The Palestine Chronology

IDF and Hizballah exchange artillery fire, killing 1 Israeli soldier and wounding 2 SLA members. IDF claims Lebanese army involved in incident. (MM 7/22; NYT 7/23)

87 Palestinians among those deported to Lebanon 12/92 march toward Israeli border, demanding medical care. They return to their camp after reportedly being repulsed by IDF and SIA gunfire. (NYT 7/23)

Lebanon requests UN Security Council renew UNIFIL mandate for another 6-month term. (Radio Lebanon 7/22 in FBIS 7/22)

PM Rabin says that if the PLO and Hamas announce a complete halt to the intifada and pass a 9-month test-period of calm he would begin allowing back the deportees at a rate of 100/month. Hanan Ashrawi terms the offer "unfeasible." (IDF Radio 1/1 in FBIS 1/4)

Lebanon rejects 12/31 Israeli proposal to allow the 10 mistakenly deported Palestinians to return to Israel through Lebanese-controlled crossing points. Lebanon says they must return the way they came, via Zumayriyya, which has been closed and mined by Israel and the SLA. (AFP 1/1 in FBIS 1/4)

Deportees spokesman 'Abd al-'Aziz al-Rantisi welcomes French proposal to put UNIFIL in provisional care of the deportees, as long as it is a temporary solution until UNSCR 799 is implemented. (Radio Lebanon 12/31 in FBIS 1/4)

PM Rabin tells Red Cross officials that Israel will allow passage of relief to the deportees only if Lebanon does also. (AFP 1/1, Qol Yisra'el 1/2 in FBIS 1/4)

Dahaf Institute poll of 523 Jewish Israelis finds 68% feel Israel should not allow a Red Cross convoy of supplies to pass through the "security zone," 32% feel passage should be allowed. 47% feel Israel should agree to PLO participation in peace talks, 53% oppose. (Yedi'ot Aharonot 1/1 in FBIS 1/4)

Demonstrations throughout o.t. mark Fateh Day. (MM 1/1)

Israel expels 415 suspected Muslim activists, 251 from the West Bank, 164 from the Gaza Strip to Lebanon. High Court of Justice temporarily blocks the expulsions, then votes 5 to 2 to permit them. UNIFIL forces try to block buses carrying deportees from traveling through their territory. Lebanese army blocks the deportees from entering govt.- controlled territory, leaving them stranded between Israeli and Lebanese checkpoints. (WP 12/17, 12/18; Qol Yisra'el, Radio Lebanon, VOL 12/17, 12/18 in FBIS 12/18; NYT 12/18)

Eighth round of Arab-Israeli peace talks ends. Arab parties boycott 12/17 meetings to protest deportations. PLO announces talks suspended until deportees allowed back. (Tunisian Republic Radio 12/17 in FBIS 12/18; NYT, WP 12/18)

Pres. Bush meets separately with all delegations involved in peace talks for 20-25 minutes each; he meets with Palestinians and Jordanians together, then with Jordanians alone for 15 minutes. (Radio Jordan 12/17 in FBIS 12/18)

Hamas denounces the expulsions as "total war"; their legitimate targets, previously limited to soldiers, now include "every Zionist in Palestine." Arab MKs condemn deportation ruling, threaten to withdraw support of governing coalition. UNLU issues supplement to call no. 90 condemning the deportations. (IDF Radio 12/17 in FBIS 12/18; AFP 12/17, Sanaa VOP 12/18 in FBIS 12/21)

U.S. State Department "strongly condemns the action of deportation". Pres.-elect Bill Clinton is critical, though not condemnatory of the expulsion. UN Secy.-Gen. Butrus-Ghali asks Israel to "rescind the expulsion order." (NYT 12/18

Hizballah gunmen attack SLA post, killing 2, and UNIFIL post, killing 1 Irish soldier, in central "security zone," S. Lebanon. Hizballah loses 4 in the fighting. SLA and Israel retaliate by shelling targets north of "security zone," killing 2 and wounding at least 11. (Radio Lebanon 9/29 in FBIS 10/2; MM 9/29; NYT 9/30)

Hizballah detonates 2 bombs under 2 separate Israeli patrols in S. Lebanon. Israel shells Nabatiyya area, overflies Beirut. UNIFIL patrol prevents Israeli intelligence unit from entering Kawkaba, in northwestern "security zone," by firing shots in the air. (Radio Lebanon 9/15 in FBIS 9/15; Radio Lebanon, Voice of the Oppressed 9/16 in FBIS 9/16)

PM Rabin addresses new Knesset, offering to travel to Arab capitals, inviting Palestinian delegation and Arab country leaders to Jerusalem, and calling for Palestinian acceptance of autonomy. Yitzhak Shamir addresses Knesset, offers praise for old admin., warnings and criticism for the new. Knesset approves new cabinet by a vote of 67 to 53, 17 new cabinet mbrs. sworn in. Pres. Bush congratulates Rabin, invites him to Kennebunkport, Maine, announces Secy. of State. Baker will travel to the region to meet with Rabin, Arab leaders. (ITV 7/13 in FBIS 7/14; NYT, WP 7/14)

