The Palestine Chronology

The IDF directs live fire at Palestinians crossing into Ramallah at Surda checkpoint just after a curfew had been reimposed without warning, seriously injuring an 18-yr.-old Palestinian girl; conducts arrest raids in Nablus, destroying the 1 Palestinian home; direct shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis. (LAW 7/8; PCHR 7/10)

Sharon authorizes Peres to reopen high-level meetings (suspended in 3/02) with senior PA officials, excluding Arafat, but bars him fr. discussing political issues. Peres meets with new PA Finance M Fayyad, new Interior M Yahya. (MM, NYT, WP 7/9; XIN 7/9 in WNC 7/10; WT 7/10; SA 7/10 in WNC 7/11; WJW 7/11; AYM 7/12 in WNC 7/16; AFP 7/20, XIN 7/21 in WNC 7/22; HA, NYT, WP 7/21; JP, MM, WT 7/22; WT 7/23)

Bush says that Israel is justified in occupying the West Bank until "security improves." (NYT 7/9; WJW 7/11)

Israel assassinates senior Hamas mbr. Salah al-Din Darwaza, firing 5 antitank missiles at his car as he drives through Nablus. Armed Jewish settlers fr. Morag attack a PSF post, a residential building in Rafah, sparking an exchange of gunfire involving the IDF and PSF that leaves 3 soldiers injured. The IDF bulldozes the PSF post, surrounding agricultural land. In response, Palestinians fire a mortar at Morag, causing no damage. (LAW 7/25; HP, NYT, WP 7/26; JP 8/3)

At the weekly trilateral security comm. mtg., the PA warns that it will not be able to continue the security mtgs. if Israeli assassinations continue. The PA hands Israel a list of 31 Jewish settlers wanted for carrying out attacks on Palestinians, warning that the PA will take action if Israel does not arrest them. (AFP [Internet], NYT 7/25; MM, WJW 7/26; al-Quds 7/26 in WNC 7/27; SA 7/30 in WNC 7/31)

At Camp David, Pres. Clinton continues talks with PA, Israeli teams until early morning, breaks for a few hrs., and then resumes mtgs., which continue all day. Late in the evening, Clinton, with Barak's prior approval, presents the sides with 3 proposals on Jerusalem, marking the 1st time Israel has officially agreed to discuss sharing control of the city. Talks on the proposals continue past midnight. (MM, White House press briefing 7/24; IRNA 7/24 in WNC 7/25; MM, NYT, WP 7/25; DUS 7/25, ABC [Madrid] 7/26 in WNC 7/27; DUS 7/25 in WNC 7/28; MM, WP 7/26; MA 7/27 in WNC 7/31; MEI 7/28; NYT 7/29; WP 7/30)

UN Secy.-Gen. Annan tells the UNSC that Israel has corrected its violations of the blue line with Lebanon; UNIFIL can now deploy to fixed positions in new areas across the s. (UN press briefing 7/24; SA 7/24 in WNC 7/25; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 7/25; WJW 7/27; MEI 7/28)

Pres. Clinton returns fr. Japan in the afternoon and goes straight to Camp David, where he meets with the U.S. peace team and then talks separately with Arafat, Barak to decide how to proceed. He then goes into talks with PA, Israeli negotiators that continue overnight, focusing on Jerusalem. (XIN 7/23 in WNC 7/24; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/24; XIN 7/24 in WNC 7/26; MM 7/26)

Egyptian pres. Mubarak travels to Riyadh to discuss the final status talks on Jerusalem with Saudi Arabia's King Fahd, Crown Prince Abdallah. (NYT 7/23; MENA 7/23 in WNC 7/24; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/24; al-Quds 7/24 in WNC 7/26; MM, NYT 7/27)

Pope John Paul calls for Jerusalem to be granted "international status" under a permanent arrangement. (MM, NYT, WT 7/24; al-Quds 7/24 in WNC 7/26; ANSA 8/2 in WNC 8/4)

