The Palestine Chronology

Noting King Hussein's health troubles (7/28), PM Netanyahu transfers to Jordan the $50 m. that Israel owes the kingdom under the Peace and Stability Fund agmt. (IGPO 7/30)

In Casablanca, the Jerusalem Comm. closes 2-day mtg., agrees to set up fund to support Islamic institutions in the city, calls on mbrs. to reexamine their relations with Israel. On the sidelines of the mtg., Arafat meets separately with Iranian FM Kamal Kharrazi, Jordanian FM Anani, Syrian FM Shara` to discuss the peace process. (al-Quds 7/31 in WNC 8/10; MM 8/6; JP 8/8; MM 8/13)

PM Netanyahu receives EU special envoy Moratinos, who briefs the PM on his mtgs. in Syria, in Lebanon, with the PA. (IGPO 7/30)

The UK accepts Arab League proposal that 2 Libyan suspects in the 12/88 Lockerbie bombing be tried under Scottish law at The Hague. The U.S. agreed to the suggestion 7/29. (RE 7/30 in WNC 8/6)

In s. Lebanon, Hizballah ambushes an IDF patrol, killing 1 soldier, wounding 5. (VOL 7/30 in WNC 8/6; MM, NYT, WP 7/31; JP 8/8)

EU Pres. Santer discusses peace process with PM Netanyahu. (ITV 2/8 in WNC 2/11)

Almost 1-yr. after the 3/13/97 shooting of 14 Israeli school girls by a Jordanian solider, Jordan's King Hussein sends Israel's Pres. Weizman a personal check for $1 m. for compensation to the girls' families. (IGPO 2/8; IGPO, MM 2/9; SA 2/9 in WNC 2/11; al-Quds al-`Arabi 2/11 in WNC 2/12; IGPO 2/12)

Syrian pres. Asad issues decree firing his brother Rifat al-Asad as 1 of 3 VPs. No explanation is given. (RJ 2/8, al-Ba`th 2/9, SA 2/10 in WNC 2/11; MM, WP 2/9; WP 2/11; YA 2/12 in WNC 2/15; MM 2/13)

Israeli DM Mordechai travels to Munich on short notice to discuss Iraq crisis with U.S. Defense Secy. Cohen, who says U.S. will give Israel early warning before operating in Iraq. U.S. also agrees to airlift Patriot missiles, chemical detectors, vaccines, other medications to Israel next wk. as a precaution. (IGPO 2/8; ITV 2/8 in WNC 2/11; MM 2/9)

After Saudi Arabia says it opposes military action to force Iraq to comply with UN sanctions, U.S. Defence Secy. Cohen says the U.S. will not ask to use Saudi bases to stage an attack. (NYT, WT 2/9)

Israeli treasury closes unit responsible for coordinating among government agencies to facilitate joint economic projects with Arab states. Foreign Min. departments in charge of Arab states will take this role over; joint projects with Jordan will be handled by Infrastructures M Sharon. (MA 2/8 in WNC 2/11)

EU special envoy Moratinos meets separately with Arafat, Netanyahu. Arafat then heads to Jordan for talks with King Hussein. King Hussein telephones U.S. Secy. of State Albright, Egypt's Pres. Mubarak, PM Netanyahu to discuss mediation btwn. the PA, Israel.  (MM 8/4; AFP 8/4 in WNC 8/5; RJ 8/4, 8/5 in WNC 8/6; MM, WT 8/5; MM 8/8)

Despite warnings fr. the U.S. that the decision could exacerbate the present situation, Israeli cabinet approves list of retributive measures against the PA drawn up by the inner cabinet 7/31, blocks transfer of $15 m. in tax payments owed the PA. Netanyahu says he will use a "sliding scale," relaxing some of the economic measures as the PA takes steps against Islamists. (MM, NYT 8/5; al-Ayyam [Ramallah], YA 8/5 in WNC 8/6; CSM 8/6; al-Hayat al-Jadida 8/10 in WNC 8/12; WP 8/14)

Israel arrest 29 Palestinians suspected of "terrorist activity," demolishes 5 Palestinian homes allegedly built without permits in East Jerusalem. Since the bombing, Israel has arrested 145 Palestinians. Arafat calls the actions collective punishment meant to humiliate the Palestinians. (IDF Radio, ITV 8/4 in WNC 8/5; LAW, NYT, WP, WT 8/5; MM 8/8)

Iran's Khatami is sworn in as pres. (CSM 8/5)

An elite Israeli Egoz unit is flown n. of Israel's self-declare security zone in s. Lebanon; plants explosives nr. the home of 2 Hizballah cmdrs.; later detonates them by remote control, killing 5 Hizballah mbrs., wounding 2 Hizballah mbrs. and 3 civilians. (MM 8/4; AFP, ITV, RL, RMC 8/4 in WNC 8/5; MM, NYT 8/5; NYT, WT 8/6; Independent [London] 8/6 in WNC 8/7; WJW 8/7; JP 8/16)

