The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to olive trees in Dayr Balut, damaging 50. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinians harvesting olives in Huwwara, injuring 3. 9 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Qusra, Beita, Jenin, al-Izzariya, Anata, and Yatta. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen west of al-Sudaniyya refugee camp and Bayt Lahiya within the allowed fishing area; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/7; PCHR 10/8)

In the 3d installment of a 3-part interview with al-Arabiya TV, Saudi prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz said that Saudi Arabia should weigh its own security challenges over its grievances with Israel related to Palestinians. Prince Bandar, a former ambassador to the U.S., said that Palestinian leaders are allying themselves with Turkey and Iran, countries that to varying degrees are adversaries to Saudi Arabia as well as Israel. (REU 10/7; HA 10/8)

King Abdullah II of Jordan appointed Bisher al-Khasawneh as his new Prime Minister. Al-Khasawneh has previously worked as a palace aide and diplomat. (REU 10/7; AJ, WAFA 10/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian at a checkpoint east of Tulkarm; the man was allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at the Israeli forces. Israeli forces also clashed with Palestinians during a late-night raid in Jenin; 1 Palestinian was shot and injured in the stomach. Elsewhere, Israeli forces seized 1 bulldozer in Bayt Dajan. 7 Palestinians were arrested, including 6 during raids in Bayt Fajjar, Jenin, and Nablus, and 1 was arrested after he allegedly tried to stab 1 Israeli soldier at a checkpoint near Hebron. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested in Issawiyya. In Gaza, 1 rocket was fired at Israel, landing in an open area, and Israel fired 1 missile at Gaza, causing damage near Rafah. Israeli forces also opened fire on agricultural lands east of al-Qarara; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen west of al-Sudaniyya refugee camp within the allowed fishing area; no injuries were reported. (HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/5; WAFA 10/6; PCHR 10/8)

In the 1st installment of a 3-part interview with al-Arabiya TV, Saudi prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, a former ambassador to the U.S., criticized the Palestinian leadership for its response to the UAE-Israel normalization deal which Prince Bandar called a “transgression” and “reprehensible.” He also said that “[t]he Palestinian cause is a just cause but its advocates are failures, and the Israeli cause is unjust but its advocates have proven to be successful. That sums up the events of the last 70 or 75 years . . . There is something that successive Palestinian leadership historically share in common: they always bet on the losing side, and that comes at a price.” (REU 10/5; HA 10/6)

Saudi Arabia donated $25 million to UNRWA projects. (WAFA 10/5)

Middle East peace conference opens in the royal palace in Madrid with delegations from Israel, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and the joint Palestinian-Jordanian delegation present. Conference begins with short speech by Spanish PM Felipe Gonzalez, followed by addresses by conference co-conveners Presidents Bush and Gorbachev, and Dutch FM Hans van den Broek, representating the European Community. Soviet FM Boris Pankin and Secy. of State Baker were also present at the negotiating table. Saudi ambassador to the U.S. Prince Bandar bin Sultan and 'Abdullah Bishara, secy. gen. of the Gulf Cooperation Council, also attend the conference, but are not seated at the table. Egyptian FM 'Amr Musa delivers the first address by one of the negotiating delegations. Secy. of State Baker confirms that it was not certain whether or not second phase bilateral talks between Israel and the Arab delegations would commence 11/2 as scheduled due to disagreement between Israel, Arab delegations over venue of such talks. Israel is pushing for holding the negotiations in the Middle East, while Arab delegations seek to continue to hold such talks in Madrid. (NYT 10/31)

Hamas calls for a general strike to protest the peace conference. But 2,000 Palestinian supporters of Fateh, some armed with clubs and knives and waving Palestinian flags, march in favor of the peace talks in Gaza as Israeli troops follow them but make no effort to disperse the gathering. The marchers clashed with supporters of Hamas, injuring four. Five thousand other PLO supporters march in Khan Yunis. Pro-peace conference activists in Qalqiliya, Jenin force shopkeepers to open their shops which had been closed following orders by Hamas to observe ageneral strike. Elsewhere, Israeli security forces kill one Palestinian in Hebron, wound at least 24 in Gaza and 11 in Nablus during clashes. (NYT, WP, MEM 10/31)

Iraqi National Assembly condemns peace conference, attacks Syria, Egypt for their participation. (MEM 10/31)

Some 10,000 Lebanese march in Beirut against peace conference. (WP 10/31)

Israeli, South Lebanon Army forces bombard villages near Nabatiyya, S. Lebanon, in retaliation for 10/29 attacks on Israeli troops. (NYT 10/31)