The Palestine Chronology

U.S. Asst. Secy. of State Walker arrives in Egypt for a mtg. with Pres. Mubarak. This is Walker's 1st stop a 15-day trip to Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, and the UAE to urge Arab leaders to put pressure on Arafat to accept compromises on Jerusalem. (MM 7/31; MENA 7/31 in WNC 8/1; MM 8/1; WT 8/2; WJW 8/3; DUS 8/6 in WNC 8/7)

PM Barak survives Knesset votes (50-50, with 8 abstentions, 12 MKs absent; 53-48) on 2 no-confidence motions. (MM 7/31; NYT, WT 8/1)

The Knesset elects (63-57) the relatively obscure Iranian-born Likud MK Moshe Katsav over One Israel MK Shimon Peres, a 3-time PM and Nobel laureate, to replace Weizman as pres. Israeli public opinion polls prior to the vote showed Peres as the popular choice over Katsav by 63% to 20%, with 17% undecided. Katsav captured the votes of Sephardic and Russian MKs (with Shas voting as a bloc for him) because of his Sephardic background and of ultra-Orthodox MKs, who voted for him as a protest to Barak, who openly favored Peres. (MM 7/31; ATL 7/31 in WNC 8/1; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/1; ATL 8/1, SA 8/2 in WNC 8/3; WJW 8/3; JP, WP 8/11)

Acting on a tip, Israeli police arrest a Jewish resident of Jerusalem found with 3 rifles and a great deal of ammunition in his car. Police suspect he was en route to the West Bank to sell the arms, ammunition to settlers planning an attack on Palestinian targets. (MA 8/1 in WNC 8/2)

At Camp David, PA, Israeli teams break into smaller groups to discuss core issues. The White House says discussions are tense at times. Pres. Clinton meets separately with PM Barak, Arafat. Secy. of State Albright goes to Emmitsburg, MD, to meet with reps. of the DFLP, PPP, PPSF, who had requested to meet with Arafat; the U.S. said allowing them access to Camp David would be a violation of the ground rules. (White House press briefing 7/14; AYM 7/14, SA 7/22 in WNC 7/24; NYT, WP, WT 7/15; WP 7/16; SA 7/17, 7/18 in WNC 7/19; JP 7/21; MEI 7/28; SA 8/1 in WNC 8/3)

Reps. of SLA refugees Israel meet with Israeli DMin. officials to demand permanent housing, schooling for their children, health services. Separately, in Kiryat Shimona and Kiryat Gat, 100s SLA refugees protest their "terrible absorption" and "humiliation" by Israel, demand to return to Lebanon. (YA [Internet] 7/16)

Hamas, PA officials say that PA police have detained 40 Hamas activists in Gaza, 50 in the West Bank in the last few days on charges of plotting attacks on Israelis. (HJ, SA 8/26 in WNC 8/30; NYT, WP 8/27)

PA military court sentences to death Palestinian Ayman Abu Saada for fatally injuring PA police lt. Hani Abu Zayna during a confrontation btwn. 2 families on 8/23; Abu Zayna died on 8/25. Human rights groups denounce the summary trial, capital sentence. (PCHR 8/27; AYM 8/27 in WNC 8/30; LAW 8/28; JP, MEI 9/3)

Lebanese military court sentences 29 fmr. SLA mbrs. to prison terms of 6 mos. to 2 yrs. for collaboration with Israel. 83 of the 200 SLA mbrs. who surrendered when the SLA withdrew fr. Jazzin in 5+n6/99 have been convicted. (NYT 8/27)

Amal attacks an SLA patrol in s. Lebanon, wounding 2 SLA mbrs. (RL, VOL 8/26 in WNC 8/27)

PM Netanyahu approves plan to expand Golan heights settlements. (HA [Internet], IGPO, MM 8/20; JT 8/20 in WNC 8/26; WT 8/21; SA 8/21 in WNC 8/24; PR 8/28; ITV 9/4 in WNC 9/9)

PM Netanyahu agrees to send his political adviser Uzi Arad to represent Israel at Norway's celebrations marking the Oslo agmt.'s 5th anniversary. (IGPO 8/19) (see 8/9)

IDF demolishes 15 Palestinian homes nr. Hebron. (IDF Radio 8/19 in WNC 8/20; WP 8/20; LAW 8/21)

Hizballah detonates roadside bomb in s. Lebanon, killing 1 IDF solider, wounding 4. (RL 8/19 in WNC 8/20; IGPO, MM 8/20)

In Marsa Matruh, Egyptian pres. Husni Mubarak meets with Arafat on the peace process, possible international summit. (MENA 8/18 in WNC 8/19; ESC Television 8/29 in WNC 8/20)

