The Palestine Chronology

PA negotiators Erakat, Dahlan leave for New York for 2-days of consultations with the U.S. peace team and Israeli negotiators Ben-Ami, Sher. (AYM 9/14 in WNC 9/18)

In Washington, Ben-Ami briefs U.S. National Security Adviser (NSA) Sandy Berger, the Senate minority and majority leaders, the House International Relations Comm. on the latest developments in the PA-Israeli peace process; calls for upgrading U.S.-Israeli strategic ties, which he stresses should not be conditional on progress on talks with the PA. (MM, WT 9/13; AYM 9/13, Globes 9/14 in WNC 9/18; MM, WP 9/14; MM 9/15, 9/25)

In Gaza, a dispute btwn. rival Fatah factions erupts into a demonstrations, stone-throwing. (NYT 9/14; SA 9/14 in WNC 9/18; SA 9/17 in WNC 9/26)

Nr. Netzarim settlement in Gaza, IDF soldiers, PA police disperse Palestinians throwing stones at passing settler vehicles. No one is injured; 1 car is damaged. (VOI 9/13 in WNC 9/18)

Egyptian pres. Mubarak arrives in Washington on his 1st visit to the U.S. in 2 yrs.; holds separate mtgs. with National Security Adviser (NSA) Sandy Berger, Defense Secy. William Cohen, Commerce Secy. Daley, World Bank pres. Wolfensohn, a delegation of American Jewish leaders. Most talks focus on the peace process. (MM 6/28; WT 6/29; WJW 7/1; MEI 7/16)

Acting Likud head Sharon walks out of coalition talks with PM-elect Barak, saying Barak refused to commit himself to continue aggressive settlement construction, particularly in disputed areas of Jerusalem, or to rule out a broad withdrawal fr. the Golan Heights. (CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/29; al-Quds 7/29 in WNC 7/2)

UNSC begins closed-door debates on a new weapons inspection regime for Iraq. (WP 6/29)

New Yorker columnist Seymour Hersh reports that in 11/97, Russian PM Yevgeny Primakov allegedly accepted an $800,000 bribe fr. Iraqi pres. Saddam Hussein in return for Russian assistance with strategic weapons technology; cites British intelligence reports that a bank transfer was made btwn. Iraq's Dep. PM Tariq Aziz, an account "traceable to Primakov." Russia denies the report; National Security Adviser (NSA) Sandy Berger says that the U.S. has no evidence to support the report. (WP 3/29; NYT 4/1; New Yorker 4/5)

On the 3d day of its attack on Iraq, the U.S. can confirm that only 18 of its 89 targets have been severely damaged or destroyed, despite having fired more laser-guided missiles in 2 days than during the entire 1991 Gulf War. Only U.S. planes stationed in Kuwait, Oman have flown; Saudi Arabia, Turkey have not permitted their bases to be used as staging grounds. (ATL, ITV 12/18 in WNC 12/22; NYT, WP, WT 12/19; MEI 12/25)

For the 2d day, U.S.-British strikes on Iraq prompt street protests across the Middle East. 15,000 Palestinians demonstrate in Nablus, while 1,000s of others protest in Bethlehem, Gaza City, Hebron, Jinin, Ramallah. PA police break up protest in Gaza City only; the PA closes some television, radio stations, news bureaus for reporting on the demonstrations. Syria's grand mufti denounces the U.S.-led operation. Pro-Iraq demonstrations are held in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Yemen. (MM 12/18; SANA 12/18, al-Ra'i 12/19, JT 12/20 in WNC 12/22; NYT, WT 12/19; MEI 12/25)

Fmr. UNSCOM cheif inspector Scott Ritter claims that UNSCOM head Butler chose sites for inspection that he knew would provoke the Iraqis, then ordered halt to inspections on 12/13 to meet U.S. bombing time table; also says that the White House national security staff helped draft Butler's 12/15 report to ensure it contained sufficiently tough language to justify an attack. Butler denies showing his report to the U.S. in advance of its release, but National Security Adviser (NSA) Sandy Berger admits Butler briefed him personally 12/13. (WT 12/19; WP 12/20; MENA 12/20, al-Akhbar, MA 12/21 in WNC 12/22) (see 12/16)

