The Palestine Chronology

In Gaza, 3 bedouin women are killed by IDF shelling. FM Peres says the IDF may have fired at the wrong target when responding to gunfire on Netzarim settlement, an adjacent IDF post. The IDF also bulldozes Palestinian land in Dayr al-Balah. Palestinians fire rocket grenades at IDF tanks in Rafah, causing no injuries; launch at least 7 mortars at Gush Katif settlement bloc, damaging 1 building, injuring 1 Thai worker. (CNN 6/9; HP, NYT, WP, WT 6/10; HA, MM, NYT, WP 6/11; DUS, HJ 6/11 in WNC 6/12; MEI 6/15)

Israeli, PA security officials present their written responses to the U.S. draft cease-fire plan to the U.S. emb. Meanwhile in Cairo, Tenet briefs Mubarak on his mtgs. with the sides to date. Burns continues to meet with Israeli, PA political officials. (WP, WT 6/10)

In Athens, Israel, the PA hold their 1st public high-level talks since Sharon took office. Israeli FM Peres, PA Planning M Shaath, PA Local Government M Saeb Erakat discuss the Jordanian-Egyptian nonpaper, agree to resume security talks. Peres reiterates Sharon's position that negotiations cannot resume until all Palestinian violence ceases but does not reject the nonpaper outright. (BBC, HA, MM 4/4; QA 4/4 in WNC 4/5; HA, MM, NYT, REU, WP 4/5; AYM 4/5 in WNC 4/6; QA 4/5 in WNC 4/12; MEI, MM 4/6)

This evening, senior PA, Israeli security officials hold talks at the home of U.S. Amb. Martin Indyk in Herzilya, Israel; a CIA official sits in as a "nonparticipant observer" (see 3/21). When the PA team returns to Gaza, IDF troops fire on their convoy as it passes through the Erez crossing, injuring 2 bodyguards. The PA says the IDF attempted to assassinate the security chiefs; the IDF says troops thought they were being shot at fr. the convoy, "acted appropriately." (BBC, HA 4/4; HA, MM, NYT, REU, WP 4/5; AYM 4/5 in WNC 4/6; MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/6; al-Quds 4/6 in WNC 4/9; MM 4/9; MA 4/9 in WNC 4/10; AYM 4/9, XIN 4/10 in WNC 4/11; QA 4/11 in WNC 4/14; MEI 4/20; DUS 4/27 in WNC 4/30)

Meanwhile, Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue. Palestinians fire homemade mortars at Netzarim settlement, causing no damage. In return, the IDF fires mortars at a PSF post in Gaza. The IDF also directs heavy machine gun fire at Palestinian residential areas of al-Mughraga. Nr. Hebron, a tank overturns, killing 5 IDF soldiers, injuring 1. The IDF bulldozes 4 more Palestinian homes in Anata; 4 in Hebron; 3 homes, a warehouse, an animal pen in Jinin; 1 home in Bethlehem. In Gaza, Jewish settlers fr. Gush Katif, Kefar Darom block Saladin Road, throw stones at Palestinian cars, threaten passengers with machine guns. (LAW, PMC 4/4; NYT 4/5; MM 4/6)

With the escalation of Israeli-Palestinian violence, Jordan bans any demonstrations, public rallies in Amman, the scene of pro-Palestinian protests in recent mos. (REU 4/4; JT 4/5 in WNC 4/6)