In Okinawa, EU leaders say the G-8 states have agreed to Pres. Clinton's request share the cost of any Camp David peace agmt.; no figures were discussed. (WT 7/24)

Amid rumors that Arafat has conceded the refugees' right of return at talks in Camp David, PLOEC mbr. As`ad `Abd al-Rahman resigns his position as PLO refugee affairs coordinator. (HA [Internet], MENL 7/23; SA 7/25 in WNC 7/27)

In Gaza, Hamas spiritual leader Shaykh Ahmad Yasin says he would declare a truce with Israel if Barak agreed to withdraw completely to the 1967 borders fr. Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem. (NYT 7/24; WJW 7/17)

In Hebron, Jewish settlers assault a delegation of Arab Americans who arrived in the town on a solidarity visit. (MEI 7/28)

Without prior notice, the IDF seals off and begins leveling 4,000 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Bethlehem. When the owner, Ali Mahameed, and his family attempt to stop them, IDF soldiers assault them. (LAW 8/10)

At Camp David, PA-Israeli talks continue in a more informal atmosphere, under the guidance of Secy. of State Albright, who holds several 1-on-1 mtgs. with Arafat, Barak. Both sides say they have agreed to stay out of respect for Pres. Clinton, not because of optimism for an agmt., but U.S. officials say that Barak, not wanting to return home empty handed, asked for negotiations to continue. (MM 7/20; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/21; AYM, SA 7/21 in WNC 7/24; WP 7/22)

A Lebanese military court sentences 26 SLA mbrs. to prison terms of 3 wks. to 15 yrs. for collaborating with Israel. This is the 18th group of SLA mbrs. to be tried since the IDF pullout in 5/00. (NYT 7/21; WJW 7/27)

At Camp David, MD, Arafat, Barak, Clinton open their 3-way summit on final status issues under a media blackout. According to the State Dept., Clinton 1st holds brief 1-on-1 mtgs. with Arafat, Barak. Then the 3 men meet briefly together. Then the Israeli, PA, U.S. teams hold a short opening session. Later in the evening, Clinton holds 2 mtgs. with Arafat, 1 with Barak. (MM, CSM 7/11; White House press briefing 7/11, 7/12; XIN 7/11, Le Monde, al-Quds 7/12 in WNC 7/13; CSM, JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/12; MM, WJW 7/13; MEI 7/14)

During their 1-on-1 talks, Barak informs Clinton that Israel has suspended the sale of an AWACS technology to China. (MM, NYT, WJW, WP, WT 7/13; AFP, Zhongguo Tongxun She [Hong Kong] 7/13 in WNC 7/17; Le Monde, SA 7/14 in WNC 7/18; JP 7/21)

In Nablus, and Ramallah, 100s of Palestinian refugees hold a rally to urge Arafat not to back down on the refugees' right of return at the Camp David summit. In Jerusalem, 1,500 Israelis rally to support Barak's decision to go to Camp David. (MM, NYT 7/12)

A U.S. federal judge orders Iran to pay $327 m. to the families of 2 Americans killed in a suicide bombing in Israel on 2/25/96, saying the evidence shows that fmr. Iranian officials aided Hamas in staging the attack. This is the 4th time that a U.S. judge has ordered Iran to pay damages under a 1996 act that allows American victims of terrorist acts abroad legal recourse in U.S. courts. (WP 7/12; WJW 7/13)

In the morning, PM Barak goes to Cairo to discuss the final status talks with Pres. Mubarak. He then returns to Israel and narrowly survives a Knesset vote on 2 no-confidence motions, freeing him to depart for Camp David late tonight. (Arafat left earlier in the day. (MM 7/10; MENA 7/10 in WNC 7/11; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 7/11; CSM 7/12; Le Monde 7/12 in WNC 7/13; MEI 7/14)

