The Palestine Chronology

PA cabinet approves draft interim agmt. with Israel. (CSM 8/17; JP 8/26) (see 8/11)

In Gaza, Egypt-Israel-Jordan-PA technical comm. on refugees opens 2-day mtg. on 1967 displaced persons. (HA 8/16 in FBIS 8/16; QY 8/16 in FBIS 8/17)

In Damascus, PLO's Faruq al-Qaddumi begins 3 days of mtgs. with Syrian officials (incl. FM Faruq al-Shara`), Palestinian opposition leaders fr. DFLP (Nayif Hawatmeh), Fatah (Hani al-Hassan), Hamas (Abu-Muhammad Mustafa), PFLP (George Habash), PFLP-GC, Saiqa; briefs them on his blueprint for political change, discusses rejuvenating the PLO, rallying the PA's opposition in light of the 8/11 agmt. (SARR 8/16 in FBIS 8/17; MM 8/17; Al-Hayat 8/17 in FBIS 8/18; MM 8/18 Al-Hayat 8/18, 8/20 in FBIS 8/25; MM 8/22)

Swedish Dep. FM Mona Sahlin postpones return visit to Israel after Israel again refuses her request to meet with Palestinians in Orient House. (JP 8/26; WT 8/30) (see 5/15)

IDF solider is court-martialed, jailed for refusing to evict Jewish settlers fr. illegal West Bank camp. (QY 8/16 in FBIS 8/16)

Israeli Atty. Gen. Mikhael Ben-Ya'ir approves regulation giving responsibility for security inside settlements to Israeli police only, leaving IDF to handle security around settlements and intervene inside only in emergencies. (MA 8/16 in FBIS 8/16) (see 8/6)

Special Israeli ministerial comm. (led by PM Yitzhak Rabin, Police M Moshe Shahal) overrides the orders of Atty. Gen. Ben-Ya'ir, Justice M David Liba'i, extends Shin Bet's authority to use physical force on Palestinian suspects during interrogation for 2 mos. (HA 8/16 in FBIS 8/17; NYT 8/17; JP 8/19, 8/26)

2 Israeli historians announce findings that Israeli troops carried out several mass killings in the Sinai in 1967 in which about 1,000 Egyptian prisoners were killed. (WP, WT 8/18; WP, WT 8/19; NYT, WT 8/21; JP 8/26)

In Gaza, PA arrests 4 Hamas mbrs on charge of plotting an attack inside Israel. IDF extends closure of o.t. begun 8/9 to 8/18. (QY 8/16, IDF Radio 8/17 in FBIS 8/17; MA 8/18 in IL 8/18)

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)

FM Peres, Arafat meet to discuss PA plan for elections; agree to continue talks on 2 levels: btwn. Arafat and Rabin on troop withdrawal, transfer of power, security and btwn. Cairo teams to discuss implementation of 2d stage of DOP, elections, Palestinian detainees, borders, economy. (MM 12/21; ITV, QY, VOP 12/21, VOP 12/22 in FBIS 12/22; WT 12/22)

PM Rabin's office announces it will prevent an economic comm. workshop planned by PECDAR fr. being held in East Jerusalem, says PA is trying to create facts. (QY 12/21 in FBIS 12/21; PR 12/24)

PA begins issuing license plates for Palestinian vehicles. Cars with new plates are not yet allowed to cross into Israel, Egypt, Jordan. (PR 12/24)

Jordanian, Israeli tour operators hold conference in Amman, discuss developing tour packages in light of peace treaty. (JT 12/22 in FBIS 12/22)

Israeli Police M Moshe Shahal accuses PSF under direction of Col. Rajub of operating, conducting investigations secretly in Jerusalem. (Ma'ariv 12/21 in FBIS 12/22)

Car bomb explodes in Beirut, killing 3 (incl. 1 high-ranking mbr. of Hizballah), wounding 11. Hizballah, Lebanese PM Hariri blame Israel. (RL 12/21 in FBIS 12/22; NYT, WP, WT 12/22; RL 12/22 in FBIS 12/23; MEI 1/6)

Palestinian is shot dead in Tulkarm, West Bank. Kach takes responsibility. (IDF Radio 12/21 in FBIS 12/22)

Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia Shaykh `Abd al-`Aziz Bin Baz issues fatwa saying it is permissible for Muslims to make permanent peace with Israel as long as it serves Islam, hence it would be sinful for anyone to oppose Saudi Arabia's steps toward normalized relations with Israel. (Al-Sha`b 12/25 in FBIS 1/9; NYT 1/31; MM 2/14)