Faisal Husseini, not considered part of the Palestinian negotiating team by PM Rabin because he is from Jerusalem, and therefore not among Rabin's 7/13 "invitees," offers counter-invitation fr Rabin to call him at home in Jerusalem. Husseini's position is seen as direct challenge to Syria, which sees Rabin as "carbon copy" of Shamir. (MM 7/14)

Fateh and Hamas sign new, more elaborate agreement to end violence in Gaza Strip as a result of NRC mediation (see 7/8, 10). Eightteen committees have been set up to enforce the agreement. (Qol Yisra'el 7/14 in FBIS 7/14)

Israeli undercover unit disguised as Arabs infiltrate, join 20 Hamas marchers in Gaza city. Hamas activist attacks 1 soldier, IDF opens fire; in ensuing confusion, 1 Hamas activist dies (from IDF bullets) as Hamas reportedly believes undercover IDF are Fateh activists. (Qol Yisra'el 7/13 in FBIS 7/14; MM 7/22)

Pres. Asad meets with Lebanese Pres. Ilyas al-Hirawi, joined later by VP 'Abd al-Halim Khaddam and FM Faruk al-Shara' in Damascus. (Syrian Arab TV 7/13 in FBIS 7/14)

SLA commander Antun Lahd categorically rejects Lebanese elections given current circumstances. (MM 7/14)

Israel, SLA shells Hizballah target, UNIFIL village of Yatar killing 1 civilian, in response to Islamic Resistance mortaring of "security zone" village of Bayt Lif. (MM 7/13; Radio Lebanon 7/13 in FBIS 7/14; WP 7/14)

In Jericho, 17 Palestinian peace delegates are detained and questioned for 3 hours concerning their 6/18 public meeting in Amman with PLO Chmn. Arafat. Police say the 17 will be summoned for interrogation again; Faisal Husseini said the group will refuse to answer questions,tressing their immunity as delegates. (NYT 6/30)

Israeli fin. min. issues order preventing construction ad housing min. from signing new contracts until a new govt. is formed. Freeze applies to both Israel and the o.t. (HaAretz 6/29 in FBIS 6/29)

Benjamin Netanyahu announces intention to run for leadership of the Likud party. (NYT 6/30)

Alleged plot to assassinate Iraqi Pres. Saddam Hussein by 4 officers of the Republican Guard is reportedly defused, Hussein embarks on extensive purge of military officers. (NYT 7/9)

Pres. Asad endorses new 37-member cabinet; Ba'ath "heavyweights" retain over twothirds of seats. (MM 7/30)

Lebanese army units in south are put on alert, shell Israeli targets inside "security zone." Israel and SLA shell Jabal al-Safi, Arnun areas; Israeli air force stages mock raids over Iqlim al-Tuffah, Bint Jubayl, fires rockets at "Hizballah target" in UNIFIL village of Haris. Israel reportedly moves to incorporate Arnun into "security zone." (Radio Lebanon, Radio Free Lebanon, Qol Yisra'el 6/29 in FBIS 6/29)

Israeli troops backed by tanks, artillery, and helicopters advance beyond the "security zone" in S. Lebanon and clash with Islamic Resistance Movement fighters, killing 2. UNIFIL sends reinforcements, urges forces to withdraw. (Radio Lebanon 6/12 in FBIS 6/12; NYT 6/13)

After touring UNIFIL positions in S. Lebanon, EC "troika" departs Beirut for Europe after concluding Middle Eastern trip [begun 3/261. (Radio Lebanon 4/3 in FBIS 4/6)

UN Sec. Council unanimously condemns planned Israeli deportation of 12 Palestinians. (MM 1/7)

Chmn. Arafat flies to Syria, meets Pres. Asad, returns to Jordan. (MM 1/6, 1/7)

UNIFIL troops bearing relief supplies enter Rashaf, S. Lebanon, which has been blockaded by SLA. SLA forces prevented 1/5 attempt to enter town. (Radio Lebanon 1/6 in FBIS 1/7; Qol Yisra'el 1/8 in FBIS 1/8)

Palestinian negotiators Faisal Husseini, Hanan Ashrawi, Zakariya al-Agha, Sari Nusseibeh meet Secy. of State Baker in Washington to discuss Palestinian participation in proposed peace conference. (MEM, NYT 10/11)

For the first time, China admits that Israeli-Chinese meetings took place in Beijing between Chinese officials and representatives of Israel's foreign ministry. Latter had been invited to China by Israel's semi-official representative office, and spoke with their Chinese counterparts while in the country. Israel also confirms that the meetings were held. (MEM 10/10; Qol Yisra'el 10/10 in FBIS 10/11)

UN Secy. Gen. de Cuellar informs Lebanon that Lebanese army cannot deploy in areas in S. Lebanon controlled by UNIFIL forces. Lebanese officials claim de Cuellar had indicated the army would be allowed to operate in UNIFIL areas during talks between Lebanese, UN officials in September in New York. (Radio Lebanon 10/10, 10/11; Voice of Lebanon 10/11 in FBIS 10/11)