The Palestine Chronology

Fmr. South African pres. Mandela meets Arafat in Gaza; gives address to the PC, urging Israel to withdraw fr. the occupied Palestinian territories, s. Lebanon, the Golan Heights. (WP 10/20; PANA [Dakar] 10/20 in WNC 10/21; MM 10/21; WP 10/25; MM 10/26)

Lebanese PM Huss receives a message fr. U.S. Asst. Secy. of State for Political Affairs Thomas Pickering expressing support for Lebanon's position on the need to implement UN Res. 425, on refusing to delink the Lebanese and Syrian peace tracks. (RL 10/19 in WNC 10/20; SA 10/27 in WNC 10/28)

A small group of ultranationalist settlers prevent mbrs. of the YESHA settlers' council fr. hauling away the lone shipping container marking Shvut Rachel (also known as Hill 804), one of the enclaves that Barak ordered dismantled. The IDF is present, but does not intervene. After dark, YESHA mbrs. manage to dismantle a water tower, the only structure at the site of a 2d, uninhabited enclave, Hill 827. (MM 10/19; AFP 10/19 in WNC 10/20; WP, WT 10/20; CSM 10/27)

Jordan Press Association expels 3 reporters (fr. al-Dustur, Jordan Times, al-Ra'i), bars them fr. practicing journalism for violating an ban on normalization with Israel. The reporters recently went on a tour of Israel for journalists fr. the Arab world, sponsored by Haifa University. (NYT, WT 10/20; JT 10/20 in WNC 10/21; JT 10/21 in WNC 10/22)

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)

Speaking at joint press conference, Pres. Mitterrand, Pres. Gorbachev express support for international peace conference and Palestinian statehood [MEM 5/8].

Israeli officials and Western diplomats say Gulf states are weighing relaxation of Arab League economic boycott against Israel and firms that do business with Israel [WP 5/7]. Palestinian and PLO editorials attack Kuwait for planning to ease boycott [MEM 5/7].

Arriving in Riyadh, Def. Sec. Cheney opens efforts to negotiate sweeping changes in U.S.-Arab military relationship that would include permanently stationing weaponry and deploying large numbers of troops during rotating exercises in the Gulf region (cf. 5/9) [WP, NYT 5/7; SPA 5/6 in FBIS 5/7].

Syrian officials say that Lebanese guerrilas fighting against Israeli-backed militias in southern Lebanon should not lay down their weapons under Beirut's plan for disarming all militias: "Weapons of resistance groups ... cannot be touched until the Israeli enemy abandons the border strip" [NYT 5/7].

In letter to UN Sec.-Gen., Iraq asks for 5- year delay on paying war reparations so as to first rebuild its economy. U.S. ambassador to UN Thomas Pickering says Sec. Council is unlikely to ease that part of cease-fire agreement [NYT 5/7].

After meetings with Pres. Mubarak in Cairo, Sec. Baker arrives in Jeddah; says he is trying to organize 2-phase peace conference, with Israel and its bordering Arab states negotiating their differences in main talks. In 2d phase, Israel and other Arab nations would discuss regional issues [NYT, MEM 4/22; MENA, RIDS 4/21 in FBIS 4/22].

Saudi Arabia confirms that it will not take part in any Middle East peace conference with Israel, and there are growing signs that Arab gov'ts. want to limit negotiations with Israel to only Palestinian problem [WP, LAT 4/22].

PLO Central Council - the link between PLO Exec. Committee and PNC - opens meetings in Tunis to assess repercussions of Gulf war of PLO's relations with Arab and European states (cf. 4/23) [MEM 4/23; TDS 4/22 in FBIS 4/22; AVP 4/22, TDS 4/23 in FBIS 4/23]

Construction of new settlement, Talmon Bet, outside Ramallah, is completed allowing settlers to begin to move in (cf. 4/23) [HAA 4/23 in FBIS 4/23].

U.S. ambassador to UN Thomas Pickering tells Jewish group in New York that Kuwait has agreed to stop participating in Arab League boycott of U.S. firms that do business with Israel, at least during reconstruction of the emirate [MEM 4/23; CSM 4/24].

Israeli soldiers shoot dead 2 Palestinian fighters who had cut through Lebanon border fence; in Damascus, Fateh Uprising group claims responsibility [MEM 4/22; NYT 4/23; JDS 4/22 in FBIS 4/22].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Pickering attacks Israel's policies in the occupied territories UP 5/22]. Arab local councils in Israel launch 2-day strike protesting authorities' refusal to help relieve educational and financial crises [FJ 5/24]. Military administration imposes curfew on Nablus-area villages of Salim, Dayr al-Hatab, and 'Azmut after discovery of body of murdered 8-year-old Israeli boy [WP 5/22].

Arab World: Lebanon's parliament votes to annul 1969 Cairo Agreement and U.S.- sponsored 1983 mutual recognition agreement with Israel [WP 5/22].

