The Palestine Chronology

The IDF completes its withdrawal to the outskirts of Qalqilya, Tulkarm; makes a fresh incursion into Dura, detaining at least 70 Palestinians. In Jenin r.c., 13 IDF soldiers conducting house-to-house searches are killed when Palestinian suicide bomber in a building rigged with explosives reportedly detonates a series of devices, collapsing the building, and Palestinian snipers fire on soldiers who come to the rescue. In Nablus, a French TV cameraman is wounded by IDF gunfire. The IDF shells, destroys a PSF post in Kefar Rai; bulldozes a PSF post, olive groves in Dayr al-Balah. A convoy of 100s of Israeli Arabs attempting to deliver food to Jenin r.c. is halted outside Jerusalem by Israeli border police, attacked by Jewish settlers, shot at apparently by an IDF soldier, who wounds 2 before being subdued, arrested. (AFP, AP, BBC, MM, UPMRC, WP, WT 4/9; AP, CNN, HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/10; MEI 4/19, 5/3)

Arafat arrives in Cairo on a 2-day visit to brief Mubarak on the status of negotiations with Israel. Mubarak updates Arafat on his mtg. with Asad 5/8. (MENL 5/9; MENA 5/9 in WNC 5/10; MENA 5/10 in WNC 5/11)

Dir. of the Russian FMin. Dept. for the Middle East and North Africa, Alexander Saltanov, arrives in Syria for a 2-day visit on the 1st leg of a regional tour to assess the peace process. He holds talks with FM Shara` on the status of negotiations with Israel. (ITAR-TASS 5/9 in WNC 5/10; ITAR-TASS 5/10 in WNC 5/11; RAI [Moscow] 5/11 in WNC 5/15)

In Cairo, UN special envoy Larsen briefs the Arab League on his contacts with Israel, Lebanon, Syria regarding Israel's planned withdrawal fr. s. Lebanon. (MENA 5/9 in WNC 5/10)

The State Dept. issues Jordanian parliamentarian Farhan a new multiple entry diplomatic visa. The U.S. emb. in Amman reiterates its "regret over the incident," but the State Dept. says only that it erred by not informing Farhan that his original visa had been revoked. (MM, NYT 5/10) (see 5/2)

The Acting Council of the Palestinian Bar Association revokes the accreditation of 37 Palestinian lawyers working for groups critical of the PA. (PHRC 5/10; LAW 5/11; PCHR 5/14)

A joint mtg. of the donors's Joint Liaison Comm., Local Aid Coordination Comm. is held in al-Barid, nr. Jerusalem. (AYM 6/30 in WNC 7/1; AYM 6/30, 7/1 in WNC 7/6)

Arafat meets with King Abdallah in Amman for talks on the peace process, coordinating positions in advance of final status talks; also reportedly undergoes medical checkup. (RMC 6/29 in WNC 6/30; al-Ra'i 6/20 in WNC 7/2)

In Washington, Egyptian pres. Mubarak meets with Secy. of State Albright, encourages U.S. to support 7/14-15 mtg. of the signatories to the Fourth Geneva Convention. U.S. says it still opposes the mtg. (NYT, WT 6/30; MEI 7/16)

IDF Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz announces that outgoing DM Arens has issued instructions to the IDF to ignore the 1996 April understandings, suspended Israel's participation in the Israel-Lebanon Monitoring Group (ILMG), claiming that Hizballah's 6/24 rocket attacks on n. Israel voided the 4/96 agmt. The April understandings, which ended Israel's 1996 Grapes of Wrath campaign against Lebanon, called on all parties in s. Lebanon to avoid harming civilians. (RL, RMC 6/29 in WNC 6/30; MM, WT 6/30; RL 6/30 in WNC 7/1; RL 7/3 in WNC 7/6; MM 7/5; JP 7/9)

Turkish court finds PKK leader Ocalan guilty of treason, a charge that automatically carries a death sentence and is automatically appealed. Turkey has not carried out an execution since 1984. Public response is muted as the verdict was widely expected. (AFP, ATL, La Une Radio [Brussels], LPA, MTI [Budapest], NTV [Moscow], RAI Televideo [Rome], RNE-1 Radio [Madrid], SAPA [Johannesburg], Xinhua [Beijing] 6/29 in WNC 6/30; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/30) (see 6/21)

Israel carries out 1st stage of FRD. (MM 11/20; YA 11/20 in WNC 11/23; NYT, WT 11/21; RE 11/22 in WNC 11/24; MEI, PR 11/27)

Israel releases the 1st 250 Palestinian prisoners. (MM 11/20; NYT, WP 11/21; AFP, RE, YA 11/22 in WNC 11/24; YA 11/26 in WNC 11/30; MEI 11/27)

