The Palestine Chronology

At Barak's home, Arafat, Barak meet for the 1st time since the Camp David summit. After the 3-hr. mtg., during which Clinton phones Arafat, Israel and the PA announce that their senior negotiators will go to Washington in the next few days to meet with the U.S. peace team, possibly to hold 3-way talks. (MM 9/25; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/26; NYT 9/27)

Israeli chief negotiator Ben-Ami goes to Jordan, Egypt reportedly to promote the idea of entrusting the UN Security Council (UNSC) to resolve competing claims on Jerusalem. (JP [Internet], MM 9/25; NYT 9/26; MM 9/27)

A Knesset comm. approves a draft law that would require an absolute majority of 61 MKs to endorse a decision to turn over land within the present municipal borders of Jerusalem to "a foreign body." (NYT 9/26)

In the Galilee, 1,000 Israeli Arab residents of `Ayn Mahal strike to protest the seizure of 450 acres of their land for the expansion of Jewish Upper Nazareth. (AFP [Internet] 9/25)

CIA Dir. Tenet, Arafat meet again. (MM 9/4, 9/6)

In Cairo, Arab League FMs open a 2-day mtg. focusing on final status arrangements for Jerusalem. Arafat briefs FMs on the Camp David summit, recent developments. (JT 9/10 in WNC 9/12; MEI 9/15)

Lebanon holds the 2d round of parliamentary elections, covering seats allotted to s. districts. Candidates allied with fmr. PM Rafiq Hariri (1992+n98) win 18 of 19 seats in Beirut Hizballah's parliamentary bloc increases fr. 9 to 12 seats. (NYT, WP 9/3; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/4; MM, NYT, WT 9/5; MM 9/6, 9/7, 9/8, 9/11; MEI 9/15)

In Amman, Israeli PM Ehud Barak discusses the PA-Israeli final status talks with King Abdallah of Jordan. (MENL 8/16; WP 8/17)

In the 1st senior-level talks since the Camp David summit ended on 7/25, Israeli chief negotiator and acting FM Shlomo Ben-Ami and Barak adviser Gilead Sher meet with senior Palestinian Authority (PA) negotiators, Local Government M Saeb Erakat and Preventive Security Force (PSF) head Muhammad Dahlan. The 5-hr. talks focus on Jerusalem, but neither side expresses willingness to compromise on its position. (MENL 8/16; NYT, WP, WT 8/17)

Around 3 am nr. Ramallah, in area B, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) patrol fatally shoots a 73-yr.-old Palestinian American man who had heard the troops operating nearby and thought they were burglars. When he ran to the roof of his house, shouted a warning, and shot a gun into the air to frighten them off, the soldiers returned fire, wounding him. The patrol prevented an ambulance fr. approaching the house for at least an hr., while they searched the area for other "attackers." The man dies en route to the hospital. (CSM, LAW, MA [Internet], NYT, WP, WT 8/17; NYT, WP 8/18; WJW 8/24; JP [Internet] 8/31)

The Israeli Interior Min. reports that nearly double the usual number of East Jerusalem Palestinians applied for Israeli citizenship during the 1st half of 2000. Figures show that of 200,000 East Jerusalem Palestinians, only 3,300 have Israeli citizenship, 10,000 have applied. (JT [Internet], MENL 8/16; JT [Internet] 8/18)

In an off-the-record briefing, a U.S. official says that Pres. Clinton is prepared to reconvene the Camp David summit talks, but only if he is assured that Israel, the PA are ready to settle all outstanding issues, including Jerusalem. The official also says "the Egyptians have made it clear to us that they are prepared to be helpful" in persuading Arafat to compromise. (NYT 8/14)

The IDF, YESHA settlers council reach an agmt. to evacuate a number of illegal settlement outposts in the West Bank that have been set up since the Camp David talks ended in order to create facts on the ground in advance of any final status agmt. btwn. Israel, the PA. (YA [Internet] 8/14)

Israel's Ben-Ami and the PA's Erakat are both in Spain to brief Spanish, EU officials on the Camp David summit, but there is no evidence that they meet together. (EFE [Madrid] 8/12 in WNC 8/14; SA 8/14 in WNC 8/15)

PNC speaker Salim Za'nun announces that Arafat will convene the PLOCC in early 9/00 to ask mbrs. approval to delay a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state. Za'nun says Arafat took the decision after his tour of Europe, where EU leaders advised him against declaring statehood unilaterally on or around 9/13. (WJW 8/10; WT 8/11; WT 8/12; AYM, DUS 8/13 in WNC 8/14)