Other Countries: Former U.S. Sec. of State Henry Kissinger says international peace conference is certain to end in deadlock. Israeli F.M. Peres and MK Simha Dinitz voice disagreement UP 5/22]. Israeli government complains that subpoena served on former Foreign Ministry official David Kimche violates agreement between Israeli and U.S. governments [BG 5/22]. Viennese court sentences 2 Palestinians to life imprisonment for December 1985 airport attack [PI 5/22]. U.S. District Court in Los Angeles rules that it lacks authority to decide constitutionality of McCarren-Walter Act, under which 7 Palestinians and 1 Kenyan are threatened with deportation [LAT 5/22].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli authorities arrest 4 al-Najah U. students without charges, jail them under administrative detention orders. Army claims they are local leaders of Fateh, PFLP, and DFLP [FJ 8/9]. Nine Palestinian ex-prisoners released in the 5/20 prisoner exchange are served with deportation notices. Army states they can be deported because they cannot prove residency before original detentions. The 9 are from a group of 31 (out of the 1,150 ex-prisoners released 5/20) who do not have West Bank or Gaza IDs. They had all been told upon release they must leave when their residency permits expire this week. Some have nowhere to go. The Red Cross is looking into their cases [CT 8/7].) The High Court orders a delay in the deportation of one of the ex-prisoners, 'Abd al-Mujid Rudad, who argued that his whole family lives in Tulkarm and that during his 17 years of detention he repeatedly expressed regret for his political activities [WP 8/7]. The defense minister and the military govemor of the Tulkarm area have 45 days to explain why they should not prevent his deportation [JP 8/7]. Defense Min. Yitzhak Rabin justifies recent security measures; says Israel will use "whatever means are effective" tomaintain order [LAT 8/7]. Israeli govemment inaugurates new settlement, Adura, near Hebron, first since Peres took office [PI 8/7]. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports announcement by Austrian-Arab Society in Vienna that Hospice Hospital will reopen as a full-scale hospital afterenovation. Agreement was reportedly worked out between Franz Cardinal Koenig, archbishop of Vienna, and Tahir Kan'an, Jordanian minister for the occupied territories [JTA 8/7]. Israel Radio announces that none of the security officers involved in storming of Israeli bus hijacked by Palestinians last year will be charged in the deaths of two of the four hijackers [NYT 8/7]. Reuters reports that Rabbi Meir Kahane is giving 60 youths paramilitary training in a summer camp in the West Bank [TS 8/6]. Thirty-member delegation including Texas and Oklahoma oilmen and 6 U.S. congressmen arrives in Israel on fact-finding mission organized by Council for a Secure America, group established last year to support U.S. legislation aimed at promoting domestic production of oil and gas [JP 8/6]. New U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Pickering presents credentials to President Chaim Herzog, reiterates U.S. opposition to new security measures, emphasizes U.S. support for Israel [CT 8/7].

Arab World: Seventeen representatives of Arab League member states assemble in Casablanca for Arab summit meeting [NYT 8/7]. Half the states attending are not represented by their heads of state [FT 8/7]. Fifteen pro-Syrian Muslim, Druze opposition leaders, and Greek Orthodox figures meet in Shtawra under Syrian sponsorship; proclaim National Unity Front to demand changes in Lebanon's system of political representation, now favoring the Maronites; call for a "democratic and secular" state with wide-ranging constitutional and electoral reforms [WP 8/7].

Military Action

Arab World: Suicide bomber riding a mule kills himself, the animal, and wounds at least one other in Hasbayya. Bomber is identified as Jamal Sati, 23, Sunni Muslim student and local Communist party chief [LAT 8/7]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Administrative detention order is issued against ex-political prisoner Ziad Abu 'Ain, for allegedly planning to hijack Israeli bus. (Abu 'Ain spent less than 3 months at home following his release in the 5/20 prisoner exchange) [FJ 8/9]. Nablus remains under curfew following 7/30 murder of Albert Buchris. Five hundred police and a helicopter monitor his funeral [JTA 8/1]. Army enters al-Najah University and raids student council offices; preparations had been underway for student elections [JP 8/2]. Knesset passes bill requiring anyone running for Knesset to give up second citizenship [WP, PI, JTA 8/1]. Israeli police break into the site of preparations for the second annual Palestinian heritage festival in Tireh, order volunteers to stop work on the basis they do not have building permits [FJ 8/9]. Funeral is held in Afula for Israeli shot to death in West Bank. Riot police disperse crowd outside police station [PI 8/1]. Mayor Shalom Wach of Kiryat Arba cancels plan to dismiss all Palestinian workers employed by the municipality following Attorney General Zamir's ruling the plan is illegal UTA 8/1]. New American Ambassador to Israel Thomas Pickering assures P. M. Peres there has been no change in U.S. policy towards the PLO; U.S. will engage in talks with a Palestinian-Jordanian delegation only if convinced it will lead to direct talks with Israel; U.S. is ready, if requested, to help Israel and Egypt resolve Taba dispute [JTA 8/1]. The Jerusalem Post reports charges of corruption have been made against several Israeli companies and individuals operating in the black "homeland" of Ciskei; contracts with the trade commissioners in Israel have been terminated; all commercial relations with Israel have been cut [JP 7/31, JTA 8/5].

Military Action

Arab World: Suicide car bomb attack against an Israeli armored patrol in the security zone kills at least 3 Lebanese, including the driver, wounds unknown number of others, including Israeli soldiers. Syrian Social Nationalist party claims responsibility, saying its member, 'Ali Ghazi Talib, 22, carried out the attack [NYT 8/1].