The Palestine Chronology

The IDF temporarily lifts the curfew on Hebron; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, destroying 1 Palestinian home; bulldozes 3 Palestinian homes s. of Nablus; conducts arrest raids in Khan Yunis, Karabatha Bani Harith, Rafah (taking 8 Palestinians to Morag settlement for interrogation); temporarily detains, beats, confiscates the camera of Palestinian journalist for Reuters. Israel's National Religious Party (NRP) reports that 4 new settler bypass roads are under construction in the West Bank. (Hatzofe 8/18 in WNC 8/20; LAW, PCHR 8/21; PCHR 8/26)

In Tel Aviv, Israeli DM Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, PA Interior M `Abd al-Razzaq Yahya agree on implementation of Ben-Eliezer's Gaza First plan: the IDF is to withdraw fr. parts of Gaza and fr. Bethlehem within 48 hrs.; the PA is to take control of security in areas evacuated; if calm is maintained, Israel would extend the arrangement to Hebron. Israel makes no promises to halt assassinations, arrest raids, home demolitions; the PA makes no promises to make preventive arrests of mbrs. of opposition groups. National unity talks among the 12 Palestinian factions making up the National and Islamic Higher Coordinating Comm. of the Intifada (NIHC) reportedly continue in Gaza. (XIN 8/18 in WNC 8/20; MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/19; AFP 8/19, AYM 8/20 in WNC 8/21; MM 8/21; al-Quds 8/21 in WNC 8/22, 8/23; MM 8/22; MA 8/25 in WNC 8/26; JPI, MEI 8/30)

IDF continues operations in Ramallah, conducting house-to-house searches, arresting 27 Palestinians, occupying a PSF post and detaining 30 PSF officers, surrounding hospitals and PRCS offices, firing on 2 ambulances. The IDF also continues arrest raids in Hebron, sends troops in and out of Tulkarm repeatedly during the day. A mysterious predawn explosion at the home of a senior PA military intelligence official in Jabaliya injures 40 Palestinians; an ill Palestinian dies at a checkpoint nr. Jenin; a 2d Palestinian dies of injuries received on 5/28. (LAW, NYT, PRCS press release 6/10; NYT, UPMRC, WP, WT 6/11)

Sharon meets with Bush at the White House. Afterward, Bush says that the time is not yet ripe to begin working toward a final status agmt.; PA must first make reforms. Asked about Israel's ongoing incursions into Palestinian towns, Bush says "Israel has a right to defend herself." (HA, MM 6/10; MA, XIN 6/10 in WNC 6/11; AYM 6/10, MENA 6/11 in WNC 6/12; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/11; JT, QA, al-Quds 6/12 in WNC 6/13; MM, Jerusalem Times, WJW, WP 6/13; MENA 6/13 in WNC 6/14; MEI 6/14; MA 6/14 in WNC 6/16; MA 6/14 in WNC 6/17; MM 6/17; al-Quds 6/18 in WNC 6/19)

The YESHA settlers council launches a PR campaign to "stress the morality and justice of the Jews' right to the Land of Israel"; says it recently hired a company to handle overseas PR, organized a delegation to meet with U.S. congressmen and investors, held a seminar for settlement spokesman, published a brochure for settlers on how to deal with the media. (Hatzofe 6/10 in WNC 6/11)

Egyptian pres. Mubarak makes a surprise trip to Damascus to discuss the peace process with Pres. Asad. Mubarak urges Syria to coordinate its peace track with the PA, recommends holding an Arab summit. (MENA 1/22, JT, MENA 1/23 in WNC 1/24; MENA, SA 1/23, MENA 1/24, Tehran Times 1/25 in WNC 1/27; MM 1/24; AYM 1/25, 1/26 in WNC 1/28; MEI 1/28)

In Hebron, Jewish settlers throw stones at Palestinian taxis on Shuhada street to protest Palestinian access to the road. (Hatzofe 1/23 in WNC 1/24)

U.S., Israel hold final round of talks on how Israel would use the $1.2 b. in special assistance to implement the Wye agmt. U.S. reportedly would disburse the money when the IDF begins the remaining FRDs ordered under Wye. (Globes [Internet] 1/11 in WNC 1/13; Hatzofe 1/28 in WNC 1/29) (see 11/22)

