The Palestine Chronology

U.S special envoy Ross holds final unsuccessful mtg. with PM Netanyahu. State Dept. says that since no gaps were closed during Ross's tour, it is not considering a Washington summit; says that "one option has always been for us to disengage from this kind of direct catalytic role." Ross goes to Sharm al-Shaykh to brief Egyptian pres. Mubarak. (MM 3/30; IDF Radio, MENA 3/30 in WNC 3/31; ITV, QY 3/30, al-Dustur, IDF Radio, ITV, JT, QY 3/31 in WNC 4/2; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/31; CSM, MM 4/1; SA 4/1 in WNC 4/3; WJW 4/2; MENA 4/2 in WNC 4/4; MM 4/3; MEI 4/10; JP 4/11)

In Riyadh, Egyptian FM Musa, Syrian FM Shara`, Saudi Arabian FM Prince Sa'ud al-Faisal open surprise 2-day mtg. to discuss peace process, possibly convening larger Arab summit. (RE 3/30 in WNC 3/31; MM 3/31; MENA, RE 3/31 in WNC 4/2; MM 4/1; al-Ittihad [Abu Dhabi] 4/2 in WNC 4/3)

Iranian FM Kharrazi arrives in Lebanon for 3-day visit, meets with Pres. Hrawi. (IRNA, RL, VOL 3/30 in WNC 3/31; IRNA 3/30, IRNA, RL 3/31 in WNC 4/2; IRNA, RL, VIRI 4/1 in WNC 4/3; al-Ahd [Beirut] 4/3 in WNC 4/13)

Jordan, Israel hold 1-day naval exercise in the Gulf of Aqaba. This is the 1st such joint exercise. (RJ 3/30, JT 3/31 in WNC 4/2)

Jordan receives last 3 F-16s fr. the U.S. (al-Ra'i 3/31 in WNC 4/2; JT 4/4 in WNC 4/7)

Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza mark Land Day, the anniversary of the 1976 incident in which the IDF opened fire on Palestinians protesting Israeli land confiscations, killing 6. Clashes with IDF are reported in Bethlehem, al-Bireh, Hebron, Jinin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Ramallah; 17 Palestinians are injured. Israeli Arab leaders order general strike. (NYT 3/29; MM 3/30; al-Dustur 3/31 in WNC 4/2; MA 4/6 in WNC 4/7; JP 4/11)

Israeli High Court rejects appeal to prevent demolition of mosque in Jordan Valley, school and home nr. Nablus, home nr. Tulkarm. (LAW 3/31)

50 Christian evangelical groups make unprecedented promise not to carry out missionary activity in Israel, saying that they "rejoice in the presence of the Jewish people in this country of their ancestors" and they will avoid "activities which . . . alienate them from their tradition and community." (WT 3/31)

Saudi Arabia ends its inquiry into the 6/96 Khobar barracks bombing, says bombers cannot be positively identified. U.S., which suspects Iranian involvement and has complained that Saudi Arabia has not been forthcoming with information, says its investigation is still open. (NYT 3/31; WT 4/1)

In Amsterdam, a 2-day mtg. of EU leaders closes. Attendees issue statement for the 1st time urging Israel not to rule out the possibility of a Palestinian state. (MM 6/18)

In Washington, U.S. secy. of state Albright informs visiting Crown Prince Hassan of U.S. plans to give Jordan $100 m./yr. in aid for the next 5 yrs. (al-Aswaq, al-Dustur, JT 6/17, RJ 6/18 in WNC 6/19; MM, WT 6/18; WJW 6/19; JT 6/19 in WNC 6/20; al-Dustur 6/20 in WNC 6/23; MEI 6/27)

The Senate passes a version of House Res. 1757 that contains a section prohibiting most financial transactions with "state sponsors of terrorism," including Syria. A conference comm. must now work out the differences btwn. the bills. (WJW 7/24; MEI 7/25) (see 6/11)

