The Palestine Chronology

The U.S. strongly condemns Israel's recent incursions into Palestinian towns, calls for Israel's immediate withdrawal. The EU, Russia, UN, and U.S. send a delegation of senior envoys to meet with Arafat to urge him to "address Israel's security concerns," to make "absolutely certain" that the PA arrests those responsible for the Ze'evi assassination. (NYT, WP, WT 10/23; MA, QA 10/23 in WNC 10/24; AYM 10/23, MA, al-Quds 10/24 in WNC 10/25; MM 10/24; NYT 10/27)

Peres arrives in Washington for 2 days of consultations with senior U.S. admin. officials. Peres is accompanied by a dozen senior Israeli officials, IDF officers, who plan to brief U.S. officials, Jewish leaders on the Israeli-Palestinian situation. (NYT, WP 10/23; HA 10/26)

Meanwhile, the IDF has entered or surrounded and cut off every major Palestinian population center in the West Bank. Fighting is especially heavy in Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, a Palestinian opens fire on Jewish settlers in Talpiot settlement, wounding 4 before being shot dead by the IDF. In an apparent assassination, wanted Izzeddine al-Qassam mbr. Ayman Abu Halawih is killed, his 3 passengers are injured when his car explodes in Nablus. A 3d Palestinian is fatally shot by IDF troops nr. Tulkarm. A 4th Palestinian dies of injuries received on 10/21. A Palestinian woman in labor is denied passage through an IDF checkpoint to a Bethlehem hospital; she gives birth at the crossing, the baby dies. A Palestinian, detained since 10/18, dies in PA General Intelligence custody; the PA claims he committed suicide. The IDF bulldozes land in Rafah, demolishing 4 Palestinian homes, at least 9 stores. Israeli authorities also demolish 3 Palestinian homes in Jerusalem. (LAW, MEZ, NYT, WP, WT 10/23; PCHR 10/24)

In Jerusalem, nearly 100,000 Israelis demonstrate in favor of increased military attacks on the Palestinians, equating Arafat to Bin Laden, calling for the removal of Arafat and the PA. (NYT, WP 10/23; MM 10/24; JP 11/9)

Hizballah fires rockets at IDF positions in Shaba` Farms. Israeli warplanes, artillery strike Hizballah positions in response. No injuries are reported. The U.S. warns Hizballah, Israel against escalating tensions. (NYT, WP, WT 10/23; SAF 10/23 in WNC 10/24; SAF 10/24 in WNC 10/25; MM, WJW 10/25)

In Gaza, Arafat opens 2-day national dialogue mtg., meets with Hamas leader `Abd al-Aziz Rantisi, warns that Israeli actions in response to the 7/30 bombings could lead to another uprising. Islamic Jihad mbrs. also attend. (CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/21; RMC 8/21 in WNC 8/22; MM, NYT, PR, WT 8/22; RE 8/22 in WNC 8/25; PR 8/29; CSM 8/30, 9/8) (see 8/16)

In Amman, a 2-day "popular conference for the defense of Jerusalem" opens. (al-Dustur, JT 8/21 in WNC 8/22; JT 8/23 in WNC 8/26)

In Bethlehem, PA police beat Palestinian Salih Musa during a traffic dispute, take him to Bethlehem hospital. 6 policmen are later arrested in connection with the incident. Bethlehem is still under the internal closure imposed by Israel following the 7/30 bombings. (LAW 8/21)

In retaliation for Hizballah's 8/19 shelling, Israeli air force (IAF) strikes far n. of the self-declared security zone, hitting a Hizballah base, an area nr. the Lebanese army unit that took part in the 8/18 shelling, a power station, injuring 2 Lebanese civilians. ILMG holds an emergency mtg. to discuss the deteriorating situation. Israel says that strike on power station was meant to show the Lebanese government that "a situation in which Israeli citizens cannot live peacefully while the Lebanese continue to live their lives normally will not be tolerated." (MM 8/20; AFP, RL, VOL 8/20 in WNC 8/21; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/21; WT 8/25)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Sec. of State Shultz holds separate meetings with P.M. Shamir, F.M. Peres, and Def. Min. Rabin. Palestinian leaders boycott talks with Shultz [WP 2/27]. Shamir rejects proposed international conference and exchange of land for peace [NYT 2/27]. Members of Likud and Tehiya parties demonstrate outside meeting between Shamir and Shultz [NYT 2/27]. IDF bans media from several W. Bank, Gaza Strip cities [WP 2/27].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Protests are reported throughout the W. Bank and Gaza Strip. In Gaza's Jabalya cmp, youth is killed accidentally by piece of concrete thrown by protesters; some sources claim youth was shot and killed at mosque in Bayt Lahiyah [FJ, LAT 2/28]. At least 20 are hospitalized after soldiers break into homes in Jabalya [H 2/28]. Officials at Gaza's Shifa Hospital reportreating 11 wounded by gunshot, about 20 injured by tear gas, beatings. In Tubas near Nablus, soldiers open fire on worshipers leaving mosque after Palestinian throws knife at officer; bystander is shot, killed. Army is investigating whether Hebron resident was killed by tear gas inhalation or gunfire. Army is also investigating death of resident of 'Arrub refugee camp near Bethlehem; hospital sources report he was shot in chest by soldiers. Army announces arrest of 4 soldiers filmed beating, breaking arms of 2 Palestinians and suspension of unit's deputy commander; the Palestinians are released [WP 2/27; LAT 2/28]. In Jenin 3,000 marching Palestinians clash with IDF troops; soldiers respond to crowd throwing stones and bottles with tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition, wounding 3 [LAT 2/28]. Soldiers shoot, kill 2, wound 6 during clash in Halhul [Fl 3/6]. At least 6 are wounded by gunfire in violent clash in Dahriyyah, near Hebron. Troops in military vehicles accompanied by bulldozer and helicopter clash with villagers in Mazra'ah al-Sharqiyyah, Dayr al-Sudan, Ibwayn, and Mazra'ah al-Nubani [Fl 3/6]. Ya'bad village, near Jenin, is ordered under curfew after Palestinian is run over, killed by military vehicle [Fl 3/6]. Curfews are imposed in Maghazi camp, Rafah's Shabura quarter, and Dayr al-Balah camp; curfews continue in Yamun village and Beach, Jalazun, and Am'ari camps [FJ 2/28].