The Palestine Chronology

Arafat goes to Paris to assess French support for a unilateral declaration of statehood. (al-Quds 7/2, Le Monde 7/4 in WNC 7/5; MEI 7/14; SA 7/15 in WNC 7/18)

In Ramallah, a Palestinian woman is fatally shot in a dispute btwn. her brother and another man over a stolen car. The shooting sparks riots in the city, including looting, shooting, arson of 2 restaurants. (LAW 7/2; NYT 7/4; AYM 7/4 in WNC 7/6)

In Shiraz, an Iranian court issues its verdict in the case of 13 Iranian Jews accused of spying for Israel. 10 defendants are found guilty, sentenced to terms ranging from 4-13 yrs. 3 others are acquitted. 2 Muslim accomplices are sentenced to 2 yr. terms. 2 other Muslims are acquitted. Barak calls for international pressure on Iran to release the 10 Jews to Israel. (IRNA, LPA 7/1 in WNC 7/3; NYT, WP, WT 7/2; MM, WP, WT 7/3; IRNA 7/5 in WNC 7/6; WJW 7/6; JP 7/7; MM 7/11)

In Beirut, UN special envoy Larsen meets with Lebanese pres. Lahoud, PM Huss to discuss a new mandate for UNIFIL following an Israeli withdrawal fr. s. Lebanon. (Le Monde 5/6 in WNC 5/10)

In Shiraz, numerous foreign diplomats, observers fr. international human rights groups attend the opening of the trial of 13 Iranian Jews accused of spying for Israel. (8 Muslims were also arrested on the same charges but will be tried separately.) 1 defendant confesses to the court and on national television, but human rights groups are skeptical of the validity of his statement. (CSM 5/1; IRNA 5/1 in WNC 5/2; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/2; WP, WT 5/3; NYT, WJW, WP, WT 5/4; JP 5/5; WP, WT 5/9; NYT, WJW, WT 5/11; IRNA 5/15 in WNC 5/16) (see 3/17)

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails begin a hunger strike to protest their conditions. (WT 5/3)

For the 2d day, IDF troops forcibly remove settlers fr. a makeshift encampment in the Palestinian section of Hebron. (NYT 5/2)