The Palestine Chronology

At a PC mtg., PA chief negotiator `Abid Rabbuh resigns in protests after learning that secret PA-Israeli final status talks recently started in Stockholm. The Stockholm talks are being held btwn. Israel's Internal Security M Ben Ami, lawyer Gilead Sher and PC speaker Qurai`, PC mbr. Hassan Asfour, PSF chief Muhammad Dahlan. (MENL 5/15; MENA 5/15 in WNC 5/16; NYT, WT 5/16)

U.S. Consul General John Herbst delivers Arafat a letter fr. Pres. Clinton regarding the peace process. No details are released. (MENL 5/15)

PA, Israeli interim issue team meet. PA interim affairs negotiator Saeb Erakat says Arafat instructed him to discuss only the immediate demand that 230 Palestinian prisoners be released. Israeli negotiator Eran, however, asks that the Palestinian demonstrations in support of the prisoners be halted so the talks can be held in a positive atmosphere. (NYT, WT 5/15)

Across the West Bank and Gaza, Palestinians marking the 52d anniversary of the Nakba hold demonstrations to protest the continued detention of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and to demand that the PA push the refugee issue in negotiations with Israel. In several locations, the IDF clashes with protesters, opening fire with live ammunition and rubber bullets, killing 1 Palestinian and wounding at least 30. 2 IDF soldiers are also injured. The worst clashes are in nr. Netzarim junction in Gaza and in Nablus, Qalqilya, and Ramallah in the West Bank. (AYM 5/14 in WNC 5/17; NYT, WP, WT 5/15; MEI 5/19)

Some 150 Palestinians fr. Dahaysha, Aida, Azza refugee camps nr. Bethlehem make a symbolic visit to the sites of their villages of origin, which were destroyed by Zionist forces in 1948: Bayt Nattif, Zakriyya, and Bayt Jibrin. (BDL 5/15) (see 5/10)

The PA and Israel announce that the PA has captured Muhammad Dayif, a leader of Hamas's Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades who is Israel's most wanted for allegedly organizing a series of suicide bombings in 2+n3/96. Israel also releases Salah Shihada, a Hamas leader who has been jailed for 12 yrs. It is uncertain whether the Shihada release and Dayif capture are part of a reciprocal agmt. related to the negotiations. (MM, NYT, WP 5/15; NYT 5/17; WJW 5/18)

PM Netanyahu says that he wants PA-Israeli negotiations to be expanded to include issues other than FRD. PA says that it entered the latest round of talks with the understanding that they would address 2 issues only: FRD, the PLO charter. No progress has been made in the talks thus far. (ITV 7/21 in WNC 7/23; WT 7/22)

Arafat, Israeli DM Mordechai separately consult Egypt's Pres. Mubarak regarding the latest round of negotiations. (MENA, RE 7/21 in WNC 7/23; WT 7/22; NYT 7/23)

EU special envoy Moratinos meets with Israeli FMin. officials. (WJW 7/23)

King Hussein announces that tests fr. his last visit to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, on 7/14 indicate that he has lymphatic cancer. (RJ 7/21, 7/22 in WNC 7/23, WT 7/22; RJ 7/22 in WNC 7/24; MM, WP 7/23; MEI 7/31)

At Rep. Gingrich's invitation, a PA delegation led by PC Speaker Qurai` arrives in Washington to meet with congressmen. This is the 1st time that Palestinian lawmakers have been invited to Capitol Hill since the PC was elected in 1/96. (WT 7/21; MM 7/23)

The Senate proposes same reductions in Egyptian, Israeli aid as the House did 7/15. Debates on the House and Senate versions will not be completed until 9/98 at the earliest. (WJW 7/23)

U.S. Principal Dep. Secy. of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch returns fr. leading delegation (including Turkish officials) on 5-day trip to n. Iraq to attempt to reconcile the Kurdistan Democratic Party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. The U.S. hopes to unite the 2 groups to increase pressure on Iraqi pres. Saddam Hussein. (GIU 7/17; MM 7/20, 7/30) (see 6/17)

Amal, Hizballah meet to discuss ways of coordinating their actions against the IDF, SLA in s. Lebanon. (RL 7/22 in WNC 7/23)

In s. Lebanon, an SLA convoy triggers a roadside bomb, killing 1 mbr., wounding 2. (VOL 7/21 in WNC 7/23) (see 5/10)

PM Peres returns VIP cards to 3 senior PA officials (Sufyan Abu Zayida, `Abd al-Rahman Hamad, Intisar al-Wazir), which were revoked because the officials tried to bring Palestinian students into Israel with their entourages. (QY 6/16 in FBIS 6/19)

Israeli PM-elect Netanyahu releases vaguely worded government policy guidelines. PC Speaker Ahmad Qurai` and Justice M Frayh Abu-Madayn, condemn guidelines as declaration of war. Syria calls guidelines a "coup against the peace process." (QY 6/16 in FBIS 6/17; NYT, WP, WT 6/17; IGPO 6/17, ITV, VOP 6/18 in FBIS 6/18; MM, WP, WT 6/18; SARR 6/18, 6/19 in FBIS 6/19; WJW, WT 6/20; CSM, PR 6/21)

In last stages of building a government, Israeli PM-elect Netanyahu signs several coalition agmts. with National Religious Party (NRP), Shas, Third Way, assuring support of 55 of the 120 MKs. All 3 parties support negotiations with the Palestinians, oppose compromise on the Golan. In contradiction to Israeli High Court rulings, these agmts. bar Reform, Conservative Jews fr. serving on religious councils controlling Israel's religious life. Discussion with United Torah Judaism (UTJ), Yisrael BaAliya continue. (QY 6/16 in FBIS 6/17; NYT, WT 6/17; NYT 6/18; JP 6/29)

Arafat personally releases top Hamas mbr. Jamal Mansour fr. custody, promises to release more Hamas prisoners in conciliation gesture. Mansour spent 80 days in solitary confinement in the PA's Nablus police station, following the 2-3/96 suicide bombings. (YA 6/16 in FBIS 6/17; WT 6/17)

In West Bank, unidentified gunmen fire on Israeli car, killing 1 man, wounding his wife. IDF places the nearby Palestinian village of Biddiyya under curfew, closes stores until further notice. (QY 6/16 in FBIS 6/19; CSM, NYT, WP 6/17)

In s. Lebanon, Hizballah attacks SLA convoy, killing 1 soldier. (QY, RL 6/16 in FBIS 6/17; CSM 6/17)