The Palestine Chronology

Iraq's Revolutionary Command Council issues statement allowing all Soviet citizens to leave Iraq providing Soviet gov't. assumes responsibility for breaching worker contracts [MEM 12/4; NYT, LAT, WT, WP, CSM 12/5; INA 12/4 in FBIS 12/4].

After meeting in Cairo with Saudi and Syrian F.M.s, Pres. Mubarak urges creation of new Arab alliance grouping Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Syria as a "foundation to serve the Arab people." Tripartite statement is also issued. King Hussein of Jordan and Vice Pres. al-Beedh of Yemen fly to Baghdad to meet with Saddam Hussein and Yasir Arafat [MENA 12/4 in FBIS 12/5; NYT, LAT, MEM 12/5; WP 12/6; AVP 12/6 in FBIS 12/7; MET 12/18].

Kuwait's ambassador to U.S. says Bush admin. has assured his gov't.-in-exile that U.S. would make "absolutely no concessions" when it meets with Iraqi officials [NYT 12/5].

New York Newsday reports Kach party members mailed to a television reporter a "hit list," threatening lives of at least 8 supporters of Palestinian rights, including M.T. Mehdi, Arthur Hertzberg, Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said, and Anthony Lewis. Threats are aimed at avenging assassination of Kach founder Meir Kahane [WT, WP, MEM 12/5].

In Brussels, 12-country EC agrees that It- aly, current holder of EC presidency, could hold talks with Iraqi F.M. Aziz if Aziz first meets with Pres. Bush [MEM 12/5].

Responding to growing fear over rash of Palestinian knife attacks on Israelis, police broaden surveillance of Arab workers in Israel with spot check searches and new roadblocks along W. Bank [NYT, MEM 12/5].

Saudi Arabia says any future Arab summit "will bear no fruit or results" unless Iraq first agrees to leave Kuwait [WP, NYT 11/15]; Pres. Mubarak arrives in Damascus, meets with Pres. Asad (cf. 11/15) [MENA, SANA 11/14 in FBIS 11/15].

Israel imposes widespread curfews in O.T. in advance of 11/15 anniversary of Pal- estinian declaration of statehood [WP 11/15].

Israeli labor ministry say the gov't is considering plans to fire some 60,000 Palestinians who work in Israel and replace them with Soviet Jewish immigrants and unemployed Israelis. About 110,000 Palestinians are employed in Israel [WP 11/15].

UN decides to send special envoy Jean Claude Aime to Israel on trip that is widely seen at UN at test of Israel's desire to cooperate with Sec. Council in dealing with O.T. [NYT 11/14].

Israeli authorities arrest 3 prominent Palestinian leaders and order them imprisoned without trial; Radwan Abu Ayyash and Ziad Abu Zayyad are ordered held for 6 months in "administrative detention," while Gaza physician Ahmed Yaziji is ordered to serve 1 year in detention [JDS 11/13 in FBIS 11/14; WP, NYT 11/14].

Iraqi envoys visit Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya to discuss Baghdad's conditions on attending possible Arab summit-conditions reportedly include that Baghdad be consulted in advance on agenda, that timing and location be such that Saddam may attend, and that the Gulf crisis be discussed in context of regional "security" issues, including Israel-Palestine conflict [WP, NYT 11/14].

Pres. Mubarak begins 2-day visit to Libya to discuss Gulf crisis with Col. Qaddafi [CDS 11/14 in FBIS 11/14; WP 11/14].

Sec. Baker says Saddam threatens the "economic lifeline" of the West and U.S. military deployment is justified to protect American jobs: "[An] economic recession world- wide, caused by the control of one nation ... of the West's economic lifeline will result in the loss of jobs on the part of American citizens" [WP, NYT 11/14].

U.S. military advisors are helping remnants of Kuwait army regroup and train for possible battle with Iraq [NYT 11/14].

Congressmen from both parties call on Pres. Bush to convene special session of Congress to discuss Gulf crisis; White House says it opposes such a session [NYT 11/14].

Syrian Pres. Asad returns to Damascus, concluding 3-day visit with Egypt's Pres. Mubarak [WP, NYT 7/17].