Jordanian security court sentences 11 Islamists to death for plotting to destabilize the government through a series of bombings, assassinate leading officials. (RJ 12/21, JT 12/22 in FBIS 12/22; NYT 11/22)

Palestinian econ. report is released, shows PNA has received only $90 m. of $2.4 b. allocated by donor countries; PNA will need $11.2 b. to finance autonomous areas until 2000. (TJT 9/16 in FBIS 9/20)

PNA Local Affairs M Erakat says Israel has blocked preparations for elections by not releasing population records for West Bank, halting survey to determine polling locations. (WP 9/16)

PNA Econ. M Qurai` tenders resignation citing dissatisfaction with Arafat's economic approach, refusal to delegate authority. Arafat does not accept the resignation. (ITV, QY, VOP 9/16; FT, NYT, WP 9/17)

UNRWA announces following donations: Luxembourg, $1.2 m. for 2 medical centers in Gaza; Netherlands, $840,000 for women's centers in Gaza; Australia, $179,055 for 2 health centers in Gaza. (UNRWA News 9/21)

Benjamin Kahane, head of Kahane Chai, says 150 of his U.S. supporters will leave for Jordan to set up a settlement on the East Bank. Jordanian FMin. asks Israeli govt. to curb group. (IDF Radio 9/16, QY 9/17 in FBIS 9/19)

Israeli Police M Moshe Shahal announces Israeli police want to question PSF's West Bank head Col. Jibril Rajub about charges 10 PSF mbrs., inc. 3 of his bodyguards, kidnapped a Jordanian national in Jerusalem 9/9 and are detaining him in Jericho. (QY 9/16 in FBIS 9/16; JP 10/8)

IDF Lt. Oren Edri, arrested 9/2 for "anti-Arab activities," is formally charged with illegally holding and transferring arms, passing classified information on locations IDF arms depots to settlers. (MM 9/16; JP 9/17)

2 settlers fatally shoot Palestinian nr. Hebron, claiming he threw stones at their car. Court releases the pair on bail, saying they shot in self-defense. (JP 9/24)

Mourners at Ashkelon funeral of Zipporah Sasson chant "death to Arabs!" but cabinet declines to close off o.t., FM Peres saying "there is no need at the moment to renew the closure," closure "neither effective nor required."  Environment M Yossi Sarid warns, "if [PLO Chmn. Arafat] and his people do not bring down the level of terrorism, terrorism will bring them down."  Israeli cabinet discusses closure of o.t. as possible response to Sasson murder, but FM Peres says "it is unfair to punish innocent people." (MM, NYT, WT 2/21)

Police M Moshe Shahal announces plans to deploy Civil Guard units in all major settlements in o.t. as part of IDF redeployment plans.  (MM 2/21)

Associated Press reports Israel preparing to evacuate Palestinian informers and their families to Israel fr. villages of Dahaniya in the Gaza Strip and Fahmi in the West Bank in anticipation of Palestinian autonomy.  Report says 13 of 100 families in Dahaniya and 24 of 105 in Fahmi have received Israeli i.d.s  (WT 2/20)

Jordan arrests 15 FRC ("Abu Nidal") mbrs. in raid on Amman office posing as trading company.  Most had served prison terms in 1970s for terrorist crimes.  Move follows arrests in Lebanon of FRC mbrs. for murder of Jordanian diplomat, Jordanian accusations of Libyan complicity.  (MM, WP 2/23)

King Fahd announces Saudi fund-raising drive for restoration of Islamic holy places in Jerusalem.  (MM 2/24)

Settlers demonstrate at Israel-Gaza Strip crossing points to protest 11/17 killing of IDF soldier Haim Darina, but IDF presents them fr. blocking roads. Islamic Jihad claims responsibility for the attack. (MM, RMC 11/18)

PLO establishes Development and Construction Bank under World Bank supervision to receive international funds for Palestinian development. (Al-Dustur 11/18 in FBIS 11/18)

Israeli Energy M. Moshe Shahal signs agreement with Egyptian Oil M. Hamdi al-Banbi on preparations for Egypt-Israel natural gas pipeline. (Qol Yisra'el 11/19 in FBIS 11/19)

King Hussein names 23 mbrs. of 40-mbr. Jordanian senate, including frmr. PM Zaid Rifa'i and Senate spkr. Ahmad Lawzi. (MM 11/19)

