The Palestine Chronology

Secy. of State Albright phones PM Netanyahu to condemn his 6/18 plan to Judaize Jerusalem, then holds conference call with Council of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (CPMAJO) to explain U.S. position. State Dept. finds it "extremely hard to understand why Israel would even consider taking such a provocative step at this sensitive time." PA files complaint with UNSC. (NYT, WP 6/20; al-Ahram al-Masa'i, ITV 6/20, JTV, MENA 6/21, MENA 6/22 in WNC 6/23; MM, NYT, WT 6/22; MM 6/24; al-Ahram 6/24 in WNC 6/25; WJW 6/25; JP 6/27; MEI 7/3; JP 7/4; WT 7/13)

In Sana', 1,000s of Yemenis take to the streets to protest government's implementation of 25-55% increase in fuel prices to meet conditions to receive $80 m. in IMF loans. (WP 6/21; MM 6/22; WP 6/24; MM 6/29)

Pres. Clinton issues determination allowing U.S. air carriers to offer indirect flights to, fr. Lebanon. (NAAA Voice 6/98; VOL 6/23, RL 6/24 in WNC 6/25; MM 6/24)

The Jordanian Democratic Unionist Party (JDUP) votes to change its name to the Democratic Party of the Left to reflect changes in party membership since the JDUP was formed in 1995 by the merger of the Jordan Popular Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Jordanian Arab Democratic Party. Since 1995, most nationalists have resigned, leaving the party a completely leftist entity. (JT 6/27 in WNC 6/30) (see 8/4/95)

A roadside bomb explodes in Jazzin, killing an SLA mbr., his son (see 3/31). In a separate incident in Beirut, a car bomb kills 2 fmr. mbrs. of the Lebanese Forces Christian militia, one of whom was an explosives expert, leading to speculation that the men accidently triggered a bomb they were planting. (VOL 6/19 in WNC 6/22; WP 6/20; MM 6/23; RL, RMC 7/2 in WNC 7/6; VOL 7/7, al-Nahar 7/8 in WNC 7/13; MEI 7/17)

At close of 2d full wk. of intensive negotiations, PA, Israel are still far apart on timetable for redeployment, water rights, security arrangements, control over state land, participation of Jerusalem residents in elections, future of Hebron, electricity; will resume talks 8/7. (CSM 8/4; VOP 8/4 in FBIS 8/8; WT 8/6)

PM Rabin meets with 8 settler leaders in effort to prevent further protests, schedules follow-up mtg. for 8/8. (MM 8/4; QY 8/4 in FBIS 8/4; PR 8/11) (see 7/10)

Jordanian Democratic Progressive Party, Jordanian Socialist Democratic Party, Jordanian Arab Democratic Party merge to form new group: the Jordanian Unionist Democratic Party. (JT 8/4 in FBIS 8/4)

Clinton's antiterrorism bill gets hung up in the Judiciary Comm. over bipartisan fears of government intrusion in the personal lives of citizens. Final version may not reach Clinton until early 10/95. (WP 8/6) (see 4/6, 6/20)

3-days of elections talks close in Cairo. Sides agree PA will be in charge of maintaining security during elections, joint patrols will be used. PM Rabin says Palestinians fr. Jerusalem will not be allowed to run; Israel, not the PA, will carry out population census using 5,000 Palestinian teachers (see 4/28). A tripartite (EU, Israel, PA) comm. will be set up to discuss international monitors during elections. (AFP, IDF Radio, MENA, VOP 5/16, MENA 5/17 in FBIS 5/17; AFP, MENA, QY, VOP 5/17 in FBIS 5/18; PR 5/21)

2-day multilateral steering comm. mtgs on peace process open in Montreux, Switzerland. Syria, Lebanon boycott. Working groups on water, arms control, refugees, economic development, environment meet. (HA, QY 5/17 in FBIS 5/18)

For 1st time since 1990, U.S. vetoes UN resolution criticizing Israel. U.S. Amb. Madeline Albright calls veto "a matter of principle." Last-minute Russian proposal for UNSC presidential letter reproving Israel is rejected by U.S. as too strong, by PLO as too weak. Resolution would have invalidated Israel's 4/27 seizure of 134 acres of Arab-owed land in East Jerusalem. (MENA, VOP 5/17, MENA, QY, VOP 5/18 in FBIS 5/18; MM, NYT, WT 5/18; AFP, ITV, MENA, RE, RMC, VOP 5/18, MENA, VOP 5/19 in FBIS 5/19; MM, WT 5/19; MEI 6/9, 6/26) (see Doc. D7 in JPS 96)

PM Rabin says Israel would not object to having Syria deploy an early warning station on Israeli territory if Israel can maintain an equivalent system on Syrian soil. (MM 5/17)

60 of 80 mbrs. of the Jordanian parliament, incl. deputies who had approved the Jordan-Israel treaty, ask the government to freeze or cancel the treaty, recall Jordan's amb. to Israel, expel the Israeli amb. in protest over Israel's land confiscations. (MM 5/18; QY, RJ, SARR 5/18 in FBIS 5/18; SA 5/19 in FBIS 5/23; JP 5/27)

In Rabat, Arab League Secy. Gen. Ismat `Abd al-Majid talks with King Hassan on holding summit to discuss Israeli confiscations of Palestinian land in Jerusalem, leaves for Cairo to confer with Pres. Husni Mubarak. Mubarak, Syria's Pres. Hafiz al-Asad discuss plans by phone. (MKR, RE 5/18, RE 5/19 in FBIS 5/19; RMC 5/19, AFP, RMC 5/21 in FBIS 5/22)