Israel, Britain sign a 10-yr. military cooperation pact aimed at facilitating joint research in defense technologies, especially naval high-tech, unmanned aerial vehicles. (JP 11/30)

Italian court rejects Turkey's request for extradition of Kurdish separatist leader Abdallah Ocalan, citing law that bars extradition to country that has the death penalty. Ocalan, head of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), is freed fr. custody but ordered to stay in Rome. Turkey orders boycott of Italian goods in protest. (RAI Televideo Teletex 11/20 in WNC 11/23; NYT 11/21; ATL 11/21 in WNC 11/24; WP, WT 11/22; MM 11/23; NYT 11/24; CSM 11/30) (see 11/12)

Netanyahu arrives in S. Korea. (MM 8/27; ITV 8/27, Korea Herald 8/28 in WNC 8/29; MM, WT 8/28) (see 8/25)

For the 2st time since the 7/30 suicide bombings, IDF, PA police conduct a joint disaster drill in Gaza. (NYT 8/28; PR 9/5; JP 9/6)

Israel lifts the 4-wk.old internal closure on Bethlehem, citing improved security coordination with the PA. However, Palestinian protests, which Netanyahu claims are orchestrated by the PA, continue. (IDF Radio, MA, QY 8/27 in WNC 8/28; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/28; ITV 8/28 in WNC 9/4)

IDF seals a Hamas-run mosque, charity office in Bani Na`im in area B. (AFP 8/27 in WNC 8/28)

Israel says it has arrested Israeli Arab Nadiya Fudayi for spying for Egypt, orders media blackout. (IDF Radio 8/27 in WNC 8/28; ITV 9/1 in WNC 9/4)

In Rome, Italian police arrest Libyan Musbah Abulghasem Eter, wanted in Germany in connection with the 1986 Berlin disco bombing that killed 2 U.S. soldiers, 1 Turkish woman, injured 230 persons.  (RAI Televideo [Rome] 8/27 in WNC 8/28; NYT, WT 8/28)

In Sharm al-Shaykh, Egyptian pres. Mubarak, U.S. special envoy Ross hold talks on the peace process. Mubarak holds separate mtg. with Jordanian FM Tarawnah. (RJ 5/10, JT 5/11 in WNC 5/13; WP 5/11; MEI, PR 5/16)

IDF imposes a 3-day total closure on the West Bank, Gaza for the duration of Israel's independence celebrations. (ITV 5/10 in WNC 5/13; PR 5/16)

On his 1st trip to the Middle East, Pope John Paul II begins 2-day visit to Lebanon. (NYT, WP, WT 5/11; RAI Televideo [Rome], La Repubblica [Rome], RL 5/11, L'Unita [Rome] 5/12 in WNC 5/13; MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/12; RL 5/12 in WNC 5/13; ANSA [Rome] 5/12 in WNC 5/14; MM 5/16)

In Amman, King Hussein, Crown Prince Hassan receive Iraqi dep. PM Aziz. (RJ 5/10 in WNC 5/13)

1,000 IDF soldiers guard Israeli construction workers as they begin construction at Har Homa. Israeli police, border guards beat back Palestinian protesters with fists, boots, rifles. IDF snipers, other soldiers with belt-fed machine guns take up firing positions nr. the demonstrators. IDF seals Bethlehem, Hebron to prevent protests. Arafat calls on Palestinians not to resort to violence; Netanyahu claims that the PA "has prepared the ground for violence that [it] would initiate," U.S. says no proof exists. (MM 3/18; ITV 3/18, RE, SA 3/19 in WNC 3/20; NYT, WP, WT 3/19; MEI 3/21; TJT 3/21 in WNC 3/25)

Italian PM Prodi arrives in Lebanon for talks with PM Hariri, Speaker Nabih Birri regarding the peace process, economic issues. (RL, VOL 3/18 in WNC 3/19; RAI Televideo [Rome], SATN 3/18, RL 3/19 in WNC 3/20)

Iranian FM Velayati arrives in Qatar on a tour to the Gulf to improve Iranian-Gulf ties. (MM 3/19)

Jordanian police prevent 120 mbrs. of the Jordan Engineers Association fr. marching to the Daqamsa home to show solidarity with the soldier, his family. (WT 3/19; MEI 3/21) (see 3/17)

In Ankara, the Joint Iraqi-Turkish Comm. hold talks on economic, diplomatic relations. (INA 3/18 in WNC 3/19)

Saudi Arabian citizen Hani `Abd al-Rahim Sayigh is detained in Canada at U.S.'s request for extradition in connection with the al-Khobar barracks bombing in Saudi Arabia 6/25/96. (WP 3/24; MM 3/26; WP 3/27-29; NYT 3/31, 4/3; WP 4/5; MM 4/18) (see 11/24/96, 1/10/97)

