The Palestine Chronology

U.S. envoy Ross holds 4th mtg. with PM Netanyahu, Israeli Internal Security M Avigdor Kahalani; briefs them on his recent talks with Mubarak, Arafat. (MM, WP 9/15; WJW 9/17)

Egyptian, French officials meet in Paris to discuss plans for an international summit on the peace process. (MENA 9/14 in WNC 9/15)

Israel agrees to move all Jordanian political detainees to Ashkelon prison, to allow the Jordanian consul to visit them once a wk. (JT 9/14 in WNC 9/16; al-Aswaq 9/19 in WNC 9/22)

In Washington, Congress and the Knesset hold their 1st joint hearing under the auspices of the new U.S.-Israeli Interparliamentary Comm. on National Security, which aims to improve Israel's missile defense capability. (WJW 9/24)

IDF eases closure on the occupied territories, allowing 17,000 Palestinian workers and 3,000 businessmen into Israel. Palestinian medical sources report that since the closure began 9/10, 123 Palestinians have been injured in clashes with the IDF, Jewish settlers; 19 have been placed under administrative detention. (MM, WP 9/15)

Israel makes 1st successful tests of the Arrow-2 missile. (MM 9/15; WP 9/16; WJW 9/17; MM 9/24; JP 9/26)

Syrian FM al-Shara` calls Israeli proposal of 8/23 recipe for resumption of Lebanese civil war; rebukes Rabin for saying Israel would agree to continued Syrian presence in Lebanon, saying that is a matter for Syria, Lebanon to discuss. (MM 9/7) (see 8/23, 9/5)

Arafat meets with World Bank officials in preparation for Paris mtg. of donor countries 9/9. World Bank says it will release $30 m. of $180 m. slotted for development of autonomous areas. (VOP 9/7 in FBIS 9/7; JP 9/17)

MK's Shimon Shetrit, Avigdor Kahalani meet with 6 MK's fr. Labor, Yi'ud, Shas, draft bill that would require any withdrawal fr. Golan to have broad national backing, be supported by special majority of 70 MK's. (ITV 9/9 in FBIS 9/13)

Hamas says it is forming a political party so its mbrs. can take political posts in PNA, take part in elections. (CSM 9/13)

Arafat permits senior Hamas figure, Imad Faluji, to start daily newspaper Al-Watan. (MM 9/8)

DFLP SG Nayif Hawatmeh says crackdown on Islamic Jihad, DFLP paired with Hamas rapprochement is Arafat's divide-and-rule tactic. Hamas, Islamic Jihad, DFLP each issue leaflet demanding release of mbrs. recently arrested by Palestinian police. DFLP claims 14 mbrs. arrested in past wk. (MM 9/7, 9/8)

Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi says he is considering deporting 30,000 Palestinians to Gaza now that it is autonomous. Palestinians in Libya report many have been fired from jobs recently, lending weight to the threat. (Al-Quds 9/7 in MM 9/7; MM 9/15)

IDF shells Iqlim al-Tuffah in southern Lebanon, arrests 4 civilians accused of aiding Hizballah. (RL 9/7 in FBIS 9/8)