PA police arrest 4 leading Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) mbrs., 8 journalists at march marking PFLP's 31st anniversary. (NYT, WT 12/19)

Knesset approves additional NIS 20 m. to fund expanding settlements in the West Bank, Golan. (PR 1/1)

In Damascus, Syrian Pres. Asad, FM Shara`, Saudi FM Prince Saud al-Faysal discuss bilateral cooperation, peace process. (SATN 6/16 in WNC 6/18)

In Washington, Lebanese PM Hariri meets with Pres. Clinton, Secy. of State Albright, Asst Secy. of State for Political Affairs Thomas Pickering, Asst. Secy. Indyk, National Security Adviser Sandy Berger. (WP 6/17; RL 6/17 in WNC 6/18; WT 6/18; RL 6/18 in WNC 6/19; al-Safir 6/20 in WNC 6/23)

Iran, Jordan sign accords on shipping, resuming flights btwn. their countries. 1st Jordanian flight in 18 yrs. lands in Tehran. (IRBD Television 6/16 in WNC 6/17; Petra-JNA 6/16 in WNC 6/1)

After several unsuccessful attempts, Jewish settlers occupy a vacant, Palestinian-owned home adjacent to, but not in, Hebron's Jewish enclave. The Norwegian contingent of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH) files a protest with Israeli authorities, who try but fail to evict the settlers. (MA 7/3 in WNC 7/7)

Pres. Clinton meets with VP Gore, Secy. Albright, NSA Berger, special envoy Dennis Ross, Asst. Secy. of State for Near East Affairs Martin Indyk to discuss "new thinking" to revive peace process now that Iraq crisis has passed. (MM 3/4)

World Likud Chmn. Zalman Shoval, fmr. Israeli amb. to Washington, says that PM Netanyahu has enlisted him to start a "information campaign" targeting U.S. public opinion to lobby U.S. not to press Israel to make an FRD. (MM 3/3; WT 3/4) (see 3/2)

Hamas spiritual leader Shaykh Yasin arrives in Saudi Arabia. (MM 3/31; MM 4/9; WT 5/4)

In s. Lebanon, 1 Lebanese civilian is injured during IDF air strike on Hizballah target. (WT 3/4)

In Tel Aviv, Israel, Jordan hold talks on water, Jordan Valley development. (RJ 2/19 in WNC 2/24; Globes [Internet] 2/22 in WNC 2/26; JP 2/28)

Palestine-Israel Steering and Monitoring Comm. (PISMC) cochairs meet at U.S. Amb. to Israel Edward Walker's home. (IGPO 2/18; WJW 2/26; JP 2/28)

Syrian VP `Abd al-Halim Khaddam, FM Faruq al-Shara` leave Cairo after 2 days of talks on peace process, Iraq crisis with Pres. Mubarak, FM `Amr Musa. (MENA, SATN 2/18 in WNC 2/21)

U.S. Secy. of State Madeleine Albright, Defense Secy. William Cohen, National Security Adviser (NSA) Sandy Berger hold 90-min. "town meeting" at Ohio State University on potential strike on Iraq, which is broadcast globally on CNN. Audience heckles official and asks pointed questions on U.S. policy, some saying no military action should be taken, others questioning why goals do not include ousting Iraqi Pres. Saddam Hussein. After mtg., Berger warns Hussein that he should not misinterpret the audience reactions because "Ultimately there's only one man who decides, and he decides not based on the polls . . . but on our national interest." (CSM 2/18; NYT, WP, WT 2/19; WT 2/20; al-Ahram 2/21 in WNC 2/26)

PA Information Min. orders all 34 television, radio stations to obtain licenses fr. the Information Min. as well as Interior Min.; closes 9 West Bank stations that do not have such licenses. (LAW 2/19; NYT, PR 2/20; MEI, PR 2/27) (see 2/16)