National security agencies, senior advisers begin to send White House recommendations on Pollard clemency. Clinton has set no deadline on when he will make a decision. 60 Senators send letter to Pres. Clinton urging him not to reduce Pollard's sentence. (NYT 1/11; NYT, WP, WT 1/12; WJW, WT 1/14; MM 1/15; New Yorker 1/18; MM 1/21)

Likud elder statesman Moshe Arens emerges fr. political retirement to challenge his protege, Netanyahu, for the party's nomination for PM. In 1982, Arens hired Netanyahu, then a furniture salesman, as his political counselor in the Israeli emb. in Washington; promoted Netanyahu's career until his election as PM in 1996. Rafael Eitan will also challenge Netanyahu within Likud. DM Mordechai is considering a run. (MM 1/11; MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/12; MEI 1/15; JP 1/22)

Several Palestinians protesting continued closure of Hebron are injured in clash with the IDF. (al-Hayat al-Jadida [Internet] 1/12)

Kuwait puts its troops on high alert following the Iraqi parliament's approval 1/10 of a statement holding Saudi Arabia, Kuwait fully responsible for the 12/98 U.S.-led attack, reserving the right to seek compensation. Iraq also considered passing a statement revoking recognition of Kuwait's borders but did not. (NYT, WP 1/12; MENA 1/14 in WNC 1/16; MM 1/18)

U.S. fires missiles at 2 Iraqi air defense installations in after radar was turned on U.S. planes in the n. no-fly zone. (NYT, WP 1/12)

New pro-secular Turkish government under Pres. Demirel, PM Ecevit takes power, will govern until 4/18 general elections. (MM 1/11; NYT, WP 1/12; MEI 1/15)

Unnamed Western, Arab diplomats report that Syria is concentrating 3-4 army divisions at strategic points nr. Israel, including moving the 14th Special Forces Division to the Mount Hermon foothills, the 51st Division e. of Lebanon's Biqa` Valley. Syria says the redeployments are defensive. (WT 7/5)

Jordan announces that it has submitted to the World Bank 58 water sector proposals that would provide Jordan with 676 mcm of additional water fr. 1997 to 2000. (JT 7/5 in WNC 7/8)

IDF bans entry into the PA-controlled enclave of Hebron (H1) to prevent Palestinians fr. outside Hebron fr. entering H1 to take part in demonstrations. (Hatzofe 7/6 in WNC 7/8)

In Nablus, 30,000 Palestinians angered by distribution of anti-Muslim posters in Hebron stage protest, clash with IDF. Demonstrations also continue in Hebron, where the IDF wounds 6 Palestinians with live ammunition, 29 with rubber bullets. Netanyahu accuses Arafat of doing nothing to halt the protests. (NYT, WP, WT 7/5) (see 7/2)

In Ba'albeck, 10,000 Lebanese join the unauthorized "Revolution of the Hungry" demonstration called by fmr. Hizballah chief Shaykh Subhi Tufayli (who split with Hizballah Secy. Gen. Hassan Nasrallah in protest over Hizballah's decision to participate in the 1992, 1996 elections) to protest the government's economic policies, neglect of the Biqa` region. Lebanese army sends many troops, military police to monitor protesters. No clashes are reported. (MM 7/4; RL, RMC 7/4 in WNC 7/8; al-Safir 7/5 in WNC 7/9; al-Diyar 7/6 in WNC 7/11; MEI 7/11; MM 7/14; MEI 7/25)

Israel says that, under a Hebron deal, PA policemen may operate in H2 as part of joint mobile units. (Hatzofe 12/10 in WNC 12/11)

Jordanian Information M Marwan Mu`ashir begins 5-day trip to Tel Aviv, emphasizes Jordan's concern over Israeli settlement policy. (JT 12/10 in WNC 12/11; IDF Radio 12/11 in WNC 12/12; MEI 12/20)

The U.S. consul general says that Israel is threatening to revoke residency rights of Palestinian-Americans living in Jerusalem unless they give up their U.S. passports. The U.S. protests, says it knows of 60 cases when Israelis threatened Americans with the loss of their Jerusalem IDs. (WP 12/10; PR 12/20; JP 12/21)

