The Palestine Chronology

In advance of the PLO Central Comm. (PLOCC) mtg. 9/9 and 10, 10s of Palestinian refugees in Beirut, Sidon attend demonstrations calling for the right of return. (Daily Star [Internet] 9/9)

In Bayt Furik in the West Bank, reps. of the Arab Liberation Front (ALF), Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Fatah, Hamas, the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front discuss the final status of Jerusalem; unanimously call on the PA to uphold the demand for Palestinian sovereignty over all of East Jerusalem. (AYM 9/9 in WNC 9/14)

In New York, Egyptian FM Musa holds a 2d 4-way mtg. on the final status of Jerusalem and inter-Islamic coordination with the FMs of Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia. Musa also discusses Jerusalem separately with FM Shara` of Syria, Pres. `Abd al-Rahman Wahid of Indonesia. (MENA 9/8 in WNC 9/12)

Arab Liberation Front, Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Fatah, FIDA, Palestinian Liberation Front, Palestinian People' Party (PPP), Palestinian Popular Struggle Front (PPSF), Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) hold unity mtg. in Ramallah, call on PA to hold municipal elections before the end of the yr., urge Palestinians to confront Israeli settlement construction. (HJ 6/10 in WNC 6/14)

Israeli mayor of Jerusalem Ehud Olmert announces bid to lead the Likud party. Other contenders to replace Netanyahu as party head are outgoing FM Sharon, outgoing Finance M Meir Shitreet. (WP, WT 6/9; MM 6/10; JP 6/18; MM 6/30)

Israel, the U.S. call on Iran to immediate release of 13 Iranian Jews who have been jailed since 4/99 on charges of spying for Israel. (MM 6/8; MM, NYT, WT 6/9; IRIB Television, IRNA, TT 6/9 in WNC 6/10; NYT 6/10; WT 6/11, 6/13; JP, MEI, NYT 6/18; GIU, WP 6/22; WP 6/23, 6/29; IRNA 6/30 in WNC 7/1; WJW 7/1; WP 7/3)

In an unprecedented attack, unidentified gunmen open fire on a Lebanese courtroom in Sidon, killing 3 judges, a prosecutor, wounding 5 others, but not freeing any of the defendants in the room. (NYT, WP, WT 6/9; RL, al-Safir 6/9 in WNC 6/10; NYT 6/11; RL 6/11 in WNC 6/14; al-Riyad, Tishrin 6/12 in WNC 6/15; al-Thawra 6/12 in WNC 6/16; MM 6/14; MEI 6/18, 7/16) (see 5/24)

U.S. Asst. Secy. Indyk briefs ambs. of Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the UAE on the Wye agmt. (al-Akhbar, al-Ba'th, al-Jumhuriyya, MENA, RL 10/26, AFP 10/27 in WNC 10/28; MM, NYT, WP 10/27; MM 10/28; al-Ba'th 10/28 in WNC 11/2; al-Quds 10/28, SA 10/30, al-Ahram 11/2 in WNC 11/6; MM 10/29, 10/30; MM 11/2; WP 11/6)

In the Knesset, PM Netanyahu survives no-confidence motion, but Knesset Law Comm. agrees (9-7) to hear 1st reading of bill calling for the dissolution of parliament, new elections in 100 days. MKs criticize Netanyahu for linking Pollard with the peace process. (CSM, WP, WT 10/27)

In Gaza, the Arab Liberation Front, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Islamic National Salvation Party, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) issue statement denouncing the Wye agmt. (MENA 10/26 in WNC 10/27; PR 10/30)

200 Jewish settlers hold rally outside PM Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem, protesting the Wye agmt. At least 24 are detained by Israeli police. (ITV 10/26 in WNC 10/27; WP 10/27; YA 10/27 in WNC 10/28; MM 10/28)

Jordan, Israel begin long-delayed $1.65-m. joint project to build the `Adasiyya diversion wall to diver Yarmuk River water. (JT, RJ 10/27 in WNC 10/28; JP 211/9)

