The Palestine Chronology

PA announces end of amnesty period to legally register weapons, begins confiscating unlicensed weapons. (PR 12/11) (see 12/18)

Citing recent prisoner release demonstrations, PM Netanyahu accuses PA of "willfully fomenting violence," says he will not carry out next stage of FRD set for 12/18. (WT 12/7)

Gesher MK Levy decides against rejoining Israel's coalition government, accuses Netanyahu of deception in trying to entice him back. (MM, NYT, WP 12/7; MA, YA 12/8 in WNC 12/11; MEI 12/11) (see 11/25)

In Paris, Egyptian pres. Husni Mubarak, Arafat discuss Wye implementation. (MENA 11/25 in WNC 11/30)

To cement his majority in the Knesset and cabinet, PM Netanyahu strikes tentative deal with Gesher party head David Levy, who resigned as FM in 1/98 after denouncing Netanyahu's government, to rejoin the cabinet. Both Netanyahu, FM Sharon cancel trips abroad shore up coalition. (MM 11/25; NYT, WP, WT 11/26; WT 11/27; MA 11/29, 11/30 in WNC 12/1; MM 12/4; JP 12/7)

Government of Turkish PM Mesut Yilmaz falls in a no-confidence vote over corruption allegations. (MM, NYT, WP 11/26; MEI 12/11)

Iranian Majles delegation visits Lebanon. (IRNA 11/25 in WNC 11/30) (see 11/23)

Secy. of State Albright ends her trip to the Middle East with an unscheduled stop in Beirut, where she calls on all foreign powers to get out of Lebanon. On her way home, she acknowledges that the situation in the region "is probably even worse than I thought"; says that if she can't make a difference, she will concentrate on other international issues--"I can't be occupied with this full time." (RL 9/15 in WNC 9/16; CSM, NYT, WP 9/16; SA 9/17 in WNC 9/19; PR 9/19)

Egyptian pres. Mubarak receives Arafat in Alexandria. (MENA, RE 9/15 in WNC 9/15)

EU FMs meet in Brussels, agree to give PA additional $4.6 m. to help cover administrative deficits incurred due to the closure, call on Israel to release tax money. The Jordan-EU association agmt. is not signed because of because of technical differences, however the EU agrees to give Jordan $11.4 m. in special finanical aid to help "meet the needs of the most disadvantaged sections" of Jordan's population. (RJ 9/24 in WNC 9/26)

Israel turns over $35 m. in tax money owed the PA, lifts the internal closure on PA-controlled cities. Palestinians are still barred fr. entering Israel. (WT 9/16) (see 9/14)

In Ras al-Amud, MKs representing Molodet, the National Religious Party, Tsomet, Gesher visit settlers to express their support. At the site, riot police break up protest by 40 Peace Now mbrs., MK Yael Dayan, Meretz leader Yossi Sarid, Orient House's Faisal Husseini. (MM 9/15; NYT, WP 9/16; RJ 9/16 in WNC 9/17; WJW 9/18; MEI 9/26) (see 9/13)

Iranian pres. Muhammad Khatami says he is ready for talks with the U.S. only if they are based on mututal respect, noninterference in Iranian affairs. (WT 9/17)

Jordanian cabinet approves government decision to joint the Chemical Weapons Ban Treaty, which took effect 4/97. (al-Ra'i 9/15 in WNC 9/16)

2 suicide bombers dressed as ultra-Orthodox Jews detonate explosives in a crowded market in Jerusalem, killing 13 Israelis, wounding more than 170 Israelis, Palestinians. IDF immediately seals the West Bank, Gaza, preventing even town-to-town movement; suspends recognition of Palestinian passports; sends troops to seal the PA-controlled cities. A letter signed by Hamas's military wing, Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades, takes responsibility, but Israeli security question its authenticity, Hamas political leader `Abd al-Aziz Rantisi says Hamas was not involved. (MM 7/30; IDF Radio, ITV, RE 7/30 in WNC 7/31; IDF Radio, ITV, JTV 7/30, MA, RAI Uno Television [Rome], RE, YA 7/31 in WNC 8/1; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 7/31; ITV 7/31 in WNC 8/6; CSM, WT 8/1; AFP, MAP [Rabat], VOA 8/1 in WNC 8/4; NYT 8/3; al-Dustur, al-Majd 8/4 in WNC 8/7; CSM 8/5; WJW 8/7; MEI, PR 8/8; JP 8/9; CSM 8/11)