Arab League concludes meeting in Tunis, reports Arab states will boycott companies and institutions that help Jews immigrate to Israel [INA 7/16 in FBIS 7/ 17; WT, MEM 7/17].

UN Sec. Gen. Javier Perez de Cuellar asks 5 permanent members of Sec. Council to become involved in Middle East peace process; U.S. indicates readiness to examine de Cuellar's invitation, but has traditionally opposed greater UN involvement [MEM 7/17; NYT 7/18].

Israeli troops shoot, wound 11 Palestinians in Gaza; enter Rafa town and camp for first time in month and order residents to remove graffiti [NYT 7/17].

Israeli soldiers thwart 2 boats off Tel Aviv coast carrying guerrillas of Palestine Liberation Front (PLF); 4 attackers are killed in firefight, 12 captured [WP, LAT, WT, NYT 5/31]; Israel calls on U.S. to end dialogue with PLO [WP 5/13]; U.S. State Dep't., White House issue sharp criticism; continuance of U.S.-PLO dialogue is questioned [LAT 5/13].

Concluding 3-day meeting, Arab League issues statement condemning emigration of Soviet Jews to Israel, finding U.S. responsible because of aid to Israel [TASS 5/30; WP, NYT, LAT, WT 5/31; CSM 6/1]; Sec.-Gen. Chedli Klibi delivers to U.S. ambassador to Tunisia Robert Pelletreau Arab League memorandum responding to earlier U.S. memorandum [MEM 6/8; QNA 6/8 in FBIS 6/13].

Egyptian Pres. Mubarak stops in Syria after Baghdad summit; meets with Pres. Asad to discuss summit resolutions [MENA 5/30 in FBIS 5/31].

Responding to international criticism about secret gov't. funding of Jewish settlement in Jerusalem, Israeli foreign ministry issues statement: "It is the right of Jews to live everywhere, and to purchase or rent property in all parts of the land of Israel, and especially in Jerusalem" [NYT 4/25].

UN spokesperson says Sec. Gen. Javier Perez de Cuellar is deeply concerned over presence of Jewish settlers in Christian quarter of Jerusalem, and disturbed over Israeli officials' financial involvement [WP 4/25].

Through an emissary to interim P.M. Shamir, AIPAC exec. dir. Thomas Dine questions timing of Jewish settlement in Christian quarter of Jerusalem, criticizes Israeli gov't.'s secret financing of move (cf. 4/25) [NYT, WT 4/25].

Gov't of Greece has shelved its plans to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel until all settlers are evacuated from Greek Orthodox St. John's Hospice in Jerusalem [JPD 4/24 in FBIS 4/25].

Peretz Kidron of Yesh Gvul organization says at least 108 IDF reservists have gone to prison for refusing to serve in O.T. [MET 5/8-14].

Group called Islamic Jihad-Jerusalem threatens to kill Americans worldwide unless U.S. Senate repeals 3/22 resolution calling Jerusalem the capital of Israel [NYT 4/25].

U.S. House of Representatives votes 378 to 34 in favor of a nonbinding resolution affirming support for united Jerusalem as capital of Israel. Resolution, identical to one passed by Senate on 3/22, conflicts with official U.S. policy [WP, WT 4/25; FJ 4/30].

Syria's first ambassador to Egypt in 13 years, Isa Darwish, presents his credentials to Pres. Mubarak [MET 5/8-14].

Eight Arab states, including the State of Palestine, have agreed to Arab summit in Baghdad in late May (cf. 5/1) [KUNA 4/24 in FBIS 4/25].

Officials from PLO and Japan meet within framework of agreement reached last October, PLO to ask for assistance in creating jobs in O.T. [AVP 4/24 in FBIS 4/25].

Czechoslovakia's Pres. Havel says his country can serve as transit station for emigrating Soviet Jews [JDS 4/24 in FBIS 4/25].

Amid rumors that Israel will release captives held in S. Lebanon as payoffor release of U.S. hostage, Israeli officials say Israeli prisoners in Lebanon must be released as part of any deal [LAT 4/25].