The Palestine Chronology

The U.S. identifies 19 hijackers (fr. Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the UAE), including 7 trained pilots, who participated in the 9/11 attacks; 16 held valid U.S. visas, 12 had lived in Florida (some for yrs.), 2 were the sons of a high-ranking Saudi diplomat once posted to Washington, at least 3 had studied at the same college in Germany. (NYT, WP, WT 9/15; WP 9/18; CNN 9/21)

Asst. Secy. of State for Near East Affairs William Burns official meets with 15 Arab envoys, including the PLO rep., and tell them they must either declare their nations "mbrs. of an international coalition against terrorism or risk being isolated." Later, Arab envoys meet at the home of Saudi Arabian amb. Prince Bandar Bin Sultan to discuss U.S. plans. Egyptian amb. Nabil Fahmy warns the admin. to focus on finding and punishing those responsible for the 9/11 attacks and not to broaden the effort to include other geopolitical goals. (NYT 9/15; MM, WP 9/17; SA 9/17 in WNC 9/19)

Sharon rejects direct appeals by Bush, Powell to hold peace talks with the PA, which would facilitate U.S. efforts to form a coalition to strike at Bin Laden. Instead, he cancels tentative plans to hold an Arafat-Peres mtg. on 9/16, saying it would be "inappropriate" in light of the 9/11 U.S. attacks; tells Bush that Israel opposes the U.S. bringing the PA, Syria into its antiterrorism coalition. (AFP 9/14; AP, HP, NYT, WP 9/15; JP [Internet], WT 9/16; XIN 9/16 in WNC 9/17; WJW 9/27; JP, MEI 9/28)

Meanwhile, 3 Palestinians are killed by IDF fire in Gaza. Israeli authorities detain Mufti of Jerusalem Shaykh Ikrima Sabri following Friday prayers for several hrs. of questioning regarding his recent visit to Beirut. In Gaza's Nussayrat refugee camp, 100s of Palestinians protest against the U.S.'s threat to attack Afghanistan, fearing the U.S.'s "international campaign against terrorism" will be campaign against Muslims; undercover PSF officers confiscate reporters' film. Some 40,000 Israeli Arabs in Umm al-Fahm Israel hold a similar rally, denouncing the killing of American civilians but also condemning U.S. support for Israel. (HP, WP, WT 9/15; WP 9/16; WT 9/17; al-Quds 9/18 in WNC 9/19; WJW 9/20; LAW 9/29)

Islamic Jihad releases British hostage Terry Waite and American hostage Thomas Sutherland in Beirut. Israel states it will not release any more Arab prisoners until it receives word about airman Ron Arad. (NYT 11/19)

Israeli police and border guards raid offices of Islamic court in E. Jerusalem, reportedly seizing hundreds of documents in search of "subversive" literature. Documents allegedly include court records documenting Palestinian land and property rights, some of which date from 12th century. (MM 11/19, 11/20)

Palestinian sources claim families of 350 Palestinians detained at Ansar-3 detention camp will be allowed to visit their relatives today, first time Israel has allowed such visits since Ansar-3 was established in March 1988. Visits will be coordinated by the Red Cross. (MM 11/18)

70-year-old Shaykh Radi Anis Bustami, imam of Jabal al-Shimali area mosque in Nablus, dies of wounds suffered 11/15 when Israeli troops fired on worshippers leaving the mosque. (MM 11/19)

Occupation authorities announce plan to encourage Palestinians inside o.t. and abroad to invest in development projects in o.t. The plan, which includes tax relief for new industries established and infrastructural development at government expense, will begin 1/1/92. (MM 11/19)

PLO exec. comm. mbrs. Mahmud Abbas, Yasir 'Abd Rabbuh, Sulayman al-Najab arrive in Amman for talks with Jordanian officials. Syrian delegates to peace talks also arrive to coordinate positions prior to second stage, bilateral negotiations. (Radio Monte Carlo, al-Ray, Radio Jordan 11/18 in FBIS 11/19)

Saudi Ambassador to U.S. Prince Bandar bin Sultan meets with some 60 American Jewish leaders in New York in first public meeting between American Jews and a Saudi official. Bandar states that if Israel freezes settlement building, Palestinians will halt intifada, Arab states will lift boycott of Israel. (MM 11/19)

Lebanese army deploys in village of Tayr Diba, S. Lebanon, to intervene inclashes between Amal, Hizballah fighters; first time in a decade Lebanese army has taken up positions within an area patrolled by UNIFIL troops. (MM 11/22)

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)

Military Action:

Heavy fighting continues for 7th day in Chouf; PSP forces attack Deir al-Qamar, move toward cutting coastal road; LAF positions around Beirut come under artillery fire; Beirut radio reports PLO Yarmouk Brigade has joined battle against LAF at Suq al-Gharb.

Casualties:

50-64 Christians reportedly killed in al-Bireh, 250 flee to town of Jezzine, PSP denies massacre.

Politicial Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Cease-fire proposals, mediated by Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia, under discussion with Jumblatt and Syrian Foreign Minister Khaddam in Damascus.

US and Other Countries: Shultz says US and other MNF states have rejected Gemayel request to increase troop commitment, move into Chouf, occupy positions abandoned by IDF.