In the wake of the bombings, PM Netanyahu, FM Levy phone Secy. of State Albright, demand that the U.S. put pressure Arafat. The Israeli cabinet suspends all contacts with the PA until Arafat acts against Islamists "with determination," destroys their infrastructure. However, 1 mtg. btwn. Israeli, PA security officials is held. Over night, an IDF helicopter hovers over Arafat's Gaza headquarters, an Israeli warplane circles the Gaza Strip. (MM 7/30; ITV 7/30 in WNC 7/31; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/31; YA 7/31 in WNC 8/4; WT 8/1)

As a result of the bombings, U.S. special envoy Ross cancels plans to leave today for the Middle East to meet with Arafat, Netanyahu. (MM, WT 7/30; NYT, WP, WT 7/31)

In Amman, King Hussein receives Israeli Knesset "Coalition Bloc for Peace," comprising Gesher, Third Way, Yisra'el B'Aliya, Shas MKs and the dir. of Israel's International Center of Peace in the Middle East. (JTV 7/30 in WNC 7/31)

State Dept. lifts the 12-yr.-old ban forbidding Americans to travel to Lebanon after that government agrees to take new steps to improve security at various locations, pledges to ratify an international convention against hostage-taking. The decision does not include lifting the ban on flights by Lebanese carriers to the U.S. or by U.S. carriers to Lebanon. (MM, WP 7/30; RL, RMC 7/30 in WNC 7/31; WT 7/31; al-Safir 7/31 in WNC 8/1; RL 8/4 in WNC 8/5; WT 8/6; al-Safir 8/6 in WNC 8/8; MEI 8/8)

Saudi Arabian dissident Sayigh backs out of a plea agmt. with the FBI to cooperate in the al-Khobar bombing case; says that he is innocent of any wrongdoing; was pressured by Canadian immigration officials to make statements on the bombing to avoid being deported to Saudi Arabia, where he faces execution. (NYT, WT 7/31) (see 6/30)

ILMG opens 2-day mtg. to discuss 1 Lebanese, 3 Israeli complaints. (VOL 7/30, RL 7/31 in WNC 8/1)

UN extends the UNIFIL mandate for 6 mos. (RL 7/30 in WNC 8/1)

Israeli naval forces detain 5 Lebanese fishermen off the coast of s. Lebanon, interrogate them before releasing them. (RL 7/29 in WNC 7/30) (see 7/28)

In Cairo, Pres. Mubarak, Syrian pres. Asad discuss possible Arab summit on the peace process. (ESC Television [Cairo], RMC 5/1 in WNC 5/2; MM 5/2)

Turkey, Israel end 3 days of military talks, agree to perform joint military maneuvers with the U.S. later this yr. (Anatolia [Ankara] 5/2 in WNC 5/2; MM, WT 5/2; Turkiye [Istanbul] 5/4 in WNC 5/7; VIRI 5/6 in WNC 5/8; JP 5/10)

PM Netanyahu forms a 10-mbr. Gesher, Likud, Tsomet ministers' forum that will meet once a wk., before cabinet sessions. The PM's goal is to have the ministers more involved in consultations to prevent incidents similar to the Bar-On affair. (IDF Radio 5/1 in WNC 5/2)

ILMG continues discussion of 4/29 complaints, determines that 1 mortar fired 4/25 by a Lebanese group accidentally landed inside Israel, but reaches no final decisions. (RL 5/1 in WNC 5/2)

U.S. takes over rotating chairmanship of ILMG fr. France today, but the U.S. official will assume his post 5/5. (al'Ahd 5/9 in WNC 5/15)

In Jerusalem, the new Knesset is sworn in. Netanyahu signs final coalition agmts. (with UTJ [4 seats], Yisrael BaAliya [7 seats]) needed to secure his coalition government. Debate with Sharon over cabinet position delays presentation of the new government until 6/18; Gesher's David Levy threatens to withdraw fr. the coalition (see 3/12) if Sharon is not given an adequate portfolio. (MM 6/17; QY 6/17 in FBIS 6/17; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/18; HA 6/18 in FBIS 6/21; WP 6/19; WJW 6/20) (see 6/16)

1-day EU-Mediterranean business conference convenes in Rome. (European Report 6/15) 

