The Palestine Chronology

In his 1st public reaction to Netanyahu's win, Arafat demands the new Israeli government stick to the agmts. signed by fmr. PM Yitzhak Rabin, caretaker PM Peres, particularly by withdrawing fr. Hebron. (MM 6/3)

After 3-hr. mtg. with Pres. Mubarak in Cairo, Syrian Pres. Asad says resuming peace talks with Israel is impossible until the policies of the Netanyahu government become clear. Mubarak echoes his wait-and-see position. (MM 6/3; MENA, RE 6/3 in FBIS 6/4; NYT, WP, WT 6/4; SARR 6/4 in FBIS 6/5)

Amb. to Israel Martin Indyk says U.S. will make sure Netanyahu redeploys troops in Hebron. (CSM, WT 6/4)

U.S. special envoy Ross phones PM-elect Netanyahu, offers to fly to Israel to brief him on the negotiations. Netanyahu say mtg. would be premature. (NYT 6/7)

Likud's Sharon threatens to resign his Knesset seat if Netanyahu does not offer him a senior cabinet position. (IDF Radio 6/3 in FBIS 6/4; YA 6/5 in FBIS 6/5)

In Hebron, Palestinians clash with IDF after troops detain a number of PA policemen, search their vehicle. (MM, WP, WT 6/4)

In the West Bank, 4 Israeli phone company workers are slightly injured when a bomb explodes in an olive grove as they enter it to repair a phone line. (CSM, WP 6/4)

NISP says it is holding talks with Hamas to bring the two groups' positions closer together, calls on all factions to end armed operations. (al-Hayat al-Jadida 6/3 in FBIS 6/5)

In Lebanon, British FM Jeremy Hanley, Lebanese PM Hariri, FM Buwayz discuss European economic assistance to Lebanon for reconstruction, following Israel's 4/96 offensive. (VOL 6/3 in FBIS 6/4)

Political infighting prompts Turkish opposition to call for a no-confidence vote on PM Yilmaz that will likely topple his 3-mo.-old government. (WT 6/4; CSM 6/5)

Israel, PA reach tentative accord on transfer of West Bank agriculture, labor, local administration spheres; agree to table water issues for now. (CSM 7/13)

Israel, PA scrap idea of moving talks fr. Egypt to Italy because of Egypt's protests, Arafat's strong preference to keep negotiations in the region; say talks will resume in Egypt or Israel 7/14. PA Economic M Qurai` thanks Italy for hosting "three sessions of negotiations [that] have taken place in Italy in recent days, far from the media"--leading to speculation secret talks are being held. (QY 7/12 in FBIS 7/12; AFP, VOP 7/12 in FBIS 7/13; AFP 7/13 in FBIS 7/17; al-Majd 7/17 in FBIS 7/18) (see 7/10, 7/11)

In Damascus, U.S. envoy Ross holds follow-up mtg. with Syrian FM al-Shara`; returns to Israel, briefs PM Rabin; meets with Arafat in Gaza, assures him U.S. attaches importance to the conclusion of an agmt. on the next stage of self rule. (SARR 7/12, QY 7/13 in FBIS 7/13; al-Hayat 7/14 in FBIS 7/17)

Arafat meets with Russian charge d'affaires on Russia's decision to open a liaison mission to the PA; briefs Turkish consul general on current status of talks with Israel. (VOP 7/12 in FBIS 7/13)

PA Local Government M Saeb Erakat meets with EU rep. Thomas Dupla about EU supervision of elections; briefs U.S. Consul Gen. Abington on latest events in the peace process. (VOP 7/12 in FBIS 7/13)

15 prominent Orthodox rabbis call on IDF soldiers to disobey any orders to redeploy, remove army bases fr. the West Bank. PM Rabin says appeal is a call for "anarchy," asks atty. gen. to see whether rabbis should be prosecuted. (MM 7/12; QY 7/12 in FBIS 7/13; MM, NYT, WP 7/13; CSM, WT 7/14; CSM 7/17; WJW 7/20; MEI 7/21; JP 7/22)

Shin Bet tells PM Rabin that Hamas has shown no signs of trying to carry out attacks for 3 wks, they suspect the slowdown is a product of Hamas aspirations to take part in elections. (IDF Radio 7/12 in FBIS 7/14)

In keeping with call by settler leaders 7/10, 100s of settlers block West Bank highway, try to move trailers into Hazayit hill to expand Efrat settlement; 42 are arrested by IDF. (MM 7/12; QY 7/12 in FBIS 7/12; NYT 7/13; JP 7/22)

In Montreux, Multilateral steering comm. mtgs close without progress. (QY 5/18 in FBIS 5/18; MBC 5/18 in FBIS 5/19)

Arab leaders condemn U.S. for veto of UN resolution on Israeli land confiscations; say veto is detrimental to peace process, voids U.S. claims of neutrality. Jordan permits previously banned antinormalization rally to be held 5/29. (CSM 5/18; QY, RJ, SARR 5/18 in FBIS 5/18; JTV, RJ, SARR 5/18, RMC 5/19 in FBIS 5/19; WP, WT 5/19)

Israeli Police M Moshe Shahal presents PA Planning M Nabil Shaath with list of 4 Palestinian organizations allegedly operating in East Jerusalem, asks PA to shut them. (QY 5/19 in FBIS 5/19)

Reacting to recently declassified CIA responses to Senate Intelligence Comm. 4/3, Morton Klein, pres. of Zionist Organization of America, says CIA, State Dept. are "whitewashing" PLO violations, calls for creation of bipartisan subcomm. to provide pres. with reports on PLO violations. (WJW 5/18) (see 5/3)

IDF seals off 4 settlements nr. Nablus and prevents procession of settlers fr. bringing Torah scrolls to Jewish religious center in Nablus. 15 settlers arrested. New orders, issued 12/12 but only made public today, permit IDF to place Jewish settlements as well as Palestinian towns and villages under curfew, take "strong action" against law-breaking settlers. (NYT, WT 12/17)

FM Peres, in Paris, says Israel and PLO have agreed to open economic market btwn. Israel and Palestinian self-governing areas, allowing Palestinians to freely export farm produce to Israel and import goods fr. Arab states. Disagreements over currency, ties with Jordan remain. (MM 12/16)

Unnamed PLO, Israeli officials meet privately at undisclosed locations to try to bridge differences preventing implementation of Gaza-Jericho withdrawal. PLO-Israel talks in al-Arish on civil issues recess. (CSM 12/17; MENA 12/16 in FBIS 12/17)

Syrian Pres. al-Asad meets U.S. congressional delegation made up of Sens. DeConcini (D-AZ), Specter (R-PA), Grassley (RIA), and Graham (D-FL) and Rep. Richardson (D-NM). Talks focus on overcoming impediments to peace process. (SARR 12/16 in FBIS 12/16; MM 12/17)