An Israeli settler is killed in Israeli-controlled Hebron in an apparent attack by Palestinians. IDF places curfew on Palestinians in Hebron's Israeli-controlled zone. Later, the body of a Palestinian is found outside Itamar settlement nr. Nablus. An anonymous caller claims Palestinian was killed to avenge the settler's death. (IDF Radio, ITV 10/26 in WNC 10/27; ITV 10/26 in WNC 10/28; CSM, LAW, MM, NYT, WP 10/27; MM 10/28; WJW 10/29; PR 10/30)

In Ramallah, Palestinians observe general strike, 100s of Fatah mbrs. march to protest 10/25 events, call on Arafat to punish security services. (NYT, WP 10/27; PR 10/30)

International experts submit final report Iraqi missile fragments to the UNSC, say results are inconclusive. Tests by Switzerland show no traces of VX; 1 sample in the 3d test by France shows traces of nerve agent that could be VX. French, Swiss, U.S. tests all show traces of unknown compound that could mask biological agents. (NYT, WP 10/27; MEI 10/30) (6/22)

U.S. says that a UN proposal to try the Pan Am bombing suspects in the Hague under Scottish law, tentatively agreed to by all parties, is in jeopardy because of Libyan demands that the 2 suspects not be imprisoned in Scotland if found guilty. (WP 10/27; WT 10/28) (see 9/29)

Shootout in al-Burayj camp, Gaza Strip, btwn. PFLP and pro-Arafat wing of ALF leaves 2 Palestinians dead. (MM 1/11)

PLO Chmn. Arafat, in Washington, breakfasts with 20 U.S. senators, appeals for U.S. loan guarantees for Palestinian entity and end to legislation restricting PLO activities in U.S. He then speaks to National Press Club luncheon and travels to New York for 1st visit to UN since 1974. (NYT 9/15)

Jordanian Amb. to U.S. Fayez Tarawneh and Israeli negotiator Eliakim Rubinstein, in Washington, sign "common agenda" for further negotiations. (NYT 9/15)

Israeli PM Rabin, returning fr. U.S., stops in Morocco for surprise meeting with King Hassan II. After 2 hours of talks, Rabin calls visit "a step toward diplomatic relations"; Hasan, head of ICO's Jerusalem Comm., calls PLO-Israel agreement "astep toward abetter future." (MM 9/14; NYT, WP 9/15)

PLO Pol. Dept. head Faruq Qaddumi holds talks in Baghdad with Iraqi Dep. PM Tariq 'Aziz, other Iraqi officials. Meanwhile, PFLP chief Habash meets in Damascus with Syrian VP Khaddam, who promisesupport for Palestinian "national righto a state with Jerusalem asits capital." (MM 9/15)

PFLP-GC, "unified leadership" of PFLP and DFLP, ALF all issue statements rejecting DoP. (QPAR, SANA, INA 9/14 in FBIS 9/14)

Baha al-Din al-Najr, 19, presumed Hamas activist, dies in suicide bomb attack on Gaza City police station. Also in Gaza, Ismail Sheber, 21, attempts to stab IDF soldier and is shot dead. Closure imposed on Gaza Strip by IDF 9/15-19. (IDF Radio 9/14 in FBIS 9/14; NYT, WP 9/15)

In Beirut, 15,000 (Hizballah claims 150,000) attend funeral of 8 Hizballah mbrs. killed 9/13 by Lebanese soldiers during demonstration against PLO-Israel accord. Hizballah leader Shaykh Hasan Nasrallah calls for resignation ofPM Rafiq Hariri's govt. over incident. (MM 9/14; NYT 9/15)

IDF and Border Police clash with Palestinian demonstrators throughout o.t., wounding 62 and killing 1 (in Bayta, W. Bank). Thousands march from Red Cross headquarters to the Civad building in Gaza City in solidarity with prison hunger strikers; ensuing clash wounds 41. Similar clashes erupt in Janin and E. Jerusalem. (MM 10/12; Qol Yisra'el 10/11 in FBIS 10/13)

Chmn. Arafat meets with King Hussein in Amman. (Radio Jordan 10/10 in FBIS 10/13)