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum forces its director, Walter Reich, to resign. Mishandling of Arafat invitation to visit the museum (see 1/23) is cited as precipitating factor ending troubled tenure. (NYT 2/19)

PA rejects Israel's 12-page list of preconditions (see 1/4) for FRD, says list of violations is full of "allegations, distortions, and half-truths." (NYT 1/16) (see 1/13)

U.S. officials--including Secy. of State Albright, special envoy Ross, National Security Adviser Samuel Berger--hold mtg. on upcoming visits by Arafat, Netanyahu; say that they do not expect a final agmt. to emerge fr. the visits, the 2 leaders to meet. (NYT 1/16)

A sign of growing tensions, IDF troops, PA police train assault rifles on each other in a 2-hr. standoff during antisettlement protest by 300 Palestinians outside Gush Qatif settlement in Gaza. (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 1/16)

IDF troops shoot at Palestinian taxi, wounding passenger. (WT 1/16)

In Cairo, Israeli cabinet secy. Dani Nave, PA Local Government M Erakat discuss ways of resuming talks, make no headway. Israel refused to convene the talks until the PA denied reports by a Palestinian official, Israeli television that Israel had agreed to temporarily halt settlement construction in the West Bank, Gaza, and at Har Homa. After mtg., Arafat flies to Amman to discuss new initiatives with King Hussein. Follow-up mtg. is scheduled for 6/12 (WT 6/8; JTV 6/8 in WNC 6/10; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/9; JTV 6/9 in WNC 6/11; MM 6/10; MEI, PR 6/13; JP 6/21)

Low-level Jordanian ministerial delegation concludes 4-day visit to Washington for talks on the PA-Israeli talks. The delegation, headed by Dep. PM for Development Affairs Jawad al-Anani, met with National Security Adviser Samuel Berger, Secy. of State Albright, U.S. special envoy Ross. (JTV 6/8 in WNC 6/10)

UN Fifth Comm., which handles UN General Assembly (UNGA) budget matters, votes (58-2, with 52 abstentions) that Israel should reimburse the UN for $1.7 m. for expenses associated with the 1996 attack on its peacekeeping base in Qana, s. Lebanon (see 4/18/96). The U.S., Israel vote against. (WT 6/9; al-Riyad [Riyadh] 6/9 in WNC 6/18; al-Nahar 6/10, RL 6/11 in WNC 6/12; RL 6/11, VOL 6/12 in WNC 6/13; MEI 6/13)

Arafat appoints a team of officials, headed by his secy. Tayyib `Abd al-Rahim, to investigate the 5/24 GCO corruption report. (MEI 6/13)

In Baghdad, a Syrian Chamber of Commerce delegation signs $20 m. worth of commercial contracts with Iraq--the 1st since Syria, Iraq broke off relations in 1980s. A Lebanese business delegation is also in Baghdad to discuss holding an industrial exhibition there in 9/97. (MM 6/9; VOL 6/10 in WNC 6/11) (see 6/2)

King Hussein swears in fmr. information M, Marwan Mu`asher, as Jordanian amb. to the U.S. (JT 6/8 in WNC 6/10)

Survivors of the 1967 Israeli attack on the U.S.S. Liberty hold a memorial service at Arlington Cemetery. Liberty skipper Capt. William McGonagle calls on Israel, the U.S. to release details of the assault, which killed 34, wounded 171 Americans; says he believes the attack was a result of "gross incompetence and aggravated dereliction of duty on the part of many officers and men of . . . Israel." (WT 6/9)

ILMG blames Israel/SLA for the death of 1 Lebanese civilian, wounding of 2 others 6/4; blames unnamed Lebanese rebels for death of SLA mbr the same day; warns all parties to adhere to the 4/96 understanding. (Radio Free Lebanon 6/9 in WNC 6/13; al-Safir 6/10 in WNC 6/12)

In Washington, Egypt's Baz briefs U.S. presidential adviser on national security Sandy Berger on Egyptian mediation efforts. (RE 6/5 in WNC 6/6; PR 6/6)

