The Palestine Chronology

The Paris-based al-Watan al-Arabi reports 2 sources as saying that neither Syrian pres. Hafiz al-Asad nor his son and heir-apparent, Bashar, attended the funeral of King Hassan of Morocco on 7/25 because the U.S. warned that it had evidence a coup (possibly orchestrated by the president's brother Rifat, who attempted to overthrow Asad in 1983) might be staged while they were abroad. (al-Watan al-Arabi 8/20 in WNC 8/23)

King Abdallah of Jordan replaces PM Tarawnah with fmr. dep. PM `Abd al-Rauf al-Rawabda, Chief of the Royal Court Jawad Anani with fmr. PM `Abd al-Karim Kabariti. Rawabda, who is strongly disliked by the opposition and Jordanian Palestinians, immediately announces new 25 mbr. cabinet, which retains all but 7 mbrs. of the outgoing cabinet. Abdallah urges new cabinet to consolidate ties with Israel, work for more open government, freer press. Analysts interpret changes as marking further side-lining of Prince Hassan, increased focus on internal affairs. (AFP, MENA, RJ 3/4 in WNC 3/5; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/5; JT 3/7 in WNC 3/8; al-Dustur 3/7, al-Bayan 3/8 in WNC 3/9; MM 3/9, 3/10; al-Bilad 3/10 in WNC 3/11; JP, MEI 3/12; al-Watan al-Arabi 3/12 in WNC 3/22; JTV 4/3 in WNC 4/5)

Lebanon's fmr. Energy M Shahih Barsoumian is arrested on suspicion of corruption involving hundreds of millions of dollars in fuel imports, the 1st major public figure to fall in the government's continuing antigraft crackdown. (NYT 3/5, 3/6) (see 1/7)

At the UAE's request, the Gulf Cooperation Council holds an emergency mtg. to discuss Iranian military maneuvers nr. 3 disputed islands (see 2/27); issues statement denounces Iran's actions, urging mediation to resolve dispute. (MM 3/5)

After lull in attacks following disruption of oil exports 2/28, British jets strike surface-to-air missile sites in s. Iraq. (NYT 3/5, 3/7)

As the House approves 4 articles of impeachment against him in Washington, Pres. Clinton arrives in Tel Aviv on 1st stop of 4-day visit. At the airport, PM Netanyahu offers Clinton a "lukewarm" greeting, warns that the Wye agmt. is unraveling, says he will not halt his criticism of the PA, which he accuses of violating every clause of the Wye accord. (ITV, MENA 12/12, JT 12/13 in WNC 12/15; NYT, WP, WT 12/13; GIU, NYT 12/14; PR 12/18)

In Damascus, 8 PLO opposition groups, Hamas, Islamic Jihad open 2-day conference to reaffirm opposition to the Oslo process, adherence to PLO charter. Jordan prevents 32 Palestinians fr. crossing border to attend. (JT, SA 12/12, JTV 12/13, JT 12/14 in WNC 12/15; MM 12/14; al-Majd 12/14 in WNC 12/17; MEI 12/25; al-Watan al-Arabi 1/1 in WNC 1/5)

Jordanian PM Fayiz al-Tarawnah arrives in Gaza for coordination mtg. with Arafat. Both men call on Palestinian prisoners to end their hunger strike (see 12/11). (RJ 12/12 in WNC 12/15; al-Majd 12/14 in WNC 12/16)

In Gaza, 100s of Palestinians demonstrate against Israel's refusal to release political prisoners. During similar demonstration in Bethlehem, PA police, IDF clash with Palestinians, leaving 7 injured. (NYT, WT 12/13)

Jordanian security arrests 8 Palestinians in Baq`a refugee camp for planning rallies for 12/14 to protest Arafat's annulment of the PLO charter. (JT 12/14 in WNC 12/15; al-Dustur 12/15 in WNC 12/16, 12/17)

Secy. Albright, envoy Ross, Asst. Secy. of State Martin Indyk arrive in the Middle East to prepare for talks in Washington beginning 10/15. Albright meets with Netanyahu, then travels to Gaza to meet with Arafat. (MM 10/5; HA [Internet], WT 10/6)

Turkish pres. Demirel postpones mtg. with Egyptian pres. Mubarak that was set for today. Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan phones Demirel to urge him to find a diplomatic solution to crisis with Syria. (MM 10/5; ATL, JT, RJ, RL 10/5 in WNC 10/6; IRIB Television, JTV, Petra-JNA, SATN 10/5, IRNA, Petra-JNA, Sabah 10/6 in WNC 10/7; CSM 10/6; MEI 10/16) (see 10/4)

In a mtg. with outgoing Lebanese pres. Ilyas Hrawi in Damascus, Syrian pres. Asad taps army chief Gen. Emile Lahoud as the next Lebanese pres. Lahoud is widely considered to be an incorrupt, popular "new face," untainted by politics and unlikely to draw the military into the government. (RL, SANA 10/5 in WNC 10/6; AFP, RL al-Safir, SANA 10/5, RL, VOL 10/6 in WNC 10/7; MM, WP, WT 10/7; RL 10/7 in WNC 10/8; RL, RMC 10/8 in WNC 10/9; al-Watan al-Arabi 10/9 in WNC 10/15; Petra-JNA 10/11 in WNC 10/14; MM 10/12; MEI 10/16)

In s. Lebanon, Amal detonates 2 bombs as an IDF-SLA patrol passes, killing 1 IDF soldier, wounding 4. (AFP, RL, VOL 10/5 in WNC 10/6)