Barak taps chief negotiator Ben-Ami to serve as acting FM. (MM 8/10; ATL, MIL 8/10 in WNC 8/14; WT 8/11)

In Alexandria, Egyptian pres. Mubarak receives Britain's Lord Michael Levy, who is carrying a message to the pres. fr. PM Blair regarding the "peace process following the Camp David summit." Lord Michael previously has been involved in back-channel negotiations on the Syrian-Israeli track. (MENA 8/10 in WNC 8/14)

U.S., Israeli officials report that they held 3 days of talks this wk. on strengthening strategic relations. (WP 8/11; WJW 8/17; WT 8/18)

PM Barak goes to Alexandria, Egypt, to brief Pres. Mubarak on the Camp David summit. Mubarak says Egypt will help Israel reach a final status agreement but will not pressure on Arafat to make concessions on Jerusalem, saying, "It is not our role to ask any side to accept, without discussion, a stand proposed by the other side." (MENA 8/3 in WNC 8/4; MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/4; MENA 8/5 in WNC 8/7)

The Knesset recesses for the summer, will reconvene on 10/29. (MM, NYT, WP 8/3)

In Jericho, Eran and Erakat, the Israeli and PA interim affairs negotiators, discuss PA-Israeli relations in the wake of the Camp David summit, agree to hold more mtgs. this wk. to try to move final status negotiations forward. (WT 7/31)

The Israeli and PA senior negotiators on security affairs, Israel's Internal Security M Ben-Ami and the PA's Gaza PSF head Muhammad Dahlan meet in Gaza to review security arrangements discussed at Camp David, discuss the release of more Palestinian prisoners. (Associated Press [Internet] 7/30; JP [Internet] 7/31)

The PA police arrest senior Hamas official `Abd al-`Aziz Rantisi on charges of incitement for criticizing the PA's handling of the Camp David talks. (al-Quds 7/31 in WNC 8/2; LAW 8/3; HJ 8/3 in WNC 8/4; al-Quds 8/10 in WNC 8/14)

UNIFIL resumes its deployment in s. Lebanon, setting up bases at 4 points along the blue line. (WT 7/31; WJW 8/3) (see 7/28)

After receiving assurances for his safety fr. pres. Lahoud, Fmr. pres. Amin Gemayel, a Christian leader who was forced into exile over his alliance with the U.S. against Syria during the Lebanese civil war, returns to Lebanon for the 1st time in 8 yrs. Some 3,000 supports rally to welcome him in his hometown of Bikfayya. (WP 7/31; MM 8/3; see also MM 7/19)

Jewish settlers erect 30 mobile homes on 3 sites (Qaryat, Jaloud, Lubban) nr. Nablus, and confiscate 50 dunams of Palestinian land in Mawasi nr. Rafah, begin constructing 50 greenhouses. (PA Information Min. press release 7/30; LAW 8/10)

Arafat arrives in Paris on the 1st leg of a multination tour of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia to brief leaders on the Camp David summit, seek backing for PA positions, assess support for a unilateral declaration of statehood. After he meets with Arafat, Pres. Chirac phones Egyptian pres. Mubarak to discuss the summit. (MENA 7/29 in WNC 7/31; WP, WT 7/30; Le Monde 7/30 in WNC 8/1; CSM, JP [Internet] 7/31; al-Quds 7/31 in WNC 8/1; Le Monde 8/1 in WNC 8/2)

Over 500 Palestinian children fr. refugee camps in the West Bank, Lebanon travel to Fatima Gate, Israel's fmr. border crossing into s. Lebanon, to meet and call for the right of return. (BDL 8/3)

Arafat, Barak both return home. Arafat's homecoming is comparatively celebratory whereas Barak's is more muted. Each leader blames the other for the summit's failure, but both vow to continue negotiations, possibly as early as 7/30. The U.S. says it will not reveal details of the Camp David negotiations, but vows to keep pressure on Arafat to accept the deals offered at the summit. Special envoy Ross will return to the region to nudge the sides closer to an agmt. U.S. Asst. Secy. of State Edward Walker will tour Arab states brief leaders, urge them to press Arafat to compromise on Jerusalem. (MM 7/26; MENA 7/26 in WNC 7/27; CSM, Israel Radio [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/27; MENA 7/27 in WNC 7/28; al-Quds 7/27 in WNC 7/28; MM 7/28; al-Quds 7/29 in WNC 8/3)