French FM Alain Juppe holds talks with Syrian Pres. al-Asad at start of tour of Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon, proceeds to Amman for talks with Jordan's King Hussein. (MM 11/19; SARR, JNA 11/18 in FBIS 11/18)

Israeli archaeologists in "Operation Scroll" report finding 2d century A.D. manuscripts and artifacts in Wadi Qarantal, nr. Jericho. (NYT 11/19)

Oslo talks btwn. PLO, Israel on mutual recognition adjourn. (NYT, WP 9/2)

Lebanese FM Faris Buwayz arrives in Damascus for talks with Pres. al-Asad, FM al-Shara' concerning DoP. (MM 9/1)

Egyptian FM 'Amr Musa holds talks with Israeli officials in Jerusalem on text of Israel-PLO mutual recognition, forwards draft to PLO in Tunis. (MM 9/2)

PLO Chmn. Arafat flies to Rabat for consultations with Moroccan King Hassan on follow-up to Israel-PLO agreement. (MM 9/2; NYT 9/3)

PFLP head Habash tells French TV Arafat no longer represents Palestinians, vows PFLP will fight DoP "with all its might" because it ignores rights of diaspora Palestinians. DFLP chief Hawatmah, on RMC, calls DoP "sad, tragic," says it will allow Israel to "liquidate the intifada." (MM 9/2)

Pro-DoP rally at al-Najah University attended by 4,000, addressed by Arafat by telephone. Faisal Husseini meets in Jerusalem with opposition figures, who maintain anti-DoP position, while 15 injured in Gaza Strip when Hamas mbrs. stone pro-DoP rally. (MM 9/2)

Palestinian o.t. figures issue statement denouncing DoP, Arafat's leadership. (al-Ra'y 9/1 in FBIS 9/2)

King Hussein tells Ghassan Tueni of al-Nahar that "We in Jordan do not accept the imposition on us of any agreement to which we are not a party" in remarks excerpted on JTV. Hussein demands Arab summit to discuss consequences of PLO-Israel accord. (MM 9/2; NYT, WP 9/3)

Israeli Police Min. Moshe Shahal says Palestinian police to be set up under Oslo agreement "will not have authority to halt Israelis." (MM 9/2)

Secy. of State Christopher meets in Israel with PM Rabin, FM Peres, then with Palestinians led by Faisal Husseini, who tell him that all deportees must be returned for talks to resume. Palestinians read the secy. a letter from Chmn. Arafat, present 5-point memo assessing peace process. (NYT 2/24; Sanaa VOP 2/25 in FBIS 2/26)

Some 7,000 march against territorial compromise on the Golan Heights in Jerusalem. (MM 2/24)

Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies (Tel Aviv U.) publishes poll of non-settler, non-kibbutz mbr. Israeli Jewish pop. showing 58% believe the Arabs want peace, 95% of Israelis want peace; 29% favor Palestinian autonomy, 20% favor returning o.t. to Jordan; favor of a Palestinian state, annexation, and annexation with transfer each garnered 13%. 46% refuse to give back any of the Golan Heights, 33% would give back a small part. 75% believe military action can stop the intifada and terrorism, 60% feel the govt. has been too soft on this. (Davar 2/23 in FBIS 2/25)

Police Min. Moshe Shahal has set up team of jurists to work out a plan for o.t. police force to operate under the autonomy, one which will be a "clear expression of Palestinian self-rule." Historical models include British-French policing of the Hebrides. (Davar 2/23 in FBIS 2/26)

Israeli National Planning and Building Council subcomms. approve plan to build school for handicapped children in East Jerusalem, ending former Housing Min. Ariel Sharon's plan to build 200 Jewish housing units on the site. (Qol Yisra'el 2/26 in FBIS 2/26)

IDF shoots dead UN nurse watching demonstrations from his roof in Rafah, Gaza Strip-50th Palestinian killed by IDF since 12/17/92. (WT 2/24)

U.S. House Republican Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare releases "The New Islamist International," a report asserting Iranian backing of attacks on UN and Muslims in Bosnia while throwing blame on the Serbs, as well as other actions of intl. radical Islamist agenda. Report follows up similar 10/3/92 report. (WJW 4/22)