6 wks. after the IDF forcibly evacuated settlers fr. their outpost nr. Yitzhar settlement nr. Nablus (5/6), several settler families are living on the disputed site, guarded by IDF reservists, while IDF bulldozers break ground to expand the settlement and build a permanent IDF lookout. (YA 6/17 in WNC 6/19) (see 5/7)

Hani `Abd al-Rahim Sayigh, the Saudi accused of participating in the 6/25/96 al-Khobar barracks bombing, is extradited to the U.S. from Canada to provide testimony that could link Iran, Syria to the attack. Under his deal with the FBI, Sayigh will plead guilty to plotting a different attack that never took place in exchange for telling all he knows about the al-Khobar incident. (WP, WT 6/18; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/19; MM 6/24) (see 3/30)

Iraq announces that it will begin rebuilding, expanding the al-Tanf border post with Syria in the next wk. (MEI 6/13; WT 6/18; MM 6/30) (see 6/2, 6/4, 6/14)

In Hebron, IDF troops clash with Palestinian demonstrators for the 4th day, wounding 17 Palestinian. An AP photographer is attacked, kicked in the head by a Jewish settler; IDF soldiers do not intervene. (WP, WT 6/18; MEI 6/27)

Visiting delegation of American Reform and Conservative Jewish leaders convinces PM Netanyahu to shelve the legislation that would give Orthodox rabbinical courts exclusive jurisdiction over government recognition of conversions to Judaism (see 4/1), form 7-mbr. comm. (comprising 5 Orthodox, 1 Reform, 1 Conservative) to investigate the issue. (WT 6/20)

Clashes btwn. the IDF, Palestinians intensify throughout the West Bank. In Surif, an IDF soldier allegedly rapes a Palestinian woman during a raid on a home; IDF admits that "indecent acts" took place, arrests the soldier. 1,000s of Palestinians in Bethlehem, Hebron, and Nablus, 100s in Janin demonstrate. The IDF deploys tanks around Bethlehem, Nablus; flies helicopter gunships over Nablus. PA police fire in the air, club, and shove protesters in Nablus, Hebron to prevent them fr. reaching Jewish sites. To date some 460 Palestinians have been injured (mostly by rubber bullets, tear gas) in West Bank clashes. (LAW, NYT, WP, WT 3/31; PR 4/4)

Jordan's King Hussein arrives in Washington for talks with Pres. Clinton, swears in Jordanian amb. to the U.S. Fayiz Tarawnah as his new FM. (WT 3/31)

The Knesset approves $53 m. for construction of public institutions in Golan Heights settlements; general planing and development in the Golan, Jordan Valley, Gaza coast. (Globes [Internet] 3/30 in WNC 4/1)

Saudi Arabia requests that suspect in al-Khobar bombing held in Canada be extradited to Saudi Arabia, not the U.S. (NYT, WP 3/31) (see 3/18)

PC opens 2-day session in Nablus. (JMCC 7/17 in FBIS 7/18)

500,000 Israelis comply with 1-day general strike called by Histadrut to oppose PM Netanyahu's economic liberalization plans, $1.6-b. budget cut. (MM 7/17; QY 7/17 in FBIS 7/17; NYT 7/18, 7/31) (see 7/1)

Israel's United Kibbutz Movement says it has discussed with the Construction Min. plans to build 4-5 "presettlements" btwn. Gaza, Hebron to alter the demographic balance btwn. Arabs, Jews in that area. (QY 7/17 in FBIS 7/18)

Nr. Hebron, 2 Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel are shot to death by 6 masked men. Villagers claim pair was killed by PSF. (QY 7/17, 7/18 in FBIS 7/18)

Jordanian-Lebanese comm. ends trade talks in Beirut. (JTV 7/17 in FBIS 7/18)

Following the al-Khobar barracks bombing 6/25, U.S. Defense Secy. Perry decides to transfer 4,000 (or 2/3 of) U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia to more remote areas in the Saudi dessert, where they will be more easily protected. (NYT, WP 7/18)