The Palestine Chronology

PM Barak tells his cabinet that although he had made no new commitments to Syria in order to resume talks, he "would not erase" any promises made in previous negotiations under PMs Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, or Benjamin Netanyahu. (CSM, NYT, WP 12/14)

At the Knesset, PM Barak gives a speech, telling Israelis to prepare to pay "a heavy territorial price" for peace with Syria. After 7 hrs. of debate, MKs pass (47-31, with 24 abstentions, 18 absent) a vote of confidence giving Barak a mandate to negotiate with Syria. 1,000s of Golan settlers demonstrate outside. (CSM, MM, NYT, WP 12/14; CSM 12/15; WJW 12/16)

Russian dep. FM Sredin arrives in Amman for a 2-day visit. He discusses the peace process with the Russian rep. to the PA and Russian ambs. to Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria. (ITAR-TASS 12/14 in WNC 12/15)

In Bayt Awa, nr. Hebron, IDF commandos searching for 2 wanted Hamas mbrs. storm a house, killing 2 Palestinians, arresting 3. DM Efraim Sneh admits that there was a "contract" out for 1 of the men for killing an undercover Israeli border policeman in 1/99. (WT 12/14; NYT, WP 12/15; VIRI 12/15 in WNC 12/16; LAW 12/16; JP, MEI 12/24)

The U.S. reports the arrest in the Middle East of 13 mbrs. of a suspected terrorist group with links to Saudi dissident Osama Bin Laden that was believed to be planning New Year's attacks around the world. (NYT, WP 12/14; WT 12/15)

In Oslo, Norway opens ceremonies honoring slain Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin, attended by PA's Arafat, Israeli PM Barak, U.S. Pres. Clinton, Russian PM Vladimir Putin. On the sidelines, Clinton meets separately with Arafat and Barak, with no aides present; urges them to move swiftly toward a final status agmt. Toward midnight, Arafat, Barak hold private mtg. (MM 11/1; AFP, ITAR-TASS, SA, XIN 11/1 in WNC 11/2; MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/2; AYM, al-Quds 11/2 in WNC 11/4; WJW 11/4)

In Oslo, Israeli negotiator Eran, PA negotiator `Abid Rabbuh, UN special envoy Larsen discuss final status talks, agree that 1st negotiating session to draft framework agmt. will be held on 11/8, not 11/7 as planned on 10/29. (MM 11/1)

2 of 4 Jewish settler families are evacuated fr. Mitzpe Hagit, 1 of 10 settlements ordered removed by Barak. (WP 11/3)

In a compromise agmt. btwn. Israel's Chief Rabinate (an umbrella group of municipal rabbis) and Israel's tourism industry, Christians celebrating millennial holidays in Israel will have to confine their festivities to closed-off hotel halls to preserve the Jewish character of public places, particularly in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv. The ban includes displaying Christmas trees, which the Chief Rabinate claims "defile Judaism and undermine Israel's Jewish character." (WT 11/3)

At the close of 4 days of mtgs. in New York, 300 INC delegates elect a 65-mbr. central council, 7-mbr. leadership team (including "independents," Kurds, an Islamist, and a monarchist). (MM 11/1; MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/2)

In s. Lebanon, 4 civilians are injured, 2 by IDF shelling, 2 by an IDF land mine. (RL 11/1 in WNC 11/2, 11/3)