PA bans visits by Jews to Joseph's Tomb in Nablus after Jewish settlers, allowed by the IDF regional cmdr. to stay in the tomb for 1 mo. to observe a mourning period for 2 Yitzhar settlers killed 8/5, announce that they are going to establish a permanent settlement there. (MM 8/19; MEI, PR 9/4)

Numerous media reports claim that Egypt has arrested Fatah Revolutionary Council leader Sabri al-Banna (Abu Nidal) in Cairo, but Egypt denies them. Abu Nidal is known for staging lethal attacks on Israeli, Jewish, PLO targets in the 1970s, 1980s. (MM 8/18; HA, MA, YA in IGPO 8/18; al-Quds, SA 8/24 in WNC 8/26; MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/26; MENA 8/26 in WNC 8/27; NYT 8/27; WT 8/31; MEI 9/4; AFP 9/12) (see 8/18)

In s. Lebanon, 2 IDF soldiers are killed in clash with Hizballah. (RL 8/18 in WNC 8/19)

U.S. special envoy Ross meets with Arafat in Ramallah, Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Taking Secy. of State Albright's lead (8/6), Ross adopts the Israeli demand that the PA take the 1st steps to revive the peace process in return promising more aggressive U.S. mediation. In the evening, PA, Israeli security officials meet with Ross, Arafat, Netanyahu envoy Molho present. (NYT, WP, WT 8/10; MM 8/11; JP, MA 8/11 in WNC 8/12; JP 8/16)

1 IDF soldier is killed, 3 are wounded clash with Hizballah in s. Lebanon. In a separate incident, 8 katyusha rockets land in s. Lebanon, wounding 2 civilians, damaging an orphanage. Israel blames Hizballah, which denies the charge. (ITV, RL 8/10, AFP, SA 8/11 in WNC 8/12; MM, NYT 8/11)

ILMG convenes to discuss 5 Lebanese, 6 Israeli complaints regarding deaths, injury of civilians during attacks since 8/4. (RL 8/12 in WNC 8/12; RL 8/13 in WNC 8/15)

U.S. Secy. of State Albright endorses PM Netanyahu's plan for accelerated final status talks with the PA, stresses that no progress can be made until Israel is certain that the PA is making 100% effort to fight "terrorism"; says that she will travel to the region at the end of the mo. (MM 8/6; ITV, QY 8/6 in WNC 8/7; NYT, WP, WT 8/7; IDF Radio, IGPO, ITV, MA, YA 8/7, Hatzofe 8/8 in WNC 8/8; MM, NYT 8/8; NYT 8/9; al-Thawra 8/9, IDF Radio 8/10 in WNC 8/12)

Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan, PM Majali meet with PM Netanyahu in Jerusalem. The crown prince terms the Israeli-Palestinian situation a "very dangerous crisis," recommends Israel adopt a softer line with the Palestinians, invites Netanyahu to visit Amman next wk. (MM, NYT 8/6; ITV, JTV, RJ, YA 8/6 in WNC 8/7; CSM 8/7; MA 8/7 in WNC 8/8; al-Ra'i 8/7 in WNC 8/11)

In Amman, King Hussein meets delegation fr. Israel's Histadrut Labor federation. (JTV 8/6 in WNC 8/8)

The U.S. group Builders for Peace, initiated by VP Al Gore to promote economic development in the territories, announces it is closing its doors, saying that "political conditions in the region . . . render the prospects of success for any given project remote." (Builders for Peace press release 8/6)

For the first day since the 7/30 bombings, Israel allows flour, vital goods, medical supplies to enter the West Bank, Gaza. (NYT 8/7; WT 8/8)

A delegation fr. the Syrian Chamber of Commerce travels to Iraq to discuss trade contracts under the UN oil-for-food agmt. (SA 8/7 in WNC 8/8; al-Quds al-Arabi 8/8 in WNC 8/11) (see 8/3)

IDF sends reinforcements to s. Lebanon. (RL 8/6 in WNC 8/7)

5 UNIFIL soldiers are killed when their helicopter crashes in s. Lebanon. UN suspects mechanical failure. (AFP, London Press Association 8/6, RL 8/7 in WNC 8/8; WP 8/7; JP 8/16)

In s. Lebanon, 1 SLA soldier is killed when Hizballah detonates a roadside bomb as his car passes. Hizballah also fires several katyushas toward n. Israel, but they land in s. Lebanon, causing no injuries. (MM 8/7; Voice of the South 8/7 in WNC 8/8; MM 8/8)