The PFLP, DFLP, Popular Struggle Front, and Arab Liberation Front call for postponement of PLO Central Council meeting, scheduled to convene 10/15 in Tunis. (Algiers VOP 10/11 in FBIS 10/13

EC grants ECU 29 million (about $35 million) for o.t. housing projects to Palestinian delegation's Housing Council. Accord sets precedent of intl. actor dealing directly with the o.t. as a distinct political entity. EC rep. Thomas Dupla meets with Dani Rothschild, coordinator of Israeli govt. activities in the o.t., who indicated that state-owned lands may be for the firstime allocated for Palestinian housing needs. (Al Hamishmar 7/9 in FBIS 7/9; MM 7/9)

Ten Palestinians are hospitalized in Gaza Strip as a result of Hamas-Fateh violence. IDF imposes curfew on Rafah. (WP 7/10)

Reps. of National Reconciliation Committee (NRC-4 Fateh and Hamas mbrs. each, 3 W. Bank leaders, 3 Palestinian Israelis) meet with Hamas leaders at Haydar 'Abd al-Shafi's home in Gaza, meet later with Fateh leaders at Red Crescent Society to investigate and halt violence in Gaza Strip. (MM 7/9)

Undercover IDF soldier is killed accidently by another undercover unit near Barta, W. Bank. (Qol Yisra'el 7/9 in FBIS 7/9)

Outgoing Fin. Min. Yitzhak Modai rejects all demands by housing min. officials to expedite his signature on 1,000's of new o.t. contracts-does not want to "impose a fait accompli" on new govt. Move rescinds 7/5 agreement with housing min. (IDF Radio 7/8 in FBIS 7/8)

Islamic World League issues statement in Mecca urging end to Fateh-Hamas violence in Gaza Strip. (SPA 7/8 in FBIS 7/9)

Fateh, PFLP, Arab Liberation Front, DFLP, and Palestinian People's Party issue statement warning Hamas to halt "attacks and excesses." (Algiers VOP 7/9 in FBIS 7/10; Sanaa VOP 7/10 in FBIS 7/13)

Number of military officers purged and/or executed by Iraqi Pres. Saddam Hussein since 6/29 reported coup attempt estimated at 200. (NYT 7/9)

PLO Central Council concludes meeting in Tunis after heated discussions over whether Palestinians should continue participating in peace process. Council eventually issues resolution expressing support for continuing participation but linking participation in multilaterals with progress in bilateral negotiations. Council also decides that Palestinians will reevaluate participation in the peace process in October 1992. In wake of criticism of PLO leadership, Council also creates committee to study internal PLO structures. Nayif Hawatima, head of one faction of DFLP and who had been pushing for reevaluation of PLO policy toward peace talks and for reforms within PLO, expresses dissatisfaction with results of meeting [DFLP-Hawatima faction, PFLP, Arab Liberation Front voted against the resolution]. (Tunisian Republic Radio, Radio Monte Carlo 5/10 in FBIS 5/11; Voice of Palestine 5/11 in FBIS 5/13; MM 5/11)

Egyptian FM 'Amr Musa states no progress can be made in multilateral talks until bilateral talks lead to peace treaties. (MM 5/11)

King Hussein announces he will personally donate $8.25 million to restore al-Aqsa mosque in E. Jerusalem. Hussein intends to sell a country home in Britain to raise the funds [see 5/5]. (Radio Jordan 5/11 in FBIS 5/13; NYT 5/14; Radio Jordan 5/20 in FBIS 5/21)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Spokesman says Pres. Herzog intends to commute life sentences of 3 Jews convicted of murdering Palestinian students during 1982 raid on Islamic College in Hebron [NYT 3/18].

Arab World: PLO Chairman Arafat arrives in Algiers to inform Pres. Ben Jadid formally of agreement between Fateh, DFLP, the Palestinian Communist party, the Arab Liberation Front, and the Palestine Liberation Front to hold the 18th session of the Palestine National Council in an effort to reunite the PLO [NYT 3/18].