The Palestine Chronology

Israel FM Levy refuses to accept any U.S. demand for freeze in settlement building prior to negotiations with Palestinians in o.t., which would only take place after a three-year transitional period of Palestinian self-rule. (WP 9/20)

Palestinian negotiators Faisal Husseini, Hanan Ashrawi, Zakariya al-Agha, refuse Baker's 9/16 invitation to travel to Jordan for talks. The Palestinians were reportedly ordered by PLO not to meet with Baker out of the PLO's dissatisfaction with U.S. "assurances" delivered to them by Baker while in Jerusalem. (NYT 9/20; Radio Monte Carlo 9/19 in FBIS 9/20)

Clandestine al-Quds Palestinian Arab Radio announces Islamic Jihad Movement has issued statement declaring it will not attend upcoming PNC meeting. (al-Quds Palestinian Arab Radio 9/19 in FBIS 9/20)

Israeli police question Zakariya al-Agha about alleged meetings he held with PLO officials in London [see 8/16]. Police had earlier interrogated Faisal Husseini, Hanan Ashrawi [see 8/26]. (IDF Radio 9/19 in FBIS 9/23)

Baker travels to Jordan to deliver U.S. "letter of assurances" to Jordanian leaders. PM Taher al-Masri states preliminary reading indicates that the letter is satisfactory. (al-Ra'i 9/21 in FBIS 9/24; MEM 9/20)

Following decades of Syrian commitment to confrontation, Pres. al-Asad agrees to attend Middle East peace conference in letter answering Bush's 6/1 letter to him urging flexibility in Syria's position toward Middle East peace talks. (WP, LAT 7/15; WP 7/17)

Contents of the letter were not revealed, but U.S. officials hinted that it accepted Bush's proposals on terms of peace conference, and that al-Asad apparently renounced his earlier demands for an active UN role and for the conference to remain in constant session. (MEM 7/16, 7/22)

PLO Chmn. Arafat meets with King Hussein, Jordanian Prime Min. Tahir al-Masri, in Amman on U.S.-led peace efforts. (MEM 7/15)

Israel lifts trade sanctions against South Africa following similar U.S. decision. Ban on military contracts remains, although secret military deals continue. (LAT 7/15)

Israeli peace activist Abie Nathan arrested upon arrival in Israel following 6/29 meeting with Yasir Arafat in Tunis, an act which violates Israeli law. Nathan staged hunger strike in June to protest the law, under which he served 122 days in prison in 1990 for meeting Arafat. (MEM 7/15)

Israeli Peace Now movement wins legal battle to prevent establishment of Jewish cemetery in West Bank near Jerusalem. Defense ministry, religious affairs ministry informed Israeli high court of justice of their agreement tocancel proposal. (MEM 7/15)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: MK Meir Kahane sues State Dept. over his loss of U.S. citizenship [BG 10/13; WP 10/15].

Arab World: Pres. Mubarak accuses U.S. of "piracy" in interception of Egyptian plane carrying 4 hijackers, says action could obstruct the M.E. peace process [NYT, WP 10/13]. Thousands of rock-throwing demonstrators clash with police outside Cairo University [WP, BG 10/13]. All 4 members of joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation have arrived in London for talks with British Foreign Ministry. They are: Jordanian Deputy P.M. 'Abd al-Wahab al-Majali; Jordanian For. Min. Tahir al-Masri; PLO delegate Bishop Iliyas Khuri; and former West Bank Mayor Muhammad Milham [LT 10/13]. Beirut newspaper publishes photo which Islamic Jihad group claims is corpse of kidnapped American William Buckley. Jihad offers to turn body over in exchange for release of 100 Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Jihad claims it executed Buckley on 10/4 in retaliation for Israeli bombing of PLO headquarters in Tunis [NYT 10/13].

Other Countries: Pres. Reagan orders federal bomb experts to investigate bombing of ADC office in Santa Ana, Calif. which killed Alex Odeh [BG 10/13]. Muhammed (Abu) al-'Abbas and another unidentified PLO official are reported to leave Italy for Yugoslavia after U.S. officials issue warrant for 'Abbas' arrest [NYT 10/13]. FBI Dir. William Webster states 2 "crack teams" of agents have been sent to Italy to monitor prosecution of hijackers, FBI is increasing surveillance of several pro-Palestinian groups in the U.S. to "guard against possible retaliation" [BG 10/13].