In Washington, Israeli amb. David Irvy suggests that given the failure of the Camp David summit, it is "the right time for the United States to move its embassy to Jerusalem." (MA [Internet] 7/27; WP 7/28)

U.S. congressmen introduce bills in the House, Senate that would require aid to the PA be suspended if Arafat unilaterally declares a Palestinian state. (JP [Internet], WT 7/27; MM 7/28; DUS 7/30 in WNC 8/1; WJW 8/3) (see 7/25; JP 8/4)

Palestinian landowner Mahameed obtains a stop-work order fr. the Israeli authorities, suspending IDF bulldozing of his property nr. Bethlehem until a final decision is made. (LAW 8/10) (see 7/23)

At Camp David, Arafat passes a letter to Clinton saying he sees no reason to continue talks, since Barak has adopted a take-it-or-leave-it position regarding U.S. proposals on Jerusalem. After a final set of 1-on-1 mtgs. with Arafat and Barak, Clinton declares an end to the Camp David summit. The U.S., Israel, the PA issue a 5-point statement of negotiating principles, express hope that a deal may still be reached by 9/13. In announcing the failure of the summit, Clinton essentially lays the blame on Arafat, stating that Barak showed more flexibility. (Interfax, MENA 7/25 in WNC 7/26; MENA, XIN 7/25, ABC [Madrid], ATL, Interfax, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, MA, MENA, al-Quds, SA 7/26 in WNC 7/27; MM, NYT, PR [Internet], WP, WT 7/26; AYM, DUS 7/26, Le Monde, SA, TT 7/27 in WNC 7/28; Arab News [Jeddah] 7/26, JT 7/30 in WNC 7/31; HA [Internet], NYT, WJW 7/27; AYM 7/28 in WNC 8/2; MIL 7/28 in WNC 8/3; NYT 7/29; WP 7/30)

UN Secy.-Gen. Annan suspends the UNIFIL deployment in light of new Israeli violations of the blue line. (XIN 7/25 in WNC 7/27; WP 7/26; MEI 7/28)

The London-based daily al-Hayat reports that Syrian pres. Bashar al-Asad recently received fmr. chief of staff Shihabi on his return fr. medical treatment in the U.S., suggesting anticorruption charges against him have been dropped. (MM 7/25; SA 7/30 in WNC 7/31) (see 6/6)

Jewish settlers level 25 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Qalqilya. (LAW 8/10)

At Camp David, MD, Arafat, Barak, Clinton open their 3-way summit on final status issues under a media blackout. According to the State Dept., Clinton 1st holds brief 1-on-1 mtgs. with Arafat, Barak. Then the 3 men meet briefly together. Then the Israeli, PA, U.S. teams hold a short opening session. Later in the evening, Clinton holds 2 mtgs. with Arafat, 1 with Barak. (MM, CSM 7/11; White House press briefing 7/11, 7/12; XIN 7/11, Le Monde, al-Quds 7/12 in WNC 7/13; CSM, JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/12; MM, WJW 7/13; MEI 7/14)

During their 1-on-1 talks, Barak informs Clinton that Israel has suspended the sale of an AWACS technology to China. (MM, NYT, WJW, WP, WT 7/13; AFP, Zhongguo Tongxun She [Hong Kong] 7/13 in WNC 7/17; Le Monde, SA 7/14 in WNC 7/18; JP 7/21)

In Nablus, and Ramallah, 100s of Palestinian refugees hold a rally to urge Arafat not to back down on the refugees' right of return at the Camp David summit. In Jerusalem, 1,500 Israelis rally to support Barak's decision to go to Camp David. (MM, NYT 7/12)

A U.S. federal judge orders Iran to pay $327 m. to the families of 2 Americans killed in a suicide bombing in Israel on 2/25/96, saying the evidence shows that fmr. Iranian officials aided Hamas in staging the attack. This is the 4th time that a U.S. judge has ordered Iran to pay damages under a 1996 act that allows American victims of terrorist acts abroad legal recourse in U.S. courts. (WP 7/12; WJW 7/13)

In the morning, PM Barak goes to Cairo to discuss the final status talks with Pres. Mubarak. He then returns to Israel and narrowly survives a Knesset vote on 2 no-confidence motions, freeing him to depart for Camp David late tonight. (Arafat left earlier in the day. (MM 7/10; MENA 7/10 in WNC 7/11; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 7/11; CSM 7/12; Le Monde 7/12 in WNC 7/13; MEI 7/14)

