The Palestine Chronology

In Cairo, Arafat briefs FM Musa on U.S. envoy Ross's last tour. In Amman, Arafat adviser Abbas briefs King Hussein on the tour. (JTV, MENA, RJ 4/5 in WNC 4/7)

In Paris, French pres. Chirac meets with Syrian VP Khaddam, FM Shara`; says that UN Res. 425 requires Israel's unilateral, unconditional withdrawal fr. s. Lebanon. (RMC 4/5 in WNC 4/7; MM 4/6; MEI 4/10)

Iran receives new amb. fr. Turkey. (IRNA 4/5 in WNC 4/7)

Shin Bet officials inform the Israeli cabinet that the PA is fighting terrorism, using full weight against Hamas. PM Netanyahu disagrees. (ITV 4/5 in WNC 4/7)

Jordan releases last 16 of 250 residents of Ma'an detained in 2/98 on suspicion of instigating pro-Iraq rioting. (WP 4/5; RJ 4/5 in WNC 4/7) (see 2/28)

U.S. special envoy Ross meets with PM Netanyahu, who again rejects U.S. FRD proposal, claiming that PA has not backed adequate reciprocal security steps. Ross then meets with Arafat. (CSM, WP 3/30; JP 4/11)

In Amman, PA Local Government M Erakat briefs Jordan's Dep. PM Anani on U.S. special envoy Ross's mtgs. with Arafat. (JTV 3/29 in WNC 3/31)

In Washington, senior Israeli diplomats meet with AIPAC leaders at the Israeli amb.'s residence to discuss AIPAC efforts to have congressmen sign a letter urging the U.S. not to pressure Israel on FRD. AIPAC exec. dir. Howard Kohr denies group is coordinating lobbying efforts with the Israeli government, claims letter was initiated independently by Sens. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), Connie Mack (R-FL); emb. wanted briefing on the letter by AIPAC rather than the senators themselves because, according to Kohr, "No one knows more about the Hill than us." (NYT 4/26)

The body of Hamas mbr. Muhieddin Sharif is found in the debris of a car explosion in Ramallah, in area A. Israel claims he was making a car bomb, but PA autopsy shows that he died from 3 gunshot wounds hours before the explosion. Sharif has been on the top of Israel's wanted list for 2 yrs. (MM 4/1; ITV 4/1, 4/2 in WNC 4/4; CSM, MM, WJW, WP, WT 4/2; MM 4/7; MEI 4/10; PR 4/17)

PSF announces seizure of 7 arms caches, weapons factories belonging to Hamas. (MM 4/14)

Labor MK Beilin holds unauthorized mtg. with Arafat to suggest plan for restarting PA-Israeli talks. (MM 4/28; PR 5/2; JP 5/10)

In the West Bank village of Haris (area B), IDF troops on routine patrol are pelted by rocks, open fire on Palestinian youths, killing 1, wounding 2. (MM 4/28; ITV 4/28 in WNC 4/29; PR 5/2)

In Beirut, a bomb explodes outside the home of the dir. gen. of Lebanon's Information Min., causing material damage but no injuries. No one claims responsibility. (RL 4/28 in WNC 4/29)

IDF fires on areas in s. Lebanon, hitting and damaging a school bus but injuring none of the students on board. (RL 4/27, 4/28 in WNC 4/29)

In Hebron, Jewish settlers, Palestinians hold counterdemonstrations in Israeli controled H2. IDF soldiers shoot rubber bullets, wounding 6 Palestinians, including a PA policeman. (ITV 4/12 in WNC 4/15; NYT, WP, WT 4/13)

King Hussein undergoes prostate surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Doctors find no cancer. (JTV 4/5, RJ 4/7 in WNC 4/8; WP, WT 4/6; JTV 4/11 in WNC 4/14)

As Palestinian protests continue throughout the territories, 10,000 Israelis attend peace rally in Tel Aviv, encourage PM Netanyahu to resume talks with the PA immediately. (ITV 4/5 in WNC 4/8; WP, WT 4/6)

Israel says that the IDF, Shin Bet have detained 42 Hamas suspects in Surif since the 3/21 suicide bombing. (YA 4/6 in WNC 4/8; PR 4/18)

U.S. secy. of state Albright meets with King Hussein, speaks twice by phone with Arafat. Later, the king meets with Defense Secy. Cohen. (AFP, RJ 4/2 in WNC 4/4; WT 4/3)

At the UN, fmr. Secy. of State James Baker III criticizes the U.S. for vetoing recent UNSC resolutions on Israeli settlements, especially after having publicly criticized Israeli settlement decisions; says the vetoes send a mixed signal, Israel's Har Homa construction makes "a mockery of Resolutions 242 and 338." (WP, WT 4/3)

Israeli government acknowledges that DM Mordechai recently approved construction of 1,000s of housing units in West Bank settlements. (ITV 4/2 in WNC 4/3; NYT, WP, WT 4/3; JP 4/12)

