The Palestine Chronology

At the UN Security Council (UNSC) in New York, U.S. vetoes a 14-1 decision to reelect Secy. Gen. Butros Butros-Ghali to a 2d, 5-yr. term. This vote is expected to be the 1st in a series btwn. now and 1/97, when the final decision on the secy. gen. must be made. U.S. amb. to the UN Madeline Albright says the U.S. is prepared to use its veto indefinitely; if African nations want a secy. gen. fr. their continent, they should begin looking for another person. (MM 11/19; RE 11/19 in WNC 11/21; MM, WP, WT 11/20; RE 11/20, al-Dustur, al-Ra'i 11/21 in WNC 11/22; MM 11/21; al-Quds al-Arabi 11/21, al-Dustur 11/22 in WNC 11/25; NYT 11/22; RE 11/22 in WNC 11/26; WJW 12/5)

King Hussein says that the only way to break the logjam in current PA-Israeli talks is for Israel to fully implement its original agmts. with the Palestinians, says Jordan would support Palestinians in their quest for a an independent country. (WT 11/20)

Israel's mayor of Jerusalem Ehud Olmert presents Housing M Meir Porush with a plan to build 2,200 housing units btwn. Pisgat Ze'ev and al-Za'im junction in a bid to link French Hill in East Jerusalem with Ma'ale Adumim. (IDF Radio 11/19 in WNC 11/20; CSM 1/9)

Some Jewish settler leaders say that they have received death threats fr. extremist settlers for suggesting that the shrine-like grave of Baruch Goldstein, who massacred 29 Arabs in Hebron 2/25/94, be dismantled. Goldstein's grave has become a pilgrimage site, with gardens, a fountain, and benches, where visitors meditate, read religious texts. (WT 11/20)

2 Israeli border policemen are arrested after Israeli television airs amateur videotape showing them beating Palestinian workers who were caught in Jerusalem without permits. Justice Min. says it is investigating another incident in which 3 border guards are accused of beating 8 Palestinians caught trying to cross into Israel nr. Qalqilya. (MM 11/19; CSM, WP, WT 11/20; WJW 1128; JP 11/30)

Palestinian human rights activist Iyad Sarraj says that Israel has refused to issue him a visa to attend a conference in Norway, saying he must stay in Gaza for security reasons. (WT 11/20)

German court sentences Palestinian woman to 12 yr. in jail for participation in 1977 hijacking of a Lufthansa airliner in Mallorca, Spain. She was arrested in 1994 in Oslo and extradited to Germany. (WP 11/20)

In Jarju', s. Lebanon, an Israeli shell filled with nails hits a residential home, causing damage but no injuries. (RL 11/21 in WNC 11/22)

Arafat, PM Yitzhak Rabin meet at Erez to discuss interim agmt., elections, closure. Arafat rejects Rabin's "Jenin 1st" idea, where PA would take over administrative, financial management of Jenin but IDF troops would remain in place. Rabin agrees to gradual lifting of closure, transfer to PA of $12 m. in tax money to alleviate unemployment, refuses to release any prisoners; calls on Arafat to ban all incitement against Israel, stop terrorist attacks in planning stage, ensure there are no "unauthorized" militias in self-rule areas. (MM 2/16; ITV, VOP, QY 2/16, IDF radio, RE 2/17 in FBIS 2/17; MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/17; QY, RMC, VOP 2/17 in FBIS 2/21; MM, PR 2/20; MM 2/21; JP 2/25) (see 2/9)

Arafat speaks by phone with Jordanian PM Sharif Zaid Bin Shakir, Egyptian FM Amr Musa, briefs them on mtg. with PM Rabin. (VOP 2/17 in FBIS 2/17)

U.S. Secy. of State Warren Christopher announces U.S. will give PA $75 m. to set up development institutions in West Bank, Gaza. (VOP 2/17 in FBIS 2/21)

At mtg. in Paris, Gulf nations take "forceful" stand against proposed Middle East Development Bank, say regional cooperation is premature without full peace. Seen as retreat fr. normalization with Israel. (NYT 2/17)

100s of Israeli settlers fr. Kiryat Arba, led by Kach head Baruch Marzel, celebrate Cave of the Patriarch massacre, praise Baruch Goldstein. IDF does nothing to stop celebration even though Kach is officially outlawed by the government. (NYT, WP 2/17; PR 2/20; MEI 3/3)