Israel's Ezer Weizman steps down as pres. The timing has nothing to with Barak's coalition crisis; indeed, Weizman's last act is to urge Barak to forge ahead with the Camp David summit. Weizman decided in 5/00 to retire today after a police investigation concluded on 4/6 he was guilty of fraud but that statute of limitations for prosecution had run out. The Knesset will choose a new pres. on 7/31 (NYT, WP 7/11; MM, WJW 7/13; JP 7/21)

Bashar al-Asad, the sole candidate, is elected pres. of Syria with 97% of the vote. Some 210,000 Syrians working in Lebanon returned home for the election. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/11; Interfax, MENA, SA 7/11, JT 7/12 in WNC 7/13; CSM, WP, WT 7/12; MEI 7/14)

PM Barak delays his departure for Camp David after 3 coalition parties--National Religious party, Shas, Yisrael Ba'Aliya--quit the government. In addition, FM Levy announces he will not attend summit because Barak has failed to consult with him on planned concessions. The opposition schedules 2 no-confidence votes for 7/10. Yet, public opinion polls show that 61% of Jewish Israelis support the talks with the PA. The U.S. says the summit must go ahead or Palestinian-Israeli tensions will rise further. (CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/10; AYM 7/11, Le Monde 7/12 in WNC 7/13; JP, MEI 7/14) (see 7/5)

In Washington, Secy. of State Albright holds mtgs. with the Israeli, PA peace teams sent in advance of Barak, Arafat to prepare for the Camp David summit, which is scheduled to begin on 7/11. The PA vows to hold a popular referendum of Palestinians inside and outside the territories on any agmt. that emerges fr. the talks. (JP [Internet], Reuters [Internet] 7/9; XIN 7/9 in WNC 7/11; WP 7/10)

In Cairo, Arafat meets with Pres. Mubarak on his way to the Camp David summit. Arafat then heads to London for a similar mtg. with PM Blair. (MENA 7/9 in WNC 7/10; Associated Press [Internet] 7/10; MENA 7/10 in WNC 7/11; MENA 7/11 in WNC 7/13)

Although the U.S. plans to have a media blackout surrounding the Camp David talks, PM Barak dispatches a media information team that will operate fr. New York, Washington during the summit. MKs Rabbi Michel Melchoir, Yuli Tamir will head the team. (Prime Minister's Office press release 7/9; MA 7/10 in WNC 7/11; SA 7/14 in WNC 7/18; MA 7/24 in WNC 7/25)

Jordanian PM Abu al-Raghib says Jordan has informed Israel, the PA, the U.S. of Jordan's "firm refusal" to absorb any additional Palestinian refugees "under any pretext," including a final status agmt. (JT [Internet], MM 7/10; JT 7/14 in WNC 7/18)

IDF soldiers open fire on a Palestinian car nr. Kafr Darom settlement in Gaza, killing a woman, wounding 5 others. The IDF says the shooting was an accident. (NYT 7/10; WJW 7/13; MEI 7/14)

Pres. Clinton announces that Arafat, Barak will come to Camp David, MD, on 7/11 to hold 3-way summit on final status issues. Talks are expected to end before Clinton leaves for a G-8 mtg. in Japan on 7/19. U.S. officials say that the PLOCC's 7/3 "threat" to declare a state as of 9/13 influenced Clinton's decision to hold the summit now. (MM 7/5; MENA 7/5 in WNC 7/6; XIN 7/5, ITAR-TASS, al-Quds, XIN 7/6 in WNC 7/7; NYT, WP, WT 7/6; AYM, XIN 7/6, ITAR-TASS, Le Monde, al-Quds, SA 7/7, DUS 7/8, JT, SA 7/9 in WNC 7/10; CSM, MM, NYT, WP 7/7; MEI 7/14)

In London, PM Barak urges British PM Tony Blair to press Arafat not to declare unilaterally a Palestinian state. Barak then leaves for Paris to hold similar talks with French pres. Chirac. (CNN [Internet], MM 7/5; MM 7/6)

Arafat invites the Palestinian opposition parties to accompany the PA delegation to the Camp David summit, participate on the sidelines. Hamas, the PFLP decline. DFLP, Palestinian People's Party (PPP), Palestinian Popular Struggle Front (PPSF) accept. (AYM 7/8, 7/9, DUS 7/11 in WNC 7/17; SA 7/9 in WNC 7/11 al-Quds 7/14 in WNC 7/18)

The Knesset lifts the immunity of MK Yitzhak Mordechai so he may face sexually assault charges. (NYT 7/6) (see 5/25)