The Palestine Chronology

PM Netanyahu, DM Mordechai, FM Levy discuss 1st phase of further redeployment (FRD). (WT 3/23)

In Washington, Arafat meets with U.S. pres. Bill Clinton, Secy. of State Madeleine Albright. (MM, WT 3/3; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/4; MM 3/5; WJW 3/6; MEI 3/7; WJW 3/13)

Palestinians in East Jerusalem, Gaza, West Bank observe general strike to protest Israel's Har Homa and other construction plans. (MM 3/3; CSM, NYT, WT 3/4; MEI 3/7)

The 54-mbr. Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and Iran formally condemn Israel's plans to build at Har Homa. (VIRI 3/3 in WNC 3/7; MM 3/4)

Turkey dispatches a special envoy to Iran. Both countries blame the media for recent tensions. (VIRI 3/4 in WNC 3/10) (see 2/26)

Japanese envoy arrives in Damascus fr. Beirut to discuss with Syrian pres. Asad the extradition fr. Lebanon of 5 Red Army mbrs. Syria says it will not block the transfer. (MM 3/4; Kyodo [Tokyo] 3/4, 3/6 in WNC 3/7; AFP, Kyodo 3/4 in WNC 3/10; MM 3/5) (see 3/2)

A Syrian bus carrying 9 Japanese tourists comes under fire nr. Baalbeck, Lebanon, causing no injuries. (MM 3/5)

Arafat arrives in Washington fr. Cairo; meets with U.S. special envoy Dennis Ross, World Bank Pres. James Wolfensohn. (MM 3/3)

Likud central comm. mtg. is held. Senior party officials accuse PM Netanyahu of bringing "professional hecklers" to cheer him, shout down his opponents and the media on cue; preventing opposition fr. speaking. (IDF Radio 3/2 in WNC 3/4; MM, WJW 3/6; WT 3/8; JP 3/15)

Israeli DM Mordechai approves construction of 1,500 houses, 3,000 hotel rooms on 2,500 acres of land btwn. Jerusalem, Ma'ale Adumim settlement. (MM 3/3; WT 3/4)

In Amman, Jordanian PM Kabariti, Israeli Labor party mbr. Ehud Barak hold talks on bilateral relations. (RJ 3/2 in WNC 3/4; JTV, RJ 3/2 in WNC 3/7)

Japanese envoy arrives in Lebanon to confirm identities of alleged Red Army detainees. (RL 3/2 in WNC 3/4; MM 3/3) (see 2/18)

In Moscow, the PA head Yasir Arafat meets with Pres. Boris Yeltsin. (WT 2/19)

Israeli ministerial comm. decides to speed construction of roads in and around East Jerusalem, delays decision on construction of new settlement on Har Homa hill. (MM 2/18; MA 2/18 in WNC 2/20; NYT, WT 2/19; PR 2/21; WJW 2/22)

Israeli police question Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for 4 hrs. as part of their corruption probe surrounding the selection of Roni Bar-On at atty. gen. (see 1/24, 1/26). (MM, NYT 2/19; MM 2/21; ITV 2/21, YA 2/23 in WNC 2/25; WT 2/22; WP, WT 2/23; ITV 2/24 in WNC 2/26; JP 3/1)

Lebanese security forces announce they have arrested at least 7 people in Lebanon's Biqa` Valley, some of whom are believed to be mbrs. of the Japanese Red Army, incl. the surviving gunman in the 5/72 Ben-Gurion (Lod) airport attack in Tel Aviv. Japan says it will seek extradition of Red Army mbrs. (RL 2/18 in WNC 2/19; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/19; al-Quds al-Arabi 2/19 in WNC 2/20; RL 2/20 in WNC 2/21; RL 2/21 in WNC 2/24; AFP, RL 2/24 in WNC 2/25; RL 2/25 in WNC 2/26; Kyodo [Tokyo] 2/28 in WNC 3/3; RL 2/28, 3/1 in WNC 3/4; WP 3/13)

Israel Defense Forces (IDF), South Lebanon Army (SLA) shell villages in s. Lebanon, killing 1 civilian, wounding 2. Lebanon files complaint with ILMG. (RL 2/18 in WNC 2/19; WP 2/19; RL 2/21 in WNC 2/24)