The Palestine Chronology

Pres. Bush announces that James Baker will leave his post as secy. of state 8/23 to become chief of staff at the White House. Baker will bring his 4 closest aides with him, will continue to direct the peace process, and will leave Lawrence S. Eagleburger as acting secy. of state. (WP 8/14)

In private meeting with top AIPAC executives, PM Rabin sharply criticizes the lobby for steering Israel toward an unneeded confrontation with the U.S. over the loan guarantees. According to the New York Times, Rabin said the organization "should not pursue their own initiatives, but rather take instructions from the Israeli embassy in Washington." (WP 8/16; NYT 8/22)

IDF shells Iqlim al-Tuffah, Litani River regions, overflies Nabatiyya and Sidon, S. Lebanon. (VOL, Radio Lebanon 8/13 in FBIS 8/13)

Pres. Bush, PM Rabin hold news conference. Pres. Bush announces he will send Congress a new Israeli loan guarantee proposal, which stipulates that the amount Israel spends after 10/1/92 on construction in the o.t. will be deducted from the $10 billion. (Congress can debate the bill at the earliest 9/8, after a recess that begins 8/12.) Pres. Bush also announces his intention to pursue $5 billion sale of F-15 jets to Saudi Arabia. (NYT, WP 8/12)

DFLP head Nayif Hawatima arrives in Amman for several-day working visit. (AlRay 8/11 in FBIS 8/11)

Fateh mbr. Husayn Tamari is assassinated in 'Ayn al-Hilwa camp, near Sidon, Lebanon. (VOL 8/12 in FBIS 8/13)

Israel, SLA shells Iqlim al-Tuffah region, S. Lebanon. (Radio Lebanon 8/10 in FBIS 8/11)