Israel's Ezer Weizman steps down as pres. The timing has nothing to with Barak's coalition crisis; indeed, Weizman's last act is to urge Barak to forge ahead with the Camp David summit. Weizman decided in 5/00 to retire today after a police investigation concluded on 4/6 he was guilty of fraud but that statute of limitations for prosecution had run out. The Knesset will choose a new pres. on 7/31 (NYT, WP 7/11; MM, WJW 7/13; JP 7/21)

Bashar al-Asad, the sole candidate, is elected pres. of Syria with 97% of the vote. Some 210,000 Syrians working in Lebanon returned home for the election. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/11; Interfax, MENA, SA 7/11, JT 7/12 in WNC 7/13; CSM, WP, WT 7/12; MEI 7/14)

PM Barak delays his departure for Camp David after 3 coalition parties--National Religious party, Shas, Yisrael Ba'Aliya--quit the government. In addition, FM Levy announces he will not attend summit because Barak has failed to consult with him on planned concessions. The opposition schedules 2 no-confidence votes for 7/10. Yet, public opinion polls show that 61% of Jewish Israelis support the talks with the PA. The U.S. says the summit must go ahead or Palestinian-Israeli tensions will rise further. (CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/10; AYM 7/11, Le Monde 7/12 in WNC 7/13; JP, MEI 7/14) (see 7/5)

In Washington, Secy. of State Albright holds mtgs. with the Israeli, PA peace teams sent in advance of Barak, Arafat to prepare for the Camp David summit, which is scheduled to begin on 7/11. The PA vows to hold a popular referendum of Palestinians inside and outside the territories on any agmt. that emerges fr. the talks. (JP [Internet], Reuters [Internet] 7/9; XIN 7/9 in WNC 7/11; WP 7/10)

In Cairo, Arafat meets with Pres. Mubarak on his way to the Camp David summit. Arafat then heads to London for a similar mtg. with PM Blair. (MENA 7/9 in WNC 7/10; Associated Press [Internet] 7/10; MENA 7/10 in WNC 7/11; MENA 7/11 in WNC 7/13)

Although the U.S. plans to have a media blackout surrounding the Camp David talks, PM Barak dispatches a media information team that will operate fr. New York, Washington during the summit. MKs Rabbi Michel Melchoir, Yuli Tamir will head the team. (Prime Minister's Office press release 7/9; MA 7/10 in WNC 7/11; SA 7/14 in WNC 7/18; MA 7/24 in WNC 7/25)

Jordanian PM Abu al-Raghib says Jordan has informed Israel, the PA, the U.S. of Jordan's "firm refusal" to absorb any additional Palestinian refugees "under any pretext," including a final status agmt. (JT [Internet], MM 7/10; JT 7/14 in WNC 7/18)

IDF soldiers open fire on a Palestinian car nr. Kafr Darom settlement in Gaza, killing a woman, wounding 5 others. The IDF says the shooting was an accident. (NYT 7/10; WJW 7/13; MEI 7/14)

In Gaza, the PLOCC empowers the PLOEC to declare a Palestinian state and "realize its sovereignty over" the territories occupied by Israel in 1967 at "the conclusion of the interim period next 13 September," whether or not a final status agmt. has been reached. Israel has warned that it might respond to a unilateral declaration of statehood by annexing large areas of the West Bank. (MM, NYT, WT 7/4; CSM, MM, NYT 7/5; SA 7/5 in WNC 7/6; AYM 7/5 in WNC 7/11; DUS 7/12 in WNC 7/17; MEI 7/14)

Pres. Clinton phones Arafat, Barak to discuss a possible 3-way summit mtg. on final status issues. (MM, WP 7/4)

Overnight, the PSF raids Amari refugee camp nr. Ramallah, arrests a Palestinian man and several accomplices in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman on 7/1. The PA immediately convenes a security court, which sentences the man to death by hanging. Angry residents of Amari march to Ramallah, clash with the PSF. An exchange of gunfire leaves 15 wounded. (LAW 7/3; NYT 7/4; AYM 7/4 in WNC 7/6; HA [Internet], PR [Internet] 7/5; MEI 7/14)