Israeli Police Min. Moshe Shahal says changes are not necessary to 8/5/86 amendment to antiterror law outlawing meetings with the PLO; clause should be deleted completely as rest of law already deals with "those who endanger Israeli security." (Qol Yisra'el 8/5 in FBIS 8/6)

Israel Lands Admin. orders temporary freeze on all new private settlement construction in o.t. while scope of private construction is assessed. (Qol Yisra'el 8/5 in FBIS 8/6; MM 8/5)

Palestinian, Jordanian delegation mbrs. meet in Amman. Sa'ib 'Urayqat and Zakariya al-Aghannounce that their delegation will arrive in Amman 8/20 to travel with the Jordcanian delegation to Washington. PLO pol. advisor Nabil Shaath arrives in Amman for 5-day working visit. (Radio Jordan, JTV 8/5, Al-Ray 8/6 in FBIS 8/6)

Labor MK Avigdor Kahalani, a tank commander on the Golan Heights during the 1967 war, is named to head the Golan Heights lobby in the Knesset; says with the voting power of the expected 70 adherents to the lobby's principles, only minor border adjustments are possible through negotiations. (Qol Yisra'el 8/5 in FBIS 8/5)

Islamic Resistance fighter is killed in clash with SLA patrol in eastern "security zone." SLA, Israel shell, seriously damage PFLP target in Rashidiyya region. (Voice of the People 8/5 in FBIS 8/5; Qol Yisra'el 8/5 in FBIS 8/6)

IDF patrol on Jordanian border shoots, kills 3 armed infiltrators from Jordan. Israel "holds Jordan responsible" for the unauthorized border crossing (Jordan denies); Hizballah-Palestine claims responsibility. Israeli navy fires on, kills 4 "terrorists conducting naval training" off Lebanese coast north of Beirut. Islamic Jihad Org. claims operation. (Qol Yisra'el 8/4 in FBIS 8/4; Radio Free Lebanon, Radio Monte Carlo 8/4 in FBIS 8/5; MM 8/4; Qol Yisra'el 8/6, VOL 8/7 in FBIS 8/7)

Detained and interrogated in a W. Bank jail 8/3, Mustafa Mahmud Abdul Hadi Barakat dies of an asthma attack "brought about by conditions in detention" according to an American examiner present at the Israeli army autopsy. (NYT 8/11)

Israeli Police Min. Moshe Shahal orders Ateret Cohanim mbrs. to move out of 2 East Jerusalem houses settled 18 months ago. (Qol Yisra'el 8/4 in FBIS 8/4)

Israeli Radio announces formation of new radical Palestinian-Israeli group, the National Front for the Struggle Against Zionism, which calls for separating the Arab population from Israeli administration and infrastructure, eventually liberating all lands from Zionist control. (Qol Yisra'el 8/4 in FBIS 8/4)

Red Eagles (close to the PFLP) and Black Panthers (close to Fateh) issue joint communique in o.t. (Algiers VOP 8/4 in FBIS 8/5)

Malta, historically in solidarity with Arab nations, lifts its economic boycott on Israel and South Africa. (Qol Yisra'el 8/4 in FBIS 8/4)

PM Rabin appoints Housing Min. Benyamin Ben-Eliezer to serve also as labor and social affairs min., Tourism Min. Uzi Baram to serve also as religious affairs min. (Qol Yisra'el 8/4 in FBIS 8/4)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Yuval Ne'eman, head of the Tehiya party, claims to have seen and copied secret documents outlining power-sharing between Jordan and Israel over control of the West Bank; Ne'eman claims the working paper gives control of West Bank cities and the Old City of Jerusalem to Jordan. Peres denies existence of such a document [CT, LAT, JP 11/1]. Energy Min. Moshe Shahal of Labor party states Jordan has offered to supply electricity to the W. Bank, Israel is considering the proposal. Most of the area now is hooked up to the Israeli electric grid [CT, LAT 11/1]. High Court rules MK Meir Kahane may introduce bills containing racist language in the Knesset despite Knesset Presidium attempts to bar him. Kahane introduces 2 bills: one states only Jews may become citizens of Israel; other bans marriages between Jews and non-Jews [JTA 11/1; JWP 11/8].

Arab World: Der Spiegel reports PLO's financial assets top $6 billion, states PLO controls 70% of Jordan's economy [JP 10/31].

Military Action

Arab World: Israeli warplanes stage mock raids over suspected Palestinian and Druze bases in Shuf Mountains east of Beirut, drawing heavy anti-aircraft fire but doing no damage [CT 11/1]