Israel's Likud party holds its 1st ever primary to select its slate of MK candidates, excluding candidate for PM, for the 5/29 elections. Retired Gen. Yitzhak Mordechai is selected to head the list, with fmr. DM Ariel Sharon 2d, Oslo opponent Benjamin Begin 3d, party veteran Dan Meridor 4th. Combined with the coalition agmt. with Gesher, Tsomet (see 3/12), the slate suggests a Likud government would have security-oriented hardliners in its top posts. (MM 3/26, 3/27; QY 3/27 in FBIS 3/27; MM, NYT 3/28; WJW 4/4; MEI 4/12)

PSF head Muhammad Dahlan claims the PSF has discovered a secret group within the Qassam Brigades that is controlled by the Hamas leadership in Jordan; says the PA has detained all but 2 mbrs. (Muhammad Daif, Yahya al-Ghoul) of the Qassam Brigades and a total of 70 percent of Hamas mbrs. overall. (WT 3/27; CSM 4/8)

IDF arrests 10 additional alleged Hamas mbrs. in the Bethlehem, Hebron, Janin, Tulkarm areas. To date Israel has arrested over 400 persons suspected of hostile anti-Israeli activities. (QY 3/26 in FBIS 3/26)

Fmr. U.S. Pres. George Bush meets with Syrian Pres. Asad in Damascus; then drives to Beirut to meet with Pres. Hrawi. Bush is on a regional tour to thank Gulf War allies (incl., Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain) for their support during that conflict. (RL, SARR, VOL 3/26 in FBIS 3/26; RL 3/26, 3/27 in FBIS 3/27; MM 3/27; WT 3/27; NYT 4/5)

Fmr. negotiator, current PC mbr. Hanan Ashrawi (I-Jerusalem) says that she will meet lawyers' requests to submit an affidavit in defense of Hamas political leader Musa Abu Marzuq for his extradition hearing, scheduled for 4/2 in New York. (AFP 3/26 in FBIS 3/26)

PSF bulldozes a monument in Khan Yunis commemorating Yahya Ayyash. (QY 3/12 in FBIS 3/12)

Likud's Benjamin Netanyahu, Gesher's Levy, Tsomet's Rafael Eitan sign deal creating an alliance btwn. their parties in the upcoming elections. Levy, Eitan will not challenge Netanyahu for the PM position. (QY 3/12 in FBIS 3/13; WT 3/13; CSM 3/20; WJW, WP 3/21)

After further negotiations with the Israeli parties, PM Peres changes the date of elections to 5/29. (QY 2/20 in FBIS 2/21; MM, WP 2/21; NYT 2/22) (see 2/19)

Fmr. Likud mbr. and fmr. FM David Levy formally announces he will run for PM and his Gesher party will put up a list for parliament. This election will mark the 1st time Israelis will vote separately for the PM. (QY 2/20, JP 2/21 in FBIS 2/21; MM, WT 2/21)

Fearing a backlash after the Rabin assassination, Israel's YESHA settlers' council decides not to hold militant demonstrations before the elections. (WT 2/21)

Lt. Gen. Hussein Kamel and family return to Iraq, are met at the border by Uday Hussein, Saddam's son. (MM 2/20; WP, WT 2/21; MM 2/23)

Israeli security sources say a Hizballah mbr. attempted to hang glide into n. Israel fr. Lebanon today but crashed just n. of the Israeli self-declared security zone. Hizballah denies responsibility. (ITV, RL 2/20, IDF Radio, QY, RL 2/21 in FBIS 2/21; MM 2/21; QY 2/24 in FBIS 2/26)

In celebration of Id al-Fitr, Hizballah releases 3 SLA soldiers in s. Lebanon. 2 of the men were captured in 1992, the 3d in 1986. (VOL 2/20 in FBIS 2/20; WT 2/21)

First Lady Hillary Clinton hosts prominent Muslim-Americans for Id al-Fitr reception at the White House to mark the end of Ramadan. (MM 2/21; WJW 2/22)

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF patrol near Kibbutz Gesher spots 2 figures near Jordan River, says men were armed and "intended to cross" from Jordan into Israel; IDF opens fire and men flee [FBIS 1/4]; Amman Television Service reports men were unarmed farmers who had no intention of crossing into Israel [FBIS 1/5; MET 1/16].

IDF patrol in southern Golan Heights comes under gunfire from across Jordan River. IDF returns fire; no injuries [FBIS 1/8].