The Palestine Chronology

Allied forces push 35 miles farther east into Iraqi territory to the town of Amidiyah, more than doubling size of security zone for protecting Kurdish refugees. Saddam Hussein orders the destruction of 1 of 3 state palaces and villas located within the zone because it could be used by allies for military purposes [WP, NYT 5/3].

Commander of UN Iraq-Kuwait observer force says all UN troops will be in place by 5/6 and that the remaining 4,800 U.S. soldiers would be out of southern Iraq by 5/8 [WP, NYT 5/3].

Israeli gov't. protests to U.S. over "snubbing" of Housing Min. Sharon, who, refused an "official" gov't. meeting, met 5/1 with HUD head Jack Kemp