The Palestine Chronology

Gaza funeral of Muhammad Abu Sha'ban attracts over 2,000 mourners; message fr. PLO Chmn. Arafat calls on Palestinians "to reject violence and terrorism." (NYT, WT 9/23)

Egyptian Pres. Mubarak and Syrian Pres. al-Asad hold 3 hours of talks in Alexandria, agree Israel must pursue negotiations with Syria. Al-Asad foresees no early breakthrough in talks, while Mubarak insists "the Golan should be returned back to Syria" to secure peace. (MM 9/22; NYT 9/23)

Syrian VP Khaddam meets Sa'id Musa Muragha ("Abu Musa"), leader of Fateh-the Uprising, 1 of 10 Palestinian factions opposed to DoP. (RMC 9/22 in FBIS 9/24)

Association of Israeli-Palestinian Physicians for Human Rights petitions Israeli High Court of Justice to close Ketziot ("Ansar III") prison camp because of "inferior conditions of imprisonment" of Palestinians detained there. (MM 9/23)

Jordanian Min. of State Jawad al-Anani says Palestinians living in Jordan will not be allowed to vote in both Jordanian and o.t. elections, saying King Hussein and PLO Chmn. Arafat agreed to avoid "duplication." (MM 9/23)

PM Rabin warns of governing coalition's collapse as he sharply criticizes Education Min. Shulamit Aloni for her remarks on the Golan Heights, as well as for angering the ultra-Orthodox community with her secularist education program. (Qol Yisra'el 9/27 in FBIS 9/28; NYT, WP 9/28)

Over 3,000 Palestinian prisoners in 5 Israeli and 2 W. Bank jails embark on indefinite hunger strike to protest conditions in Israeli jails. (MM 9/28)

Iranian and UAE negotiators begin talks on status of Abu Musa island. (AFP 9/26, 9/27 in FBIS 9/28; MM 9/28)

Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton says recent Lebanese elections were not free and fair, and that withdrawal of Syria's 40,000-strong "occupying" force is essential to Lebanon's independence. (MM 9/29)

U.S. bipartisan Congressional Budget Office reports that limits of weapons sales to the Middle East could save the U.S. $10 billion a year, while costing U.S. arms manufacturers $3 billion a year. Sales of arms for domestic rather than foreign policy reasons thwart the peace process and can damage long-term regional stability. Report also details European arms sales estimates. (Reuters 9/27 in MM 9/28)

PM Rabin implies Israel is willing to return part of the Golan Heights to Syria, expresses tacit acceptance of "land-for-peace" regarding Golan in speech to Knesset. (NYT 9/10)

PFLP, PLF, DFLP (Nayif Hawatima wing), and Palestinian Popular Struggle Front reiterate 9/5 rejection of Palestinian autonomy plan in Damascus. (RMC 9/10 in FBIS 9/10)

Israeli undercover forces open fire on group of Palestinians near Janin, kill masked youth reading nationalist statement over a loudspeaker. (MM 9/9)

Gulf Cooperation Council ends 2-day meeting in Jidda, issues final statement strongly condemning Iranian claim of sovereignty over island of Abu Musa, which is UAE property. Statement also criticizes Iraq, offering tacit support of Western imposed "no-fly zone." The 6 GCC members then meet in Doha, Qatar, with FMs from Egypt and Syria to discuss their March 1991 Damascus Declaration. Egypt is taking the lead in calling for an Arab joint military command and rapid deployment force for the Gulf war coalition members. (MM 9/9; SPA 9/9 in FBIS 9/10)

SociaL/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Another 20 Palestinians are put under administrative detention [NYT, LT 9/4]. Military review board rejects appeals submitted by 3 West Bank Palestinians against deportation orders issued against them a week ago. They are expected to appeal to Israeli High Court [FT 9/4]. Shafiqa Abu Sitteh, 25, "accidentally" shot by Israeli soldier in the Gaza Strip last week, dies from her wounds in Beersheba Hospital [FJ 9/6]. Israeli army spokesman reports Iraeli navy seized another yacht, the Gandha, off the coast of southern Lebanon on 8/31, arresting 2 Palestinians, a Greek, and a Briton who were aboard. Spokesman states Palestinians confessed to being members of Fateh and to planning attack against targets inside Israel. Def. Min. Yitzhak Rabin states Israeli navy will intercept vessels anywhere in the Mediterranean to prevent attacks on Israeli targets [LT, CT, MG, JP 9/3]. Israeli Chief of Staff Moshe Levy tours Golan Heights and declares 2-kilometer-wide strip along demarcation line a closed military zone. Army is reportedly building new fortifications and strengthening forces in the Golan [FJ 9/6]. Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports a Modi'in Ezrachi poll shows 60% of Israeli adult public favor amnesty for imprisoned members of Jewish underground; 34% oppose it UTA 9/3].

Other Countries: New York Times reports U.S. administrations discussing convening a meeting of Western European states to sponsor direct Arab-Israeli negotiations as alternative to the international conference which King Hussein and PLO insist on, which would include the Soviet Union [JP 9/3].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Bomb explodes at bus stop at Gilo settlement, south of Jerusalem, wounding 6; 11 Palestinians are arrested [JP 9/3]. Abu Musa faction of Fateh reportedly claims responsibility [MG 9/3]. Unidentified people ambush settler's car in Gaza Strip; Israeli police say several bullets hit the car. Several Palestinians detained by police [Fl 9/6]. Stones thrown at Egged bus smash its windshield near Ramallah; 3 Palestinian youths detained and released [Fl 9/6].

Arab World: Gunmen seriously wound Hussayn al-Hayabi, 50, Palestinian guerrilla official loyal to Arafat, after storming his home in 'Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp. Hayabi is 7th Arafat loyalist attacked since July in 'Ain al-Hilweh, and only one to survive [BG,WP,MG 9/3].