The Palestine Chronology

Pres. Gorbachev presents F.M. Aziz another formula for Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait; details of proposal not announced. Aziz heads back to Baghdad via Iran. Bush admin. indicates there is nothing in Soviet proposal that would delay or halt planned ground attack (cf. 2/19) [MEM 2/18; NYT, LAT, WP, WT, CSM 2/19].

Allies continue "battlefield preparation" for ground war with more than 2,400 sorties flown; F-16 Falcon crashes in combat, pilot is recovered; it is 21st U.S. plane lost in combat, 9 additional allied crafts have been lost [NYT, LAT 2/19].

Border skirmishes continue between U.S. forces and Iraqi troops; no casualties are reported; to date 14 Americans have been killed in combat, 10 by friendly fire [NYT, LAT, WT 2/19].

Hearing is held in Gaza military court for Palestinian journalist Taher Shriteh, in jail for 3 weeks without formal charge; court extends detention for 2 more weeks (cf. 2/19) [NYT, LAT, WT, MEM 2/19].

Lebanese Pres. Elias Hrawi says he plans to press Israel to withdraw from "security zone" in S. Lebanon; Israeli spokesman says Israel will not comply [NYT 2/19].

Red Cross president says blanket curfew in effect in o.t. since 1/17 has created serious problems for Palestinians; adds that Red Cross is in contact with Israeli authorities to try to alleviate harsh conditions [JTE 2/18 in FBIS 2/191.

Six U.S. helicopter crewmen are killed in 2 separate crashes; 3 airmen are missing after B-52 crashes in Indian Ocean [LAT, NYT, WP, WT, MEM 2/4].

Investigators confirm that 7 U.S. soldiers killed 1/31 were victims of friendly fire [LAT, NYT, WP, MEM, WT 2/4].

Allied air war passes 40,000 sortie mark; U.S. command reports that 25 of 35 major Iraqi bridges leading to Iraqi front line have been destroyed as allies continue pounding Iraqi positions. 68 Iraqi aircraft are reported destroyed, and number of Iraqi prisoners stands at "about 800" [LAT, NYT, WP 2/4].

EC foreign ministers meet in Brussels for 1st time since war began [LAT, MEM 2/4].

Knesset approves cabinet addition of anti-Arab Rehavam Zeevi, former general [IDF, JDS 2/3 in FBIS 2/4; LAT, NYT, WP, MEM 2/4].

In Rabat, at least 300,000 people take to streets in pro-Iraqi demonstration [PDS 2/3 in FBIS 2/4; NYT 2/4; LAT 2/5].

Jerusalem District Court confirms detention of Sari Nusseibeh, reducing sentence from 6 to 3 months. Nusseibeh was detained on 1/29 as alleged spy for Iraq [IDF 2/3 in FBIS 2/4].

Lebanese gov't. says it has arrested 4 senior Palestinian fighters, including top aid to Abu Nidal, and is sending troops to S. Lebanon to check PLO military power there [NYT 2/4].