PA chief negotiators Local Government Saeb Erakat, Planning M Nabil Shaath arrive in Washington at Secy. Albright's invitation to discuss "refinements" to U.S. FRD proposal. Albright admits that the U.S. cannot get Israel to accept the 13.1% proposal; says PA will have to reopen talks with Israel itself. (MM 7/10; NYT 7/12; MEI, PR 7/17; WP 7/23)

The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem reports that since 6/28, 100s of Israeli security forces have been conducting aggressive searches in East Jerusalem's Shu'afat refugee camp. (B'Tselem press release 7/9; MENA 7/13 in WNC 7/15; PR 7/17)

IDF demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Anata, al-Jib, Kharabtha villages nr. Ramallah. (LAW 7/10; PR 7/17)

In a 2d spy case, Lebanon's military prosecutor charges 18 mbrs. of the Lebanese Forces (a banned Christian right-wing militia group active during the 1975-90 civil war) with colluding with Israel; carrying out bombings (including 12/18/96 bus attack in Tabarja), attacks aimed at assassinating Lebanese politicians. 11 of the accused are under arrest, 7 are at large. (MM 7/9; RL 7/9 in WNC 713; MM, WP 7/10; MEI 7/17; al-Watan al-Arabi 7/17 in WNC 7/23) (see 6/19, 7/8)

In Washington, Syrian FM Shara` meets with Secy. Albright, State. Dept. peace team; discusses Israel's conditional s. Lebanon withdrawal proposal. (MM 5/22; MEI 6/5; al-Watan al-Arabi 6/5 in WNC 6/9; JP 6/6)

At the request of the White House, House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) cancels plans to lay a symbolic cornerstone at the site of the proposed site of the new U.S. embassy to Israel in Jerusalem during his 4-day trip to Israel, which starts 5/23. (WT 5/23; al-Quds 5/23 in WNC 5/27; WT 5/26)

Senate approves (90-4) the Iran Missile Proliferation Sanctions Act (IMPSA)--a bill that will place sanctions on foreign companies providing missile technology to Iran. White House has said it will veto the measure. (WP, WT 5/23) (see 5/21)

Arafat convenes the EA to discuss the 7/30 bombings. In response to the PC vote 7/31, all but 2 EA mbrs. (Planning M Shaath, Information M Yasir `Abid Rabbuh) offer to resign so that Arafat may rebuild the cabinet, diffuse Palestinian resentment over PA corruption report. (NYT, WP 8/2; NYT, WT 8/3; PR 8/8; JP 8/9) (see 7/31)

In reaction to the 7/30 bombings, Israel arrests 10s of Palestinians in an attempt to find "anyone that can help us solve who sent the bombers and who is behind it"; says it still does not know the bombers' identities; sets up a naval blockade against Palestinian fishing boats off Gaza; refuses to transfer $20 m. (half the PA's monthly budget) in VAT revenues owed the PA today. (MM 8/1; NYT 8/2, 8/4; MM, NYT 8/5; RMC, VOL 8/6 in WNC 8/7; PR 8/8; al-Hayat al-Jadida 8/10 in WNC 8/12) (see 7/29)

The Israel Broadcasting Authority refuses a government request to turn over one of its transmitters to help jam Voice of Palestine radio. The government considers issuing a special order to impound the transmitter but decides against the idea. (MA 8/4 in WNC 8/6)

Congress recesses without extending MEPFA legislation. (WP, WT 8/5; WT 8/6) (see 7/27)

In Tehran, Syrian pres. Asad meets with Pres.-elect Khatami, becoming 1st head of state to do so. (MM 8/1; IRIB Television [Tehran], SA, SATN 8/1 in WNC 8/4; Tishrin 8/2 in WNC 8/6; MA 8/3 in WNC 8/5; MM 8/7; al-Watan al-Arabi 8/8 in WNC 8/11)

UN approves a Syrian-Iraqi border crossing as a new entry point for goods going into Iraq under the oil-for-food deal. (MM 8/6) (see 7/27)

U.S special envoy Ross meets again with Netanyahu, Arafat; arranges for each of them to be briefed separately on the status of talks by a joint delegation of PA, Israeli negotiators (incl. Abbas, Molho). (MM 12/23; RMC 12/23 in WNC 12/24; IDF Radio, ITV 12/23 in WNC 12/26; CSM, WT 12/24)

In Amman, PM Kabariti, PA Agriculture M `Abd al-Jawwad Salih discuss expanding Jordanian exports to the self-rule areas, bilateral cooperation on agriculture. (RJ 12/23 in WNC 12/26)

Israeli Housing Min. says it will soon market land on the Golan for the expansion of Qatzrin settlement by 96 units. (MM 12/23)

Lebanese, Syrian officials say that 10s of Lebanese (perhaps as many as 200), many of whom are affiliated with the Christian opposition, have been detained for questioning regarding the 12/18 bus attack. Many already have been released. Coordinator for Israeli activities in Lebanon, Uri Lubrani, warns Syria that there will be retribution for the arrests. (MM 12/23; RL 12/26 in WNC 12/30; MM 1/3; al-Watan al-Arabi [Paris] 1/3 in WNC 1/14)

Jordanian government announces that a 10% cut in bread prices will be implemented in 1/97. (JT 12/24 in WNC 12/27) (see 8/16-18)

SLA expels a couple fr. their home in s. Lebanon to the n. after their son deserts the SLA. (RL 12/23 in WNC 12/26)