The Knesset passes (52-43, with 7 abstentions) the 1st reading of a bill that would reduce the amount of time ultra-Orthodox students must attend yeshiva to be exempted fr. military service. PM Barak only backed the legislation after Shas threatened to quit the coalition if the bill was not sent to the Knesset for vote. (MM 7/3; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/4; MA 7/4 in WNC 7/5; WJW 7/6; MEI 7/14) (see 6/21)

In Gaza, the PLOCC opens a 2-day session to discuss the PA-Israeli talks, unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state. Planning M Nabil Shaath, who heads the PLO's constitution drafting comm., presents PLOCC mbrs. with the comm.'s initial draft constitution. (WT 7/3; AYM, DUS 7/3 in WNC 7/5; AYM 7/4 in WNC 7/10; SA 7/5 in WNC 7/6; WJW 7/6; MEI 7/14)

Arafat goes to Paris to assess French support for a unilateral declaration of statehood. (al-Quds 7/2, Le Monde 7/4 in WNC 7/5; MEI 7/14; SA 7/15 in WNC 7/18)

In Ramallah, a Palestinian woman is fatally shot in a dispute btwn. her brother and another man over a stolen car. The shooting sparks riots in the city, including looting, shooting, arson of 2 restaurants. (LAW 7/2; NYT 7/4; AYM 7/4 in WNC 7/6)

In Shiraz, an Iranian court issues its verdict in the case of 13 Iranian Jews accused of spying for Israel. 10 defendants are found guilty, sentenced to terms ranging from 4-13 yrs. 3 others are acquitted. 2 Muslim accomplices are sentenced to 2 yr. terms. 2 other Muslims are acquitted. Barak calls for international pressure on Iran to release the 10 Jews to Israel. (IRNA, LPA 7/1 in WNC 7/3; NYT, WP, WT 7/2; MM, WP, WT 7/3; IRNA 7/5 in WNC 7/6; WJW 7/6; JP 7/7; MM 7/11)

In Washington, PA Local Government M Erakat meets with Undersecy. of State Thomas Pickering; says that the U.S. is working on a new initiative, based on a "package deal," to help restart peace talks. Pickering later meets with PM Netanyahu's political adviser Uzi Arad to discuss issues pertaining to Iran, Syria. (MM, WT 7/21; MM 7/22; WJW 7/24; MEI 7/25)

In Nablus, PA court opens the trial of 3 mbrs. of Force 17, 1 civilian on charges of kidnapping, collaboration with Israel. The prosecution charges that the 4 men, under orders fr. Israeli intelligence, kidnapped, assaulted several Nablus residence in a bid to "wreck the reputation of the [PA] security forces." Evidence is not made public. (AFP 7/19 in WNC 7/29) (see 7/3)

Syria halts broadcasts, closes offices of the Voice of Iraq Iraqi opposition radio, which has operated in Damascus for 17 yrs. (AFP 7/20 in WNC 7/29; SA 7/24 in WNC 7/25; MEI 8/8) (see 7/13)

Jordanian military court finds Daqamsa guilty of killing 7 Israeli girls, wounding 7 on 3/13 but rules out premeditation (which caries the death penalty); sentences him to life in prison with hard labor. (NYT, WT 7/20; MM 7/21; JP 7/26) (see 6/16)

Jordan's CPPA adopts decision to boycott 11/97 elections. All assn. reps. attending (Agronomists Assn., Bar Assn., Engineers Assn., Dentists Assn., Contractors Assn., Geologists Assn., Nurses Assn., Veterinarians Assn., Pharmacists Assn., Physicians Assn., Writers League) approve the decision. Reps. of the Auditors Assn., Press Assn. do not attend. (al-Ra'i 7/20 in WNC 7/22; MM 7/22) (see 7/15)