The Palestine Chronology

Chmn. Arafat meets Pres. al-Asad in Damascus, the first time the two bitter rivals have met since 1983. The two reportedly agree that the multilateral Arab-Israeli talks on regional cooperation, envisaged as the third-stage of the peace process, would be futile unless Israel agrees to withdraw from the o.t. (MEM 10/21)

Asad had earlier met with Soviet FM Pankin, while FM al-Sharaa received the U.S., Soviet ambassadors who issued invitation to attend the peace conference. Syria indicated it would formally respond to the invitation in a few days' time. (WP 10/20)

Palestinian negotiator Faisal Husseini submits list of 14 Palestinian delegates to peace conference to U.S. consul in Jerusalem. (WP 10/20)

Jordan formally accepts the U.S.-Soviet invitation to attend peace conference. (WP 10/20)

Gulf Cooperation Council Secy. Gen. 'Abdullah Bishara indicates he will head GCC delegation to peace conference. (AFP 10/19 in FBIS 10/21)

Israel reports it has received positive information that one of its five missing soldiers in Lebanon, Yossi Fink, is dead, in a move which may expedite the ongoing comprehensive prisoner-hostage exchange negotiations. (WP 10/20)

"International Conference in Support of the Islamic Revolution in Palestine" opens in Tehran with 800 delegates from 60 countries in attendance. PNC Speaker 'Abd al-Hamid Sa'ih, delegates from the main constituent PLO groups attend, as do representatives of Hamas, Islamic Jihad of Palestine [Fathi Shaqaqi], and groups within the Palestinian National Salvation Front. Iranian pres. Hashimi Rafasanjani declares Iran is willing to send troops to help establish a Palestinian state. (WP 10/20; MEM 10/21, 10/23)

After 2 days of talks in Iran, Iraqi delegation under F.M. Aziz (1st high-level visit since 1979 revolution) announces it will restore full diplomatic ties [NYT, LAT 9/11].

Sec. Baker calls on NATO members to send ground-based forces to join U.S. units in Saudi Arabia; announces he will visit Syria [LAT, NYT, WT, WP 9/11].

General Federation of Trade Unions in O.T. estimate 56,675 Palestinians have been deported from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region since Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, but urge them to try to return to their jobs as little work is available in O.T. [LAT, MEM 9/11; FJ 9/17].

In gesture to break embargo, Saddam Hussein offers free oil to developing nations that defy armada of international warships in the region [NYT, WT, MEM, WP 9/11; MET 9/18].

After much debate, foreign ministers of 12 of 21 Arab League members agree to move Arab League's headquarters to Cairo from Tunis (Iraq, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania, Jordan, Yemen, and PLO boycott meeting); 5-member committee supervising relocation given 60 days to complete move [MENA 9/9 in FBIS 9/11; WT, MEM 9/11; CSM 9/12; FJ 9/17; MET 9/18]. 

Military sources report Syrian air force has issued orders to allow NATO spy planes leaving British bases in Cyprus to overfly Syria as they monitor Iraqi troop positions [AVP 9/10 in FBIS 9/11].

3-day meeting of International Islamic Conference opens in Mecca; King Fahd sends message to conference stating foreign troops will be asked to leave Saudi Arabia after the crisis has ended (cf. 9/12) [RTS 9/11, SPA 9/13 in FBIS 9/13].

Trial of former IDF reservist Ami Popper, accused of murdering 8 Palestinians in Gaza on 5/20, opens in Tel Aviv [MET 9/18].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF conducts search and closes the Association for Family Welfare, a women's organization in al-Birah [WP 6/21, NYT 6/21].

Arab World: Al-Safir, Beirut daily, carries attacks on PLO political advisor Abu Sharif's peace proposals circulated at the recent Arab Summit. Groups attacking statement are: PFLP, Fateh-Uprising, Popular Struggle Front, the PFLP-General Command, and Partisans of the Islamic Revolution in Palestine [NYT 6/22].

Military

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli is found beaten and stabbed to death near Moshav Shaked [WP 6/21, NYT 6/21]. In Jalazun refugee camp 120 residents are arrested during demonstrations [FJ 6/26]. In Ramallah troops use tear gas to break up demonstrations [FJ 6/26].

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Leaflets circulated in Damascus by dissident Fateh military officers criticize Arafat for intending to withdraw PLO forces from Lebanon, call for committee to supervise finances; Arafat, in Tripoli, says no Arab regime with its money or arms can confront the Palestinian revolution; Fateh Executive Committee places all PLO units in Lebanon under command of Gen. Ahmed Afani, orders dissident officers into unit under Arafat's direct command, plans to call full scale congress.

Arab Governments: Syria criticizes US over decision to implement sale of F-16s to Israel; Syrian envoy travels to Saudi Arabia; President Mubarak meets special envoy Habib in Cairo.