PC special investigative comm. into PA corruption reads its report to the council; says up to $340 m. (half of the PA budget) has been misspent (including foreign aid donations), half of the EA mbrs. are implicated in misappropriation of funds, others are unqualified; calls on Arafat to dissolve the cabinet, put 3 EA mbrs. (Planning M Shaath, Civil Affairs M Jamil Tarifi, Transportation M Ali al-Qawasmi) on trial. The PC report's conclusions are nonbinding. (CSM, WP, WT 7/30)

Egyptian Pres. Mubarak makes previously unannounced visit to Damascus to discuss the peace process with Pres. Asad, who expresses "no hope" under current conditions. Mubarak then heads to Amman to meet with King Hussein. (RJ, SANA 7/29 in WNC 7/30; RJ 7/29 in WNC 7/31; MM, WT 7/30; MEI 8/8)

In Amman, King Hussein, FM Tarawnah meet with Israeli FM Levy, say that they are optimistic that Netanyahu's decision to block Ras al-Amud development will jump-start the peace process. (RJ 7/29 in WNC 7/30, 7/31; WT 7/30)

EU special envoy Moratinos arrives in Damascus for 2 days of talks with FM Shara` on reviving the Syrian-Israeli talks. (RJ 7/31 in WNC 8/1)

Israeli commandos enter Tulkarm (area A) to capture an Islamic Jihad mbr. Ghassan Mahdawi, who had escaped fr. an Israeli prison in 8/96. (al-Quds 7/29 in WNC 7/31; MM 7/31; CSM, NYT 8/1; JP 8/2)

Nr. Elon Moreh settlement in the West Bank, a Palestinian stabs an IDF soldier in the shoulder, is shot and killed by a 2d soldier. (ITV 7/29 in WNC 7/30, 8/1; JP 8/9)

A poll of young bedouin in the Negev conducted by Bersheeba University shows that 48% believe that Israel does not have a right to exist, 70% prefer to go to jail than serve in the IDF, 70% believe the term "Palestinian" describes them, 45% prefer to live in Israel than in an Arab state or the West. (YA 7/29 in WNC 7/31)

Japan requests extradition of 5 Red Army mbrs. currently standing trial in Lebanon. (RL 7/29 in WNC 7/30) (see 6/9)

U.S. special envoy Ross meets with Arafat in Gaza, then meets with PM Netanyahu, Pres. Weizman, FM Levy. (WJW 5/8; ITV, QY 5/8 in WNC 5/9; MM, WP 5/9; MEI, PR 5/16; JP 5/17)

Israel's PM Netanyahu, Jordan's King Hussein meet in Aqaba to discuss water issues, ways of resuming Israeli-PA negotiations. (MM 5/9; QY, RJ, YA 5/9 in WNC 5/12; JTV 5/9, RJ 5/10, JT 5/11, RJ 5/12 in WNC 5/13; NYT 5/10; JP 5/24) (see 5/6, Peace Monitor for details)

U.S. special envoy Ross, EU special envoy Moratinos meet in Israel to discuss the peace process. (IDF Radio 5/8 in WNC 5/9; AFP 5/9 in WNC 5/12; MEI 5/16)

Austrian FM Schuessel holds separate mtgs. with Israel's Netanyahu, PA's Arafat, EU's Moratinos. (Die Presse [Vienna] 5/9 in WNC 5/12)

Israeli cabinet secy. Nave admits that the intelligence transmission intercepted by the NSA in 1/97 was made. An unnamed Israeli intelligence official claims that "Mega" does not refer to a person but to something else. A 3d official claims "Mega" was a mistranslation of "Elga," the term used by Mossad for the CIA. U.S. declines to comment. (WP 5/9; MA, YA 5/9 in WNC 5/13; MM 5/13; YA 5/13 in WNC 5/14) (see 5/6)

In Washington, U.S. holds separate mtgs. with PA, Israeli, Jordanian delegations. Brief joint mtg. is held. Then Arafat, Netanyahu hold private 3-hr. talk. Netanyahu later holds private mtg. with King Hussein. Israel rejects U.S. requests to set a firm date for withdrawal fr. Hebron, close tunnel (see 9/29). (WP, WT 10/1; Independent [London], ITV, JT, JTV, RJ 10/1 in WNC 10/3; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/2; VIRI 10/2 in WNC 10/4; WJW 10/3; JT 10/3 in WNC 10/7; NYT, PR, WT 10/11; WJW 10/17; JT 10/17 in WNC 10/19; JP 10/19; MM 10/24; MEI 10/25; MM 11/14)

