The Palestine Chronology

PM Rabin is assassinated by an Israeli Jew while leaving peace rally attended by 100,000 in Tel Aviv. The gunman, Yigal Amir, a 25-yr.-old law student fr. Bar-Ilan University, is captured, admits to shooting, says he acted alone. Amir is also a reserve soldier in the elite Golani brigade, frmr. emissary to Russia for immigration affairs at the Jewish Agency, and an a mbr. of Eyal--a right-wing settler group, known for violence against Arabs, protesting expanded Palestinian self-rule by setting up makeshift encampments in the West Bank. Security officials say Rabin's bodyguards mistook Amir for a limousine driver. (NYT, WP, WT 11/5; FBIS special supplement, NYT, MM, WP, WT 11/6; WJW 11/9; JP 11/11)

Arab leaders (excl. Libya's Qaddafi, Iran's Pres. Hashemi Rafsanjani condemn Rabin's assassination. In the territories, Palestinians generally express respect for Rabin, concern over his death, fear for the future of the peace process and their safety fr. settlers. In s. Lebanon, Palestinian refugees, Hizballah mbrs. celebrate Rabin's death. (WT 11/5; CSM, FBIS supplement, MM, NYT, WT 11/6)

In the West Bank, Palestinians clash with IDF troops after Jewish settler apparently kills a Palestinian boy. (NYT 11/5)

In Gaza, 1000s of Palestinians stage rally in commemoration of Shiqaqi. (HA 11/5 in FBIS 11/7)

Following the assassination, IDF order the closure of the West Bank, Gaza. (QY 11/5 in FBIS 11/6; NYT 11/7)

Portuguese Pres. Mario Soares meets with Pres. Weizman in Israel; requests Portugal's forgiveness fr. Jewish people for the Inquisition. (IL 11/7)

Israeli cabinet approves Oslo II agmt., with Religious Affairs M Shimon Shetreet, Energy M Gonen Segev abstaining. (QY 9/27 in FBIS 8/28; MM, WP 9/28)

In Washington, 2-day Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) donor mtg. to reassess the aid process in light of Oslo II begins. (JP 10/7)

At the Pentagon, King Hussein meets with top Jordanian, U.S. defense officials (include. U.S. Defense Secy. William Perry). In Amman, Cmdr. of the U.S. Central Command Lt. Gen. Binford Peay III meets with heads of Jordan's Joint Chiefs of Staff. (WT 9/28; RJ 9/27, 9/28 in FBIS 9/28)

Arafat appeals to Qaddafi to stop the expulsions, allow the deportees to return. 177 Palestinians expelled by Libya, stranded at border btwn. Libya, Egypt for weeks are allowed to enter Gaza. 7 more families remain stranded at the Rafah checkpoint. (MM 9/27; VOP 9/27 in FBIS 9/28; CSM, NYT, WT 9/28) (see 9/26)

Palestinian Information Bureau stages march through Hebron, prayer vigil at Cave of the Patriarchs/al-Ibrahimi Mosque in protest over the Oslo II provisions for Hebron. PA officials, West Bank notables, Israeli Arab leaders, school children participate. (QY 9/27 in FBIS 9/29)