The Palestine Chronology

UNSCOM chief inspector Scott Ritter resigns in protest over recent revelations that the U.S. repeatedly urged UNSCOM to forgo "challenge inspections" at Iraqi sites thought to house weapons of mass destruction. (MM 9/3; MA 9/3 in WNC 9/11; MM 9/4; MM 9/9, 9/11; Babil 9/17 in WNC 9/25; NYT, WP 10/2; WP 10/11, 10/12) (see 8/7)

IDF soldiers enforcing the Hebron closure prevent Palestinian woman in labor fr. reaching hospital, causing her baby's death. (LAW, WP 8/27; JP 9/5, 9/12; WP 9/19)

Libya tentatively accepts proposal approved by Britain, U.S. to try 2 suspects in the 1988 Pan Am bombing in the Hague under Scottish law. (MM 8/26; NYT, WP, WT 8/27; WP, WT 8/28; MEI 9/4; WP 9/30) (see 7/30)

Five settlers fr. Yitzhar settlement abduct a Palestinian teenager, take him to the graves of 2 settlers killed 8/5, hold him there for 2 hrs., beat him. (PR 9/4)

Settlers in Hebron set fire to a Palestinian home nr. the Jewish sector of the city, injuring 1 man. IDF soldiers enforcing th curfew on the city prevent fire fighters fr. reaching the site. (PR 9/4)

Amal shells an SLA post in s. Lebanon, killing 1 SLA mbr., wounding another. (RL 8/26 in WNC 8/27)

Arafat arrives in Oman for talks on possible Arab summit. (Oman Television Network 6/3 in WNC 6/8)

In Cairo, the Arab League's Arab Economic Unity Council convenes annual session. (MENA 6/3 in WNC 6/4)

Algeria, Jordan sign 2 cooperation agmts, a free trade agmt. Crown Prince Hassan, Pres. Lamine Zeroual also discuss peace process, possible Arab summit. (RJ 6/3, ENTV [Algiers], JT 6/4 in WNC 6/8)

Egypt invites FBI agents into the country to arrest, extradite Palestinian bomb maker Muhammad Rashid, a mbr. of the 15th of May group known for placing bombs on international flights during the 1980s, including on a 1982 Pan Am flight in which 1 person died. (NYT, WP 6/4; WT 6/16)

U.S. accuses Iraq of releasing millions of gallons of Kuwaiti crude oil into Gulf; officials say it will have little military significance, but threatens ecology on scale larger than Exxon Valdez disaster. Pres. Bush says spill is "sick" act of desperation, orders Pentagon to find way to stop leak [WAKH 1/26 in FBIS 1/28; NYT, LAT 1/26].

Iraqi SCUD missile hits Riyadh, killing 1 person and wounding 6; 7 missiles are fired at Israel, all are reportedly intercepted by Patriot missiles, but falling debris kills 1 and injures 42 others [RIDS, JAA, IDF 1/25 in FBIS 1/28; NYT, LAT 1/26].

New York Times reports that Pan American World Airways has refused to carry Iraqi passengers since 1/16, for fear of terrorism like that which destroyed Pan Am flight over Lockerbie 2 years ago [NYT 1/26].

Iranian Pres. Rafsanjani restates neutrality in Gulf war; strongly rejects idea that Iran join with Iraq, saying that would be suicide and would mean Iran approved of Iraq remaining in Kuwait [NYT 1/26].

Soviet F.M. Alexander Bessmertnykh meets with members of PLO Executive Committee to explore ways to end Gulf war [LAT 1/26].

EC lifts all restrictions on Israel because of its restraint under Iraqi missile attack; restrictions were imposed in January 1990 to protest closure of Palestinian schools [MEM 1/25].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Classes at al-Najah University resume after 6-week closure [FJ 11/1].

Other Counties: Nawal Hamad and her 4 children, Palestinian Americans who were denied entry to Israel, and Marvin Vaughn, a black American also denied entry to Israel, file suit against Pan American Airlines charging violations of their civil rights and false imprisonment. ADC calls for boycott of airline [EJ 11/1]. Amnesty International issues report on Syrian torture of political prisoners, including large number of Palestinians [NYT 10/28].