Israel grants special entry permits to 120 Palestinian journalists accredited by the IGPO. (IGPO 12/10 in WNC 12/12)

PA allocates only $40,000 of the $70,000 necessary to stage the annual Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem. (WT 12/11; WT 12/23; PR 12/20)

In Beirut, EU special envoy Moratinos meets with Lebanese FM Buwayz. (RL 12/10 in WNC 12/11; MEI 1/24)

Iraq says it will give Turkey priority in exporting Iraqi oil now that the UN oil-for-food deal has been implemented. (INA 12/10 in WNC 12/11) (see 12/9)

ILMG continues discussions begun 12/9. (RMC 12/10 in WNC 12/11; RL 12/10 in WNC 12/12)

Egypt says it will host economic summit in Cairo in 11/12-14 as planned. (MM, WP 9/13; al-`Arabi 9/16 in WNC 9/27) (see 8/22)

Acting on a tip (possibly fr. the U.S.), Hong Kong customs impounds Syria-bound, N. Korean cargo shipment marked "finished goods," found to contain heavy artillery (incl. Howitzers, Russian made M-46 field guns). It is legal to ship arms through Hong Kong but illegal to falsely declare goods. (Kong Standard, South China Morning Post 917, 9/18 in WNC 11/12)

Iraq again fires surface-to-air missiles at U.S. warplanes in the expanded s. no-fly zone, causing no damage. U.S. announces it will position stealth bombers at airfields in Kuwait. Turkey agrees to allow 2,500 Iraqi oppositionist transit through Turkey as part of U.S. plan to evacuate its allies fr. the Kurdish enclave, provided none were connected with the CIA, PKK; U.S. says if those sponsored by the CIA can escape fr. Iraq, it will "certainly look sympathetically" on their appeals for asylum. U.S. dispatches 2d aircraft carrier to the region. (MM 9/12; NYT, WP, WSJ 9/13; WP 9/17, 9/18; al-Ahram 9/19 in WNC 9/30; MEI 9/20) (see 9/11)

Hatzofe reports that changes to Oslo II maps were agreed to and signed in 1/96 but have been kept secret. The 5 changes were only of several dozen meters. 3 favored the Israelis: moving the access road for Qedar settlement and the forests west of Ma'ale Adumim fr. zone B to C; moving the Ashkenazi Jewish cemetery of Hebron fr. zone A to C; moving the Ramallah and Bir Nabala oxidation pools, which incl. parts of the land designated for the Psagot-Kokhav Yi'aqov bypass road, fr. zone A to C. 2 changes favored the PA: moving a strip of land n. of Janin fr. zone C to A; expanding the zone B area of Abu-Dis e. to the Israeli municipal boundary of Jerusalem. (Hatzofe 9/12 in WNC 9/16)

PA Justice M Frayh Abu-Midyan is denied entry to Israel for talks on judicial affairs, misses scheduled mtg. with Israeli Justice M Liba'i. (MM 9/4, 9/6; QY 9/4 in FBIS 9/6; Hatzofe 9/8 in FBIS 9/8)

PM Rabin, FM Peres make surprise visit to Hebron to view conditions, examine security options for themselves. (MM 9/4; QY 9/4 in FBIS 9/5; CSM 9/5; WJW 9/7)

Israel's Jerusalem 3000 celebration, marking the anniversary of King David's capture of the city, begins. Of 70 ambs invited, 53--incl. U.S. Amb. Indyk and 15 EU ambs.--stay away fr. the opening ceremony. (WT 9/4; QY 9/4, 9/5 in FBIS 9/5; MM, NYT 9/5; ITV, QY 9/5, JP 9/6 in FBIS 9/6; CSM, WJW, WT 9/7; WT 9/10; JP 9/16) (see 8/15)

Israeli Dep. FM Eli Dayan travels to Cairo to discuss POW issue with Egyptian FM Musa, criticizes the Egyptian media for wrongly accusing Israeli Amb. to Egypt David Sultan of personally participating in the killing of POWs. (MENA, QY 9/4 in FBIS 9/5; MENA, QY 9/5 in FBIS 9/6; MM 9/7) (see 8/28)