killed settler; says murder occurred before DOP was signed. (AFP 12/12 in FBIS 12/13; QY 1/1 in FBIS 1/4; WJW 1/5)