The Palestine Chronology

Israeli officials say 6 Fateh Hawks killed by IDF undercover unit 3/28 killed in error. Officials say the 6 were not fugitives and did not fire on Israeli soldiers, and were part of security apparatus being established by Fateh in anticipation of IDF withdrawal. Witnesses tell press, B'Tselem Palestinians shot in the head at close range after being wounded. (MM 3/29; CSM, NYT, WP 3/30)

Riots erupt in o.t. in response to 3/28 killings. 17-yr.-old killed by IDF, 70 Palestinians, 4IDF soldiers wounded in al-Burayj r.c. 70-yr.-old Israeli attacked nr. Tel Aviv by 2 Palestinians with axes. Army closes o.t. schools for 2 days in response to violence. (MM 3/29, 3/30; WP 3/30)

International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) issues report on 2/25 Hebron massacre, urges Israel to investigate its arming of settlers and commission of inquiry to charge all culpable in massacre and to appoint counsel for victims. (MM 3/29)

Conference of 200 rabbis in Qiryat Arba, including frmr. Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Avraham Shapira, decides IDF soldiers should defy any orders to evacuate settlements, threatens to mobilize resistance to any evacuation moves. (MM 3/30; WT 3/31; NYT 4/1)

Israeli cabinet discusses removing settlers fr. Hebron. Frmr. Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren issues ruling saying ending Jewish presence in Hebron "requires us to resist it to the death, all of us, every Jew." FM Peres says closing Hebron settlement "not necessary," but tells CNN curfews will be applied to Jewish settlers as well as to Palestinians. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/7)

British Foreign Secy. Douglas Hurd, after mtg. with PLO official Nabil Shaath, says Britain agrees to take part in "international presence" to protect Palestinians in o.t. Foreign Office later says UK contingent would be civilian, not military. Norway also agrees to participate. EU Commissioner Hans van den Broeck calls for prompt Israeli action to enhance Palestinians' security. PLO "FM" Faruq Qaddumi says PLO still insisting on international protection, but not necessarily as part of UNSC resolution. (WP, WT 3/7)

PLO issues statement condemning 2/18 killing of settler Zipporah Sasson.  Hamas spokesman Ibrahim Ghawsha denounces PLO statement, saying Sasson's killing was unintentional.  (MM 2/25)

IDF attacks house in Abu Dis, West Bank, with anti-tank rockets in 7-hr. standoff with Hamas militants.  `Abd al-Rahman Hamdan, 23, killed, `Ali Ahmad `Ali Amudi, 19, arrested.  IDF claims the 2 Khan Yunis r.c. residents part of Hamas cell that killed 8 Israelis, including Shin Bet agent Noam Cohen, killed 2/13.  (MM 2/25)

Syrian Dep. Chief Rabbi Yusuf Jajati announces that all 1,000 Jews remaining in Syria have been given exit visas, fulfilling commitment made by Pres. al-Asad.  Jajati notes most of est. 4,000 Syrian Jews had moved to U.S., but 3-4 families had returned due to language, financial problems.  (MM 2/24; WP 2/25)

Beirut's al-Nahar reports U.S. selling 175 used M-113 APCs to Lebanese army for $35 m.  (MM 2/24)

Israeli, PLO negotiators meet in Cairo to prepare for another round of talks btwn. PLO Chmn. Arafat and Israeli FM Peres to follow up on negotiations in Davos, Switzerland. Israeli PM Rabin and aides play down expectations autonomy accord will be reached soon. (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 2/2)

PLO Chmn. Arafat, addressing UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva, calls for continued investigation of Israeli humanrights violations, saying "the human rights process must go on despite the current negotiations." (WP 2/2)

State Dept. annual report on human rights cites Israel for use of torture, death squads against Palestinians in o.t. (NYT 2/2)

Israel announces plans to test-launch "Arrow 2" missile by end of year, deploy U.S.-funded anti-ballistic missile system by 1997. (WT 2/2)

PLO sources say PLO security officers will go to U.S. for training. (WT 2/2)

B'nai B'rith Int'l. announces return of delegation fr. visit to Morocco, where King Hassan II told it he seeks trade and tourism ties with Israel. (WT 2/2)

Knesset unanimously approves law allowing Israeli state attorney to investigate complaints against Shin Bet. Previously secret police agency, often accused of torture and abuse of prisoners, investigated allegations itself. (MM 2/2; WT 2/9)

4-day "Religious Leadership in Secular Society" conference grouping 400 Christian and Jewish leaders opens in Jerusalem. Frmr. Israeli Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren refuses to attend, as do many Israeli rabbis. (MM 2/1)