Lebanon files claim with ILMG regarding death of a civilian in s. Lebanon 8/5. (VOL 8/6 in WNC 8/7)

Unidentified assailants fire 4 tracer bullets at IDF Maj. Gen. Matan Vilna'i's helicopter as it overflies the Palestinian village of Salfit in the West Bank. IDF has no leads. (ITV 7/24 in WNC 7/28)

Jordanian administration meets with Muslim Brotherhood officials to try to avoid an election boycott; issues royal decree stating that elections will be held on schedule. (MM 7/23, 7/24; JT 7/24 in WNC 7/25; Star 7/24 in WNC 7/28; MM 7/25) (see 7/19)

Israel revokes Gaza police chief Brig. Gen. Jabali's VIP card. (ITV 7/23 in WNC 7/24) (see 7/20)

In keeping with the 9/17/96 press law, Lebanon's Council of Ministers issues new licenses for television, radio companies; orders authorities to shut down 5 television stations, 20 radio networks whose licenses are not renewed. (RL 7/24 in WNC 7/25; al-Nahar, RL 7/26 in WNC 7/29; SA 8/1 in WNC 8/4; RL 8/7, 8/8 in WNC 8/11)

4 SLA mbrs. are wounded in clash with Hizballah in s. Lebanon. (RL 7/24 in WNC 7/25)

PC weekly session opens 1 day early. (RMC 7/30, VOP 7/31 in FBIS 7/31; PR 8/2; SA 8/2 in FBIS 8/2; PR 8/9; JP 8/10)

Palestinian prisoner in PA custody, Mahmud Jumayil, is left brain dead, with skull fractures and burn marks, after alleged torture by PA coastal police at Jneid prison nr. Nablus. Another Palestinian jailed with Jumayil is missing. (NYT, WT 7/31; JP 8/1 in FBIS 8/1; CSM, MM, PR 8/2; Houston Chronicle 8/5; PR 8/9; MEI 8/16; WP 8/20)

Acting on information provided by the PSF on Arafat's orders, IDF finds nr. Tel Aviv the remains of a soldier kidnapped, killed 7 yrs. ago by Hamas. (ITV, QY 7/30 in FBIS 7/31; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/31; QY 7/31 in FBIS 8/1)

In s. Israel, bedouin fr. the Tarabin al-Sana tribe, protesting the confiscation of their land for the expansion of the Jewish town of Omer, attack Israeli police with stones, slingshots, wounding 39 officers. 37 bedouin are arrested. (WT 7/31; PR 8/2)

PC mbr. Zaki is rearrested. (VOP 7/30 in FBIS 7/31; VOP 8/1 in FBIS 8/1) (see 6/25)

In Frankfurt, 2 Palestinian refugees fr. s. Lebanon turn themselves in to German authorities, say they were involved in the Iberia hijacking 7/26, ask for political asylum. (NYT 7/31)

In Tunis, PLO Exec. Comm. opens 2-day mtg. to discuss Oslo B agmt. 10 of 18 mbrs. attend. PLO Dep. Qaddumi, PFLP, DFLP boycott. Fr. Amman, Qaddumi strongly criticizes Oslo B, calls on PLO, Fatah to adopt his alternative draft "Palestinian National Program." (AFP 8/12, AFP, al-Ra'y 8/14 in FBIS 8/14; SA 8/13, RMC, VOP 8/15 in FBIS 8/15; MM 8/15, 8/16; SA 8/16 in FBIS 8/16)

Israel says U.S. Amb. Indyk is pressuring it to include Jordanian companies in the U.S.-Israel BIRD Foundation for research and development of advanced technologies. (YA 8/14 in FBIS 8/15)

Israeli Police M Shahal warns PA that the East Jerusalem Municipal Council is illegal (see 6/10), Palestinians introducing themselves as mbrs. of the council will be arrested; tells Palestinian bodies operating offices in East Jerusalem to close within 2 wks or police will move against them. (QY 8/14 in FBIS 8/15)

Israeli police arrest 3 settlers in connection with death of Palestinian 8/13. 250 settlers protest the arrest. (QY 8/14 in FBIS 8/14; CSM 8/15)

In retaliation for attack 8/13, IAF launches 14 strikes against PFLP-GC bases nr. al-Nai'ma, s. Lebanon, injuring 6 civilians. Arab League calls on U.S., Russia to rein in Israel. (QPAR, RE 8/14 in FBIS 8/15; NYT 8/15; SARR 8/15 in FBIS 8/16)

IDF closes West Bank, Gaza until 8/16. (ITV 8/14 in FBIS 8/15)