IDF arrests several Palestinian fishermen on charges of smuggling missiles into Gaza by sea. (PR 6/13) (see 6/2)

Lebanon submits to ILMG a complaint against Israel regarding the death, injury of Lebanese civilians in explosions 6/4. (RL 6/5 in WNC 6/6)

Israeli DM Mordechai begins 2-day visit to Washington, meets with Secy. of State Albright, National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, Defense Secy. Cohen. (ITV, YA 4/3 in WNC 4/4; WT 4/4; WT 4/5; MA, SANA 4/6 in WNC 4/8; MM 4/7; JP 4/12; WP 4/14) (see 2/25; Peace Monitor for details)

Citing fears of reprisal attacks, Israel drops bid to extradite Hamas political leader Musa Abu Marzuq. If the U.S. does not deport Abu Marzuq within 60 days of the date he dropped his fight against the extradition order (the U.S. and Israel claim that date is 4/7; Abu Marzuq's lawyers say it was 3/28),it legally must free him. (ITV 4/3 in WNC 4/4; NYT, WP, WT 4/4; al-Ra'i 4/4 in WNC 4/8; NYT 4/6; JP 4/12; MEI 4/18) (see 1/28)

Islamic Jihad's military wing issues leaflet claiming responsibility for the 4/1 bombs, saying Shaykh Shami had been "hasty" in denying the groups responsibility. (NYT 4/4) (see 4/2)

Palestinians, IDF clash nr. Har Homa. (WT 4/4)

Iran says it has 1st-hand information that 4 of its diplomats long believed dead were kidnapped in 1982, are being held in Israel. (IRNA 4/4 in WNC 4/7; WT 4/9)

Lebanon indicts 5 alleged Japanese Red Army mbrs. with passport forgery, illegal entry into Lebanon, forgery of official stamps. The 5 could receive up to 10 yrs. in prison. Japan has been trying to extradite the 5 men to face charges for guerilla activity. (WP 4/4) (see 3/14)

Egypt, Lebanon, Syria link new underwater telephone cable system. (SANA 4/3 in WNC 4/4)

At weekly PC session, mbrs. threaten the executive with a no-confidence vote if it does not take firm action on behalf of prisoners, says the leadership is "not dealing seriously" with the prisoner issue in negotiations with Israel. (PR 12/13)

Responding to PM Netanyahu's 12/4 suggestion, Arafat says that he is willing to take part in a bilateral summit to finalize terms of an Israeli redeployment in Hebron. (WP 12/6)

Jordan, PA hold trade talks in Amman; discuss holding future trilateral economic mtgs. with Israel on provisions for Jordanian exports to/imports fr. the PA self-rule areas. (RJ 12/5 in WNC 12/9)

IDF says that 17 mos. ago, after 5 mos. of preparation, a special forces unit named Egoz began operating against Hizballah in s. Lebanon. To date Egoz mbrs., chosen fr. Golani Brigade recruits, have killed 16 Hizballah fighters or officials. 2 Egoz mbrs. have been killed. (MM 12/5; JP 12/14)

In New York, donors pledge $133 m. to the annual UNRWA pledging conference for regular programs, operations for 1997. (UNRWA press release 12/9; JT 12/13 in WNC 12/16)

Pres. Clinton nominates Amb. to the UN Albright for secy. of state, Sen. William S. Cohen (R-ME) for secy. of defense, National Security Adviser (NSA) Anthony Lake for CIA dir., Dep. NSA Samuel Berger for NSA. (ITV 12/5, MA 12/6 in WNC 12/9; MM, NYT, WP, WP 12/6; VIRI 12/6, RMC 12/7, al-Dustur 12/8 in WNC 12/10; MM 12/9; JT, RL 12/10 in WNC 12/11; WJW 12/12; MEI 12/20; WJW 12/26, 1/2)

PA announces it will make an official inquiry into Fityani's death in PA custody 12/3. (NYT 12/6; PR 12/13)