2 MKs request that the Israeli High Court block work at Har Homa until it hears petitions against the construction project on 3/20. (YA 3/17 in WNC 3/19)

Palestinian protesters erect tents nr. Har Homa. IDF snipers take up positions nearby to watch them. (CSM, WT 3/18; PR 3/21)

Netanyahu defeats (54-46) a no-confidence vote. (WT 3/16)

In Damascus, Syrian pres. Asad, Italian PM Romano Prodi discuss the peace process. (RAI Televideo [Rome], SATN 3/17 in WNC 3/19; SATN 3/18 in WNC 3/20)

Jordanian police ban 200 activists (incl. 21 opposition deputies) fr. visiting home of Pvt. Ahmad Daqamsa, the soldier who shot 13 Israeli girls on 3/13, to express their solidarity. The deputies condemn the killings but demand a fair trial for Daqamsa, oppose Israeli intervention in the investigation (see 3/15) (AFP, RMC 3/17 in WNC 3/19; JT 3/19 in WNC 3/20; MEI 3/21)

Lebanon bans potato imports fr. Egypt. Egypt threatens economic retaliation. (RL 3/17 in WNC 3/19) (see 3/8)

In 1st mtg. since the Vatican established ties with the PA, Arafat meets with Pope John Paul II at Castelgandolfo, Italy; also confirms secret negotiations were held in Italy before, after Oslo agmt. (VOP 9/2 in FBIS 9/5; WP 9/3; WJW 9/7; RAI Radio [Rome] 92 in FBIS 9/8)

In Damascus, PLO's Qaddumi meets with FM Shara` to discuss recent developments in the peace process. (SATN 9/2 in FBIS 9/5)

Sr. PLO official Hisham `Abd al-Raziq, head of PLO talks with Hamas, says he is close to an agmt. with Hamas that would end its violent attacks. (AFP 9/2 in FBIS 9/5; Al-Hayat 9/2 in FBIS 9/6; WT 9/4; CSM 9/5)

In apparent suicide, Israeli motorist speeds through Israeli, PA roadblocks at entrance to Gaza, is shot, killed by Palestinian police. (AFP, QY 9/2 in FBIS 9/6; NYT, WP, WT 9/3)

Israeli cabinet orders some settlers disarmed, 1,000 Palestinian prisoners released in response to Hebron massacre, establishes commission of inquiry to investigate massacre. Govt. orders administrative detention of 5 Kach mbrs., but apprehends only 1 as well as 2 low-level activists. PLO Chmn. Arafat calls Israeli moves "hollow and superficial," reiterates demand for international protection of Palestinians ino.t. Settlers' council "rejects out of hand the proposals ... to confiscatehe weapons of Jews." (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 2/28)

Rioting against Hebron massacre continues in o.t., Israel, spreading to Negev. 3 Palestinians killed in demonstrations, including 1 Israeli Arab, bringing casualty totals to 65 dead, 360 wounded since 2/25. (WP, WT 2/28; CSM, NYT 3/1)

PLO Chmn. Arafat charges that "some elements of the Israeli army" assisted Baruch Goldstein in Hebron massacre. IDF Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Dani Yatom counters that soldiers fired into air, all 111 cartridge cases recovered at crime scene fired fr. Goldstein's rifle. (NYT, WP, WT 2/28)

Funeral of Hebron attacker Baruch Gold.. stein draws 300 mourners for procession fr. Jerusalem to Qiryat Arba. Mourners denounce journalists covering event as "Nazis"; Rabbi Yaacov Perrin, giving eulogy, proclaims "1 m. Arabs are not worth a Jewish fingernail." (NYT, WP, WT 2/28)

Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria withdraw negotiators fr. Washington talks with Israel in solidarity with PLO. (RMC 2/28 in FBIS 2/28; NYT, WP, WT 2/28)

UN Sec. Gen. Butrus Butrus-Ghali suggests sending international monitors to protect Palestinians in o.t. U.S. mission to UN calls offer not "particularly helpful or useful." Statement notes DoP provides for "temporary" international presence, but says UN should not "prejudge" Israel-PLO discussions. Russia supports Butrus-Ghali's position. (NYT 2/28)

Bomb made of 2 82mm mortar shells explodes in Sayyidal-Naja Maronite Church in Zuq Mika'il, nr. Juniya, Lebanon, killing 9 and wounding 60. PM Hariri calls bombing "a plot ordered fr. abroad." Info M Michel Samaha, Damascus Radio, and Maronite Bishop Bishara Rai blame Israel. (RL 2/27 in FBIS 2/28; SARR 2/27 in FBIS 3/1; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/28)