The Palestine Chronology

King Hussein hosts 29-mbr. Knesset delegation in Amman, briefs it on peace process, treaty implementation. Mbrs. of delegation dine with 30 mbrs. of parliament. (al-Aswaq, JTV 2/5, JT 2/6 in FBIS 2/6; MM 2/ 6; JTV 2/6 in FBIS 2/7)

Jordanian-Israeli aviation comm. meets. Israel accepts some Jordanian demands related to air corridors, routes; Royal Jordanian, El Al agree on joint tourist packages. (JT 2/5 in FBIS 2/6; MM 2/6; JP 2/7 in FBIS 2/8)

Israel cabinet extends closure of West Bank, Gaza, imposed 1/22; says only teachers, doctors, Palestinian agricultural goods can enter. PA, U.S. Commerce Secy. Ron Brown, in Israel on 4-day official visit to discuss Israeli-U.S. trade, criticize decision. (CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/6; VOP 2/6 in FBIS 2/6; QY 2/5 in FBIS 2/7; WJW 2/9)

At cabinet meeting, Israeli Environment M Sarid, Education M Amnon Rubinstein suggest making closure of Gaza, West Bank permanent, compensating Palestinians $330 m. annually for lost income. No vote is taken. (MM, WT 2/6)

Secy. of State Christopher eulogizes Norwegian FM Johan Jorgen Holst at funeral in Oslo, meets separately with Israeli FM Peres, PLO Chmn. Arafat, urges them to reconcile differences. Peres and Arafat meet twice, report progress, Peres saying "there is a chance we can reach an agreement," Arafat that "we have overcome some bridges." Peres and Arafat agree to meet again 1/30 in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss security issues of Gaza-Jericho autonomous regions. (NYT, WP, WT 1/23; CSM 1/24)

PLO official Hakam Balawi announces PLO Chmn. Arafat will meet Saudi King Fahd after making 'umra pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina in 1st visit by Arafat to kingdom since Gulf war. (WP 1/23)

Secy. of Commerce Ron Brown meets 26 Palestinian businessmen in Gaza City. 1st U.S. cabinet mbr. to visit Gaza Strip says "the economic situation in Gaza is unacceptable, and we should work to improve it." (WT 1/23)

100,000 Syrians attend funeral in Qurdaha, Syria, of Basil al-Asad, killed in car crash 1/21. Syrians in occupied Golan Heights observe 24 hours of mourning. U.S. represented at funeral by amb. Christopher Ross. (WP 1/23; CSM 1/24)

600 students at Gaza's al-Azhar university march to PLO office in Gaza City to protest intra-Palestinian violence. (WT 1/26)

Secy. of Commerce Ron Brown meets in Cairo with PLO Chmn. Arafat, Egyptian Pres. Mubarak, Arab League Sec.-Gen. Ismat 'Abd al-Majid. Brown says Arab boycott of Israel is "crumbling under its own weight." Mtg. with Arafat stresses need to establish Palestinian financial institutions to absorb Western aid. (WP 1/21)

PLO-Israel talks in Taba recess to 1/24. (Qol Yisra'el 1/20 in FBIS 1/21)

IDF, Palestinians clash in Ramallah. 1 Palestinian killed. Muhammad Fanun, 20, wounded 1/18 in Hebron, also dies. (NYT 1/20)

PM Rabin's office releases letter fr. Pres. Clinton allowing Israeli companies to compete for sale of equipment and technology for U.S. civilian space program. Deals would benefit IAI, Rafael, and Tass-Israel Industries. (MM 1/19; WT 1/20)

PECDAR dep. director Hasan Abu Libeh meets Secy. of Commerce Ron Brown in Jerusalem, requests speeded-up U.S. aid disbursement, trade status for Palestinian entity equal to Israel's (WT 1/21)

IDF fires on Palestinian stone-throwers in Gaza City, wounding 8 Palestinians and American UNRWA worker. (NYT, WP 1/16)

Secy. of State Christopher, Syrian FM al-Shar'a meet for 90 min. in Geneva preparatory to next day's summit btwn. U.S. Pres. Clinton, Syrian Pres. al-Asad. (WT 1/16)

Secy. of Commerce Ron Brown arrives in Riyadh for talks on U.S.-Saudi economic cooperation, Arab boycott. (SPA 1/15 in FBIS 1/19)