The Palestine Chronology

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)

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)

PA-Israeli talks on elections resume in Cairo. Sides discuss updating Palestinian census for voter registration. Israel turns over magnetic tapes of census information, aerial photos of o.t. to help draw up voter districts. (QY, VOP 4/4 in FBIS 4/5; MM 4/5)

Jordan, Israel sign tourism agmt. at Dayr Alla. (JT 4/5 in FBIS 4/5)

Donors' Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) close informal 2-day mtg. in Washington. PA submits FY 1995 budget. Donors agree to cover PA operating costs through April, pending donor plenum 4/27. (HA 3/31 in FBIS 3/31; RE 4/6 in FBIS 4/6; VOP 4/6 in FBIS 4/6; JP 4/8)

Following donor mtg., mbrs. of Palestinian delegation meet with World Bank, IMF, U.S. Dept. of Commerce officials to discuss free Palestinian trade, with U.S. delegations interested in starting joint U.S.-Palestinian development projects in o.t. (VOP 4/6 in FBIS 4/7)

Egypt's Pres. Mubarak visits mbrs. of Congress, lobbies for continuation of aid; holds 2d mtg. with Secy. of State Christopher, discusses NPT, Egypt's economy, methods of expanding peace btwn. Israel, Arab states; receives assurances the administration will push Congress to maintain $2.1 b. aid package. Christopher reportedly blasts Mubarak for Egypt's "lack of support" on NPT issue. (WT, NYT 4/4; MENA 4/4 in FBIS 4/5; MENA 4/4 in FBIS 4/6; WT 4/5; CSM 4/6; MM 4/7; MEI 4/14)

Knesset delays bill that would allow government to transfer tax funds to the PA to ease its financial burden after Tsomet asks to turn vote into no-confidence motion. (JP 4/4 in FBIS 4/4)

Likud Knesset delegation submits no-confidence motion against government. Likud motion and those submitted 7/6 by Tsomet and NRP to be debated 7/12. (Qol Yisra'el 7/7 in FBIS 7/7)

Egyptian Pres. Mubarak meets with Syrian Pres. al-Asad in Latakia, Syria to discuss peace process. (SANA 7/7 in FBIS 7/8)

Arab info. mins. open 2-day meeting at Arab League H.Q. in Cairo. (MENA 7/6 in FBIS 7/9)

U.S. Middle East coordinator Dennis Ross meets in Moscow with Deputy FM Yossi Beilin prior to visiting Middle East to discuss U.S. proposals on peace process. (Ha Aretz 7/7 in FBIS 7/7)

FM Peres meets Egyptian Pres. Mubarak in Alexandria, discusses U.S. document and Jerusalem issue. (MENA 7/6 in FBIS 7/6)

Jerusalem deputy mayor Avraham Kahila claims Jewish population of East Jerusalem now at 160,000, 5,000 larger than Palestinian population. (Ha Aretz 7/6 in FBIS 7/7; WT 7/7)

Tsomet and National Religious Party submit no-confidence motions in Knesset against Labor government, citing stalemate in peace talks and situation in southern Lebanon. (Qol Yisra'el 7/6 in FBIS 7/7)

Lebanese parliament rejects 7/1 U.S. Senate resolution, characterizing it as "interference" in Lebanon's affairs, and "denounces the American Senate's perpetual silence" on Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon. Lebanese cabinet joins in denunciation the following day (see 7/1). (MM 7/7)

PM-designate Rabin appoints Shimon Peres as for. min., but reserves the right to "lead" negotiations on Palestinian autonomy. Rafael Eytan announces he and Tsomet's MKs will not join the governing coalition. (WP 7/12)

Clashes continue between Fateh and Hamas, injuring dozens, in Gaza Strip as Hamas rejects 7/10 "agreement." Opposing rallies are held in camps. Meanwhile, Hamas reps. in Amman praise agreement. Palestinian delegation from W. Bank led by Faisal Husseini arrives in Gaza City to help mediate the conflict. (MM 7/10; ITV 7/11 in FBIS 7/13; Jordan Times 7/12 in FBIS 7/14)

Pres. Mubarak meets with Syrian FM Faruk al-Shara' in Cairo. (MENA 7/11 in FBIS 7/13)

Syrian VP 'Abd al-Halim Khaddam, PM Mahmud al-Zubi' meet separately with Lebanese PM Rashid al-Solh in Damascus, discuss S. Lebanon, bilateral relations, national accord implementation. (Syrian Arab Republic Radio 7/11 in FBIS 7/13)