In Luxembourg, EU FMs issue their strongest condemnation against Israel since 1980. (LPR 10/1, El Mundo [Madrid] 10/2 in WNC 10/3; MM 10/2; Diario de Noticias [Lisbon] 10/2 in WNC 10/4)

4 Palestinians, 1 Israeli wounded during recent clashes die, bringing death toll to 75. (WP 10/2) (see 9/29)

According to the Federal Election Commission, pro-Israeli PACs have donated $1.3 m. directly to candidates running in the 11/5 election. 54% has gone to Democrats, 40% to Republicans (a 10% increase over the 1994 election). (WJW 10/24)

PM Netanyahu arrives in London on 1st stop of 3-day EU tour to garner support for his hard-line attitude toward the peace process; meets with PM John Major. (MM 9/24; LPR 9/24 in WNC 9/27; MM, WP, WT 9/25)

Under heavy police guard, Israel undertakes a surprise predawn excavation to complete a long disputed archeological tunnel that runs along the al-Aqsa mosque compound. The 12-yr.-old project was completed only on the personal orders of PM Netanyahu, who intended it as a message to Palestinians that Israel is the sole sovereign in Jerusalem. PA denounces tunnel work, calls for general strike 9/25. During the day, Palestinians at the mosque clash with police, hurl stones at Jews at the Western Wall. Jordan's King Hussein is furious that Gold did not warn him of the tunnel opening in their mtg. 9/22. (MM 9/24; JTV, RJ 9/24 in WNC 9/27; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/25; WJW 10/3; MEI, PR 10/4; MM 10/9; WT 10/11)

In Hebron, IDF orders 6-mo. closure of 2 charity organizations allegedly linked to Hamas. Palestinians clash with IDF over reopening the central market (see 9/16). (HA 9/24 in IL 9/24; RMC 9/24 in WNC 9/27)

Following Israel's Yom Kippur holiday, ILMG reconvenes in Naqura to discuss complaints filed by Lebanon, Israel. (ITV, RL 9/24 in WNC 9/27; NYT, WT 9/25; JP 10/5) (see 9/22)

IDF, Amal clash in s. Lebanon, leaving 2 Amal mbrs. dead. (RL 9/24 in WNC 9/27; CSM, MM, NYT, WT 9/25; RL 9/25 in WNC 9/27; JP 10/5)

FM Peres, Arafat hold positive mtg. at Erez; agree to open safe passages immediately, halt land confiscation and financing expansion of existing settlements, speed process at border crossings, increase number of Palestinian workers in Israel to 21,000, discuss releasing prisoners, hold regular mtgs. to exchange security information; announce agmt. to try to reach consensus on elections, Israeli withdrawal by 7/1. (MM 3/9; VOP 3/9 in FBIS 3/9; QY, VOP 3/9, VOP 3/10 in FBIS 3/10; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/10; VOP 3/10 in FBIS 3/13; WJW 3/16; MEI 3/17; JP 3/18; WT 3/19)

Secy. of State Christopher holds friendly mtg. with Pres. Mubarak in Cairo but fails to reach compromise on NPT issue, then heads to Israel, meets with PM Rabin, FM Peres to discuss Syrian track. Rabin gives Christopher "serious proposal" to hand Syrian Pres. al-Asad, reportedly offering to withdraw fr. all of Golan in stages if Syria begins normalizing relations. Rabin also blames Syria, Egypt for urging Gulf states to slow normalization. Christopher then meets with Likud leader Netanyahu to asses opposition's stance. (MM 3/9; MENA 3/9 in FBIS 3/9; IDF Radio, ITV 3/9, QY 3/10 in FBIS 3/10; FT, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/10; ITV, QY 3/10, HA, RMC 3/12 in FBIS 3/13; MA 3/12 in FBIS 3/14; HA 3/15 in FBIS 3/15; JP 3/18; MEI 3/31; NYT 4/1; MEI 4/14)

Task Force for Economic Development in the Middle East meets in Washington. U.S. presents proposal for regional bank with $5 b. base capital to do project lending only. EU gives counterproposal for "financial intermediation organization" without its own capital base to put together private sector deals, financing. 30 countries, organizations attend, incl. Egypt, Jordan, PA, Saudi Arabia, excl. Lebanon, Syria. (MM 3/10, 4/27)

FM Peres says Israel has lifted its naval blockade on s. Lebanon in honor of Secy. of State Christopher's visit, as a good will gesture. (HA, RL 3/10 in FBIS 3/10; VOL 3/10 in FBIS 3/13; NYT, WP 3/11; MEI 3/17; MEI 3/31)

PM Rabin, King Hussein meet in Aqaba, discuss difficulties on Syrian track. Rabin tells king he asked Secy. of State Christopher to forgive Jordan's debt. (JTV 3/9, QY, RJ 3/10 in FBIS 3/10; MM 3/10)