PM Rabin rejects offer by 2 Hamas leaders, Shaykhs Jamil Hamami and Hussein Abu Kwaik, to open dialogue. Offer is thought to be response to Dep. FM Beilin's statements 10/24. (WT 11/3)

Car bomb kills Hani Abed, leader of Islamic Jihad in Gaza; armed supporters riot, vow reprisals against Israel; no one claims responsibility for attack. (AFP 11/2 in FBIS 11/3; MM 11/3; VOP 11/3 in FBIS 11/4; WT 11/3; JP 11/5)

U.S. Secy. of State Christopher announces he will resume trips btwn. Israel, Syria end of Nov. to spur Syrian track. (MM 11/3)

Arafat arrives in Cairo for talks with Pres. Mubarak on peace process, Casablanca; departs. (MENA 11/2 in FBIS 11/3)

In statement to Turkish reporters, PM Rabin suggests piping water fr. Turkey to Israel, Syria, Lebanon once peace agmts. are signed. (TRT Television, Ankara 11/2 in FBIS 11/3)

IDF orders Kiryat Arba settlers to remove stone monument honoring Baruch Goldstein, perpetrator of Hebron massacre. (WT 11/3; JP 11/12)

Israel shells areas of southern Lebanon. (RL 11/1 in FBIS 11/2)

IDF begins evacuation of HQ in Jericho, Gaza Strip as withdrawal starts. Troops in Gaza redeploy to guard Gush Qatif bloc of settlements. 2 Palestinians wounded by IDF while stoning departing troops. (CSM, WT 4/5)

Bank of Jordan opens 1st West Bank branch, in Ramallah. (MM 4/5)

Syrian Pres. Hafiz al-Asad flies to Cairo, meets twice with Pres. Husni Mubarak. (MM 4/5)

Israeli police ballistics expert testifies to Israeli commission of inquiry, says police have identified all but 1 of 115 shell casings recovered at Haram al-Ibrahimi in Hebron. 109 shells traced to attacker Baruch Goldstein's weapon, 5 to those of IDF guards. (NYT, WT 4/5)

Israel-PLO agreement on international presence in Hebron reached in early morning' 160 observers fr. Denmark (35), Italy (35), and Norway (90) arrned with pistols "for self-defense" to deploy in city for 3 mos., report to joint Palestinian-Israeli comm. Observers lack military or police powers, but will 'promote stability" and "monitor the efforts to restore the safety of the Palestinians." PLO gives up demand for deployment of Palestinian police in Hebron in exchange. Israeli PM Rabin calls observer force "an exceptional case" in defending agreement against opposition criticism. FM Peres notes "the collective responsibility will remain always in the hands of the legal govt., and we are the legal govt." (MM, NYT 3/31; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 4/1)

Negotiations on Gaza-Jericho autonomy resume. IDF officials say 70% of army equipment already removed fr. Gaza. (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 4/1)

300 Palestinian youths clash with Israeli police in Hebron, destroying bank facade. No injuries reported. In Gaza Strip, 1 Palestinian wounded in gun battle btwn. IDF, Palestinian guerrillas. Israeli stabbed to death in Israel, and Israeli attacked with axes 3/29 dies. (WP, WT 4/1)

10,000 settlers hold rally to mark 26th anniversary of Qiryat Arba settlement, denounce Rabin govt. Hundreds gather at tomb of Hebron attacker Baruch Goldstein, some calling him a "hero" and a "saint.' (NYT, WP, WT 4/1)

Hebron Massacre. 29 Palestinians killed when American-born settler, IDF reservist, and Kach mbr. Dr. Baruch Goldstein opens fire with IDF-issued Galil assault rifle on Muslim worshippers at Haram al-Ibrahimi in Hebron ("Cave of the Patriarchs") before being bludgeoned to death by survivors. 6 more Palestinians killed in clashes with IDF outside main Hebron hospital, 5othershot dead elsewhere in o.t. Hundreds wounded in bloodiest single day in o.t. since 1967 war. Palestinians riot throughout o.t., including at Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem. Gaza Strip closed off fr. Israel. (MENA, SPA 2/25 in FBIS 2/28; MM 2/25; WP 2/26, 2/27)

PFLP, PFLP-GC, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad issue statements vowing revenge for massacre. (AFP 2/25, QPAR 2/25, al-Ray 2/26 in FBIS 2/28)

Unidentified Palestinians axe to death 79-year-old Israeli at Kfar Sava bus station. (JP 3/5)