Nr. Nablus, 2 settlers, who claim to have been attacked by Palestinian stone throwers, kidnap a disabled Palestinian youth, beat him, take him to their settlement. IDF soldiers at nearby checkpoint, informed by Palestinian witnesses, enter the settlement, free the youth, arrest the settlers. (PR 4/11)

Israel prevents 20 Hamas, Islamic Jihad mbrs. fr. leaving Gaza to preform the haj although they had already obtained Israeli permission to do so. (al-Ayyam 44 in WNC 4/7)

Nr. Jalazun r.c. in the West Bank, an unidentified assailant throws a firebomb at an IDF truck, injuring 13 soldiers; IDF puts a curfew on Jalazun. In a nearby village, Israeli motorists beat a Palestinian they accuse of stoning their car, dump him at an army camp. (NYT, WP, WT 4/3)

Islamic Jihad leader Shaykh `Abbullah al-Shami denies Islamic Jihad was responsible for the 4/1 bombings in Gaza. Meanwhile, PA police detain 30 suspected Islamic Jihad mbrs. in connection with the explosions. 13 are released after questioning. (ITV 4/2 in WNC 4/7; CSM, NYT, WP 4/3; NYT 4/4)

2 days of PA-Israeli talks on elections, redeployment close in Cairo without progress. PA Planning M Shaath says Israelis are not taking talks seriously. (MENA 4/10, 4/11 in FBIS 4/11; IDF Radio, MENA 4/11 in FBIS 4/12)

In closed military trial held at night, without prior notice, PA sentences Omar Shalah, mbr. of Islamic Jihad, to life in prison for planning 1/22 Beit Lid bombing, "harming the peace process." PA Planning M Shaath acknowledges closed-door trials are controversial but calls them "necessary to protect the national interest." Islamists fire on PA security mbrs. wounding 2. Hamas, Islamic Jihad warn Arafat is going too far. Israel says he is doing better but still not doing enough. (MM 4/11; QY 4/11 in FBIS 4/11; AFP 4/11 in FBIS 4/12; CSM, NYT, WP 4/12; NYT 4/13; JP 4/22; NYT 5/3)

Israeli Police M Shahal presents PM Rabin with final conclusions to separation proposal submitted 3/17; calls for "fixed  closure" (incl. vehicles) in which entry to Israel will be permitted only by licensing, through regulated points only, with "assumption . . . that anybody who crosses into Israel otherwise is coming to commit an offense and is held to be a suspect from the outset." (ITV 4/11 in FBIS 4/12; MM 4/12)

Arafat, Pres. Mubarak meet in Cairo to discuss peace process, Palestinian opposition. Arafat accuses Israel of fomenting Palestinian civil war by continuing occupation, delaying negotiations. (AFP, MENA, RE, VOP 4/11 in FBIS 4/12; NYT, WP 4/12)

Pres. Mubarak's political advisor Ossama al-Baz says Egypt does not seek to withdraw fr. NPT, wants 5-yr. reviews, is against unlimited extension. (MENA 4/11 in FBIS 4/12)

PM Rabin tells cabinet he will not suspend talks with Syria despite Hizballah attacks 3/31, only a diplomatic solution to the conflict is possible, Israel will not attempt a military solution; says Syria has promised Secy. of State Christopher it will restrain Hizballah. (MM 4/3)

Jordanian FM al-Kabariti, Syrian Amb. Mu`allim meet in Washington to discuss Syria's stand in talks with Israel. Mu`allim leaves for Syria to prepare for Ross visit. (RJ 4/2 in FBIS 4/4)

Russian FM Kozyrev meets with PM Rabin, Pres. Weizman, FM Peres in Jerusalem, discusses Israeli-Lebanese border tensions, NPT, Iran, peace process. (QY 4/2, HA 4/3 in FBIS 4/3)

Arafat advisor Husseini meets with Russian Dep. FM Viktor Posuvalyuk at Orient House to discuss Israeli obstacles to implementing DOP. (VOP 4/2 in FBIS 4/3)

PM Rabin approves 2,000 more work permits for Palestinian workers to enter Israel, bringing total to 27,000. (ITV 4/1 in FBIS 4/4)

Kamal Kahil, sr. mbr. of Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades and no. 15 on Israel's most-wanted list, 7 others die, 30 are wounded in explosion in Gaza allegedly triggered when Kahil, 1 other Hamas mbr. accidently detonate bomb they are making. Hamas accuses Israel of assassinating Kahil, plotting to turn public opinion against Hamas. (QY, RMC, VOP 4/2 in FBIS 4/3; MM, WP, WT 4/3; AFP, ITV, QPAR, QY, VOP 4/3 in FBIS 4/4; MM, NYT 4/4; NYT 4/7; VOP 4/8 in FBIS 4/10; MEI, 4/14; JP 4/15)

PA says it is holding 3 Palestinian policemen after frmr. collaborator is found dead in Gaza. (AFP 4/2 in FBIS 4/4) (see 4/1)

Hizballah, Amal hold mtg. in s. Lebanon to coordinate efforts against Israel. (RL 4/2 in FBIS 4/3)