Social/Economic/Political

Other Countries: In Pakistan, investigators of Pan Am hijack-massacre say hijackers were probably directed from Lebanon, not Libya, despite fact that fifth suspect arrested after hijacking is Libyan. Pakistani official says hijackers are "a product of refugee camps in Lebanon, born and brought up in conditions of great misery" (NYT 10/29). Panel of Italian judges publishes report saying Achille Lauro hijacking suspect Majid al-Mulqi, 24, was given 30-year sentence for murder instead of life imprisonment because he had been raised in climate of violence in Palestinian refugee camps (NYT 10/30).

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Taba agreement, condition for Egyptian-Israeli talks, incomplete, jeopardizing Peres-Mubarak talks, scheduled for 9/11 (WP 9/10). Spanish F.M. Francisco Ordonez visits Israel, stresses Spain's commitment to Palestinian right to self-determination during dinner hosted by F.M. Shamir; calls for international conference on Mideast (FBIS 9/11).

Arab World: Frank Reed, American director of private West Beirut school, is kidnapped by Islamic Jihad in West Beirut (WP 9/10).

Other Countries: U.S. Sec. of Defense Weinberger says Karachi Pan Am hijack-massacre looks like work of Abu Nidal, but Defense Department says there is "no connection to Syria or Lebanon here" (WP 9/10).

Military Action

Arab World: IDF warplanes again strike at alleged headquarters of Palestinian Popular Struggle Front near Sidon; at least three are killed (MEI 9/12).

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: F.M. Shamir says he will never concede territories in exchange for peace. Survey shows 45,000 settlers are now in occupied territories among 1.3 million Palestinians (MEI 9/14).

Arab World: At Tunis press conference, PLO Deputy Chairman Abu lyad says PLO opposes terrorist acts, individual and state-sponsored, following Karachi and Istanbul incidents (FJ 9/12). U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Murphy in Damascus for talks with Syrian President al-Asad; Asad stresses importance of international conference (MEI 9/14). Syria has ordered most of Abu Nidal's group in Damascus to leave, and detained 14 (including Abu Nidal's nephew 'Abd al-Karim al-Banna, who was released after two weeks following Libyan intervention), according to al-Ittihad (Abu Dhabi) (AFP 9/7).

Other Countries: Nonaligned movement conference in Hararends; accuses U.S. of ''state terrorism" in bombing of Libya; calls on U.S. to "end unprovoked aggression against Libyas well as military maneuvers in Gulf of Sidra (NYT 9/8). Pakistan's President Zia al-Haq says Pan Am terrorists have no apparent connection to any government; will be tried in Pakistan (under threat of death penalty); says Palestinian hijacking in Pakistan showed "bad taste" but would not reduce Pakistan's support for Palestinian cause (NYT 9/8).

Military Action

Arab World: Israel Navy reimposes blockade of port of Sidon; intercepts three commercial vessels, prevents them from entering port. State of emergency declared in Palestinian camps near Sidon for fear of Israeli attack (FBIS 9/8). 

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Murphy in Egypt for talks with Egyptian Pres. Mubarak on Egypt-Israeli summit and proposed Jordan-Israel-Egypt peace (MEI 9/14).

Other Countries: Pan Am airliner hijacked in Karachi by five Arabs: 21 dead, more than 100 injured. Pakistani authorities arrest four perpetrators on scene, arrest fifth later (NYT 9/6).

Military Action

Arab World: IDF soldier accidentally killed by other Israeli soldiers during attack on Hizballah outpost at Zibqin village four miles north of "security zone" (eighth IDF soldier this year, not including two kidnapped whose fate is unknown). IDF say Hizballah launched rocket attacks on northern Israel from this location; capture four fighters and take them to Israel; blow up six houses. Later, SLA shell village after one of its soldiers is killed in attack. P.M. Peres tours "security zone" with SLA commander Antoine Lahd, and says he does not want UNIFIL troops along Israeli border (JP 9/7; NYT 9/6; AFP 9/5).