PA police raid 5 Gaza mosques in search of "inflammatory material," tear pro-Hamas placards off walls; issue order banning "provocative actions in mosques." (QY 5/17 in FBIS 5/17)

MK `Abd al-Wahhab Darawshah, head of Israel's Arab Democratic Party (ADP), says Arafat has urged him to withdraw ADP's no confidence motion over the Jerusalem land confiscation. Arafat's office denies it, saying PA does not interfere in Israeli domestic affairs. (QY 5/17 in FBIS 5/17; QY 5/17 in FBIS 5/18) (see 5/15)

1 IDF soldier, 1 Hizballah mbr. are killed, 7 Hizballah mbrs, 3 IDF soldiers, 1 SLA mbr. are wounded in 2 clashes in s. Lebanon. (MM 5/17; CSM, MM 5/18; JP 5/27; MEI 6/9)

PA, Israeli teams arrive in Cairo for round of elections talks. Parties will try to come to an agmt. that would permit PA to conduct a "quasi-census" in o.t. to update population registry, prepare voter registry. (IGPO 5/14; MENA, VOP 5/15 in FBIS 5/16; CSM 5/16)

At White House, Pres. Clinton, Secy. of State Christopher hold talks with Syrian FM Shara` on Golan, confidence-building measures, reportedly present Shara` with U.S. "bridging" proposal to spur talks btwn. Syria, Israel. Christopher says Syria, Israel have narrowed differences over security arrangement, discusses possible shuttle mission to Middle East at end of June. (SATN 5/15, SARR 5/16 in FBIS 5/16; NYT, WP, WT 5/16; YA 5/16 in FBIS 5/17; WT 5/17; WP 5/21)

PM Rabin tells Knesset that most of Syria's demands are unacceptable, talks are effectively deadlocked. (WT 5/16, 5/17)

UN begins debate on recent Israeli land confiscations. Arab states call for united front against Israel's seizures. (CSM 5/15; WT 5/17, 5/18)

Israel's Arab Democratic Party, HADASH each file no confidence motion over Jerusalem land seizures. (QY 5/15 in FBIS 5/15)

Israeli FMin. bars Swedish Dep. PM Mona Sahlin fr. mtg. with Arafat advisor Husseini at Orient House. In protest, Sahlin cancels all mtgs. with Israelis and PA, returns home. (JP, QY 5/15 in FBIS 5/15)

In s. Lebanon, 7 IDF soldiers are wounded in roadside bombing by Hizballah. (CSM 5/16)

PM Rabin and Secy. of Defense Cheney meet, agree to transfer $700 million worth of surplus U.S. military hardware to Israel, including training aircraft, attack and transport helicopters. Rabin later meets with Democratic candidates Clinton and Gore. Rabin expresses his opposition to proposed U.S. sale of F-15s to Saudi Arabia. (MM, WP 8/13; MM 8/14)

Israeli housing min. halts all govt. purchase, renovation, and settlement of properties in East Jerusalem; private purchase is still allowed. (NYT 8/13; Qol Yisra'el 8/12 in FBIS 8/12)

Israeli fin. min. announces that loans raised with U.S. guarantees will be deposited in special bank account, will not be used to augment regular budgets. (Qol Yisra'el 8/13 in FBIS 8/13)

Settlements in occupied outskirts of Jerusalem-Ma'ale Adumim, Giv'at Ze'ev, Etzion Bloc, Efrat, Betar, Kfar Adumim, and Adamorganize "Greater Jerusalem" forum to safeguard their interests, encourage govt. to annex greater Jerusalem area to Israel. (Davar 8/13 in FBIS 8/13)

MK 'Abd al-Wahhab Darawsha leads delegation of Arab Democratic Party to Egypt to express FM Peres' desire to visit Egypt, negotiate lifting of Arab boycott. (MM 8/12)

Israel reports that Syria test fired 2 North Korean Scud-C missiles recently. (IDF Radio 8/12 in FBIS 8/13; WP 8/14)

Fateh mbr. Hamzah Mubarak is assassinated in 'Ayn al-Hilwa camp, Lebanon. (VOL 8/12 in FBIS 8/13)

IDF shells, overflies Iqlim al-Tuffah region, S. Lebanon. (VOL 8/13 in FBIS 8/13)

U.S. informs Israeli and Arab delegations that bilateral talks will resume 8/28 in Rome. (Al-Quds 7/6 in FBIS 7/7)

MK 'Abd al-Wahhab Darawsha (Arab Democratic Party) expresses desire to be included in Labor coalition, "surprising" Labor negotiators. Darawsha also charges Rabin with racism in continuing the ban on Arab parties participating in govt. Arab parties won 5 seats in the 6/23 elections, and the Arab vote accounted for at least 5 Labor and Meretz seats. (IDF Radio 7/6 in FBIS 7/7; MM 7/7)

New York Times reports Iraqi Pres. Saddam Hussein has purged 135 military officers in wake of coup attempt that reportedly began 6/29. Washington Post reports at least 140 officers have been executed. (NYT, WP 7/7)

King Hussein flatly denies Iraqi allegations that Jordan was involved in staging 6/29 coup attempt. Jordan has been host to an increased U.S. intelligence contingent monitoring Iraqi actions. (WP 7/7)

Fateh and Hamas distribute leaflet of agreement to end the violence in the Gaza Strip; 2 Palestinians are killed in Gaza Strip as a result of the current violence. (Algiers VOP 7/7 in FBIS 7/8; WP 7/10)

Association for Civil Rights in Israel releases 1991-92; report cites progress, central problems in o.t. still "rampant." (HaAretz 7/7 in FBIS 7/10)