The Palestine Chronology

Israeli aircraft strike an alleged Islamic Jihad training camp deep inside Syria, just 10 mi. northwest of Damascus in ‘Ayn Sahib, injuring at least 1 security guard. Israel says the attack is in response to the 10/4 suicide bombing, in which it claims Syria played a “detailed role in orchestrating.” Syria denies this, denounces the strike as a “grave escalation,” says its response will be diplomatic. (The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine–General Command [PFLP-GC] says ‘Ayn Sahib is its fmr. training base, which is no longer active; says the site was patrolled by 1 civilian guard, who was injured.) The U.S. says that “we have repeatedly told the government of Syria that it is on the wrong side in the war on terror and that it must stop harboring terrorists.” Bush phones Sharon after the attack on Syria, expresses condolences on the 10/4 bombing, agrees with Sharon on “the need to continue fighting terrorism,” does not criticize Israel’s strike. (AFP, IDF Radio, MENA, VOI, XIN 10/5 in WNC 10/7; XIN 10/5, AN, ATL, DS, DUS, IRNA, JT, MENA, QA, al-Ra’i, THWR, TSHR, VIRI, XIN 10/6 in WNC 10/8; SATN 10/5 in WNC 11/8; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/6; NHR 10/6, AN, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, SA, SFR, THWR, TSHR 10/7 in WNC 10/9; SFR 10/6, THWR, TSHR 10/8 in WNC 10/11; SANA, SARR, SATN 10/6, SANA, SATN 10/7 in WNC 11/11; MM 10/7; AFP, AYM, DUS, HA, ITARTASS, JT, MA, MENA, NHR, al-Quds, al-Ra’i, SFR, YA 10/7 in WNC 10/10; MM, PR 10/8; MM, WJW 10/9; MEI 10/10; PR 10/15; JPI 10/17; NHR 10/17 in NC 10/23)

Arafat declares a 30-day state of emergency in the occupied territories, issues a presidential decree appointing a 9-mbr. emergency cabinet, with Qurai‘, negotiating a regular cabinet since 9/10, as PM. The emergency cabinet is to serve for 1 mo. (VOP 10/5 in WNC 10/7; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/6; VOP 10/6 in WNC 10/8; WP 10/7; VOI, VOP 10/7 in WNC 10/9; AYM 10/7 in WNC 10/10; PR 10/8; PSCT 10/9 in WNC 10/11; MEI 10/10)

In the occupied territories, the IDF fires on Palestinians attempting to bypass a new checkpoint separating Rafah and Khan Yunis (imposed after the 10/4 bombing), killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 3; begins bulldozing Palestinian land nr. Morag settlement, 100 dunams nr. Hebron; demolishes 19 Palestinian homes in Rafah, 2 in Jenin (including the home of the 10/4 bomber’s family). (HA, NYT, WP 10/6; PCHR 10/7, 10/9)

IDF Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Shahak authorizes the IDF to redraw redeployment maps. (JP 10/31 in FBIS 10/31)

On sidelines of Amman summit, Arafat meets with Swiss Economics M Franz Blancard, Chinese 1st Dep. FM Vian Tenri Pe. (VOP 10/30 in FBIS 10/30)

On his return fr. the summit, Secy. of State Christopher stops in Damascus to meet with Pres. Asad. (MM 10/30; SARR 10/30 in FBIS 10/30; SARR 10/30 in FBIS 10/31; CSM, MM, WT 10/31; QY 10/31 in FBIS 11/1)

In response to threats fr. Islamic Jihad following Shiqaqi's assassination 10/26, IDF raises the age limit for Palestinians entering Israel to 35 yrs; bars entry to all students, vehicles. Meanwhile, 1000s of Islamic Jihad supporters hold protest at Netzarim junction. (VOP 10/30 in FBIS 10/31; MM, WT 10/31; WP 11/1)

Following Qaddafi's temporary halt to expulsions (announced 10/25), around 750 Palestinians are allowed to return to Libya fr. Egypt. (AFP 10/30 in FBIS 10/31)

Amman economic summit opens. (JT, JTV, MENA, QY, VOA 10/29 in FBIS 10/30; NYT 10/30; WP 11/1; MEI 11/3)

In Amman, Secy. of State Christopher meets with PM Rabin, FM Peres to discuss Syrian-Israeli negotiations. (SARR 10/30 in FBIS 10/31)

In Amman, King Hussein meets with Secy. of State Christopher, Russian FM Kozyrev, Israeli PM Rabin, FM Peres. (JTV 10/29 in FBIS 10/30; JTV 10/30 in FBIS 10/31)

Islamic Jihad selects new head--Ramadan Abdallah Shallah, 40-yr.-old religious speaker, who received economics and political science degrees in England, U.S. In Gaza, Hebron Palestinians protest Shiqaqi assassination. (QPAR, QY 10/29 in FBIS 10/30; NYT, WP, WT 10/30; MM, WT 10/31; CSM, WP, WT 11/1; WJW 11/2)

Israeli navy fires on 5 fishing boats operating off the coast of Tyre, Lebanon; abduct 3 fishermen fr. 1 boat, interrogates them for several hours. (RL, VOL 10/29 in FBIS 10/30) (see 10/10)

In Damascus, Pres. Asad meets with EU delegation. (SATN 10/28, SARR 10/29 in FBIS 10/30; SARR 10/28 in FBIS 10/31)

3-day Jerusalem Business Conference opens. On sidelines, Arafat meets with U.S. Commerce Secy. Ron Brown. (VOP 10/28 in FBIS 10/31; HA, QY 10/29 in FBIS 11/3)

IDF are put on alert in wake of Shiqaqi assassination. PM Rabin, Israeli officials do not affirm, deny Mossad responsibility, but welcome killing; say they hope the disarray within Islamic Jihad will last through Palestinian elections, perhaps Israeli elections. (QY 10/29 in FBIS 10/30; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/30)

In New York, Syrian FM Shara` meets with the State Dept. peace team. U.S. special envoy Ross gives Shara` U.S. ideas for resuming negotiations to transmit to Pres. Asad. (SATN 10/24 in FBIS 10/25; MM 11/26)

Israel, Jordan sign agmt. on cooperation btwn. police forces. (QY 10/24 in FBIS 10/24)

Congress approves new version of bill on moving U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Congress rushed to pass the bill before PM Rabin's, Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert's arrival 10/25, for Jerusalem 3000 celebrations in Washington (see 9/4). (MM, WT 10/24; AFP, QY, RMC, VOP 10/24, JP, QY, SARR 10/25 in FBIS 10/25; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/25; HA, MENA, QY, RJ, RL, SARR, VOP 10/25, RJ, VOA, VOP 10/26 in FBIS 10/26; NYT 10/26; CSM 10/27; PWR 10/30; MEI 11/3)

 1st UN convoy arrives in Libyan-Egyptian border camp to deliver food, clothing, blankets to 1,036 Palestinians detained there. (WT 10/25)

In s. Lebanon, PFLP-GC loses 2 mbrs in attack on SLA outpost. (VOL 10/24 in FBIS 10/25)

On his way to prisoners talks, PSF head Col. Rajub is detained by Israeli border police, who confiscate his identity card, order him back to Jericho. (QY 10/19 in FBIS 10/19; QY 10/19 in FBIS 10/20)

Lebanese parliament approves (110-11, 6 abstentions) constitutional amendment, allowing Pres. Hrawi to extend his term for 3 yrs. (MM 10/19; RL 10/19, SARR 10/20 in FBIS 10/20; MM, WT 10/20; MEI 11/3)

Shoval sends petition signed by 1000s of Israelis to Clinton, Congress. (QY 10/15 in FBIS 10/16) (see 10/11)

In 2d attack in s. Lebanon in 3 days, Hizballah detonates land mine as IDF patrol passes, killing 6 soldiers, seriously wounding 1. Israeli ships shell Hizballah targets, IDF reinforcements move in fr. n. Israel. (IDF Radio, ITV, QY, RL, SARR, VOL 10/15 in FBIS 10/16; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/16; QY 10/15 in FBIS 10/17; WT 10/17; MM, NYT 10/18; JP, WP 10/28)

In Iraq's national referendum, Saddam Hussein wins 99.96% of the vote. (NYT, WP 10/15; CSM 10/16, 10/17)

Egyptian Pres. Mubarak meets with Pres. Asad in Damascus. (MM 10/10; SARR 10/10 in FBIS 10/10; SARR, SATN 10/10 in FBIS 10/11; MM 10/11; JP 10/21)

Donors' Joint Liaison Comm. (JLC) convenes in Gaza. (VOP 10/10 in FBIS 10/12; PWR 10/16)

IDF withdraws fr. 1st West Bank village, Salfit; starts dismantling training camp in Dotan, nr. Janin. (MM 10/10; VOP 10/10 in FBIS 10/10; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/11; VOP 10/10, QY 10/11 in FBIS 10/11; MM 10/16; BT 10/19; JP 10/21)

Israel begins releasing Palestinian prisoners. 20 Iraqi defectors (see 9/8) are also turned over to PA custody. (MM 10/10; QY 10/10 in FBIS 10/10; IDF Radio, ITV 10/10, QY 10/11 in FBIS 10/11; PR 10/13) (see 10/8)

At a gathering in their honor, immigrants fr. the U.S., other English-speaking countries shout down PM Rabin, prevent him fr. giving his keynote speech for 10 minutes, in protest over his peace policies. (MM 10/11; WT 11/9)

In Damascus, Syrian Pres. Asad's son, Bashar al-Asad, meets with Hizballah Secy. Gen. Hasan Nasrallah to discuss regional political changes, current situation in Lebanon, Israeli occupation of s. Lebanon. (RL 10/11 in FBIS 10/11)

10 IDF reserve soldiers say they will refuse to respond to their call-up orders because the Oslo II agmt. is against their moral beliefs. IDF says refusing to serve is crime, those who ignore their orders will be charged. (QY 10/10 in FBIS 10/10)

Off the coast of s. Lebanon, IDF gunboats fire on Lebanese fishing vessels. (RL 10/10 in FBIS 10/10) (see 9/6)

European Community (EC) delegation headed by German FM Helmut Schiffer arrives in Damascus for 3 days of discussions with Syrian government officials regarding peace process, EC financial aid to Syria, Syrian-EC relations. (SARR 10/29, Syrian Television 10/29, 10/30 in FBIS 11/2)

Israeli PM Rabin, Israeli officials express displeasure with Syrian Pres. al-Asad's lack of movement, refusal to condemn terrorism during Clinton visit. (NYT, WP 10/29; MEI 11/4)

Pres. Clinton leaves Israel for Kuwait, Saudi Arabia. (NYT, WP, WT 10/29)

PM Rabin asks Arafat to tell Hamas Israel is willing release movement's spiritual leader, Shaykh Yasin, in exchange for kidnapped IDF soldier. Hamas gives no definitive response. (QY 10/14 in FBIS 10/17; JP, WT 10/15)

U.S. Secy. of State Christopher arrives in Damascus fr. Kuwait for 2 days of talks with Pres. al-Asad. (SARR 10/13 in FBIS 10/14)

Senior Hamas official, Ibrahim al-Yazuri, says kidnappers of IDF soldier are acting without approval from leadership, Izzeddin al-Qassam brigades "belong to Hamas but operate alone. No one gives them instructions . . . ." (HA 10/13 in FBIS 10/14)

Hamas delegation meets with Lebanese Chamber of Deps. Speaker Nabih Birri to discuss Palestinian-Israeli peace process, Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. (RL 10/13 in FBIS 10/14)

Arafat recalls PSF head Col. Rajub fr. Egypt to help deal with Hamas, kidnapping. (QY 10/13 in FBIS 10/14)

U.S. dispatches 4,000 troops to Kuwait, puts forces on alert as 14,000 Iraqi Republican Guards move toward Basra. The move, which places 64,000 prime Iraqi troops nr. Kuwaiti border, is seen as tactical attempt by Saddam Hussein to pressure UN to lift sanctions. (NYT, WP 10/8; NYT, WP, WT 10/9)

Syrian FM al-Shara` meets Pres. Clinton in Washington, delivers letter fr. Pres. al-Asad reaffirming desire for peace with Israel in exchange for full, rapid withdrawal fr. Golan. (MM 10/7; SARR 10/7 in FBIS 10/12; NYT 10/8)

FM al-Shara` is 1st Syrian official to be interviewed on ITV, gives Israeli public Syria's view of peace. No new policy statements made, but Rabin considers interview "positive step." (ITV 10/7 in FBIS 10/11; MM 10/10, 10/11)

IDF issues guidelines on handling settlers, says soldiers confronting settlers should not use force unless situation is life-threatening, gives general in charge of regional command authority to order IDF into areas controlled by PNA to quell riots. (HA 10/7 in FBIS 10/7)

IDF says some 300 of the 550 released Palestinian prisoners living in Jericho have left the autonomous area, returned to West Bank. Both IDF, PSF will look for them. (JP 10/8)

Palestinian police issue order prohibiting bus companies fr. transporting groups organized by political factions without PNA approval. Rights groups say ban violates Palestinians' right to hold political gatherings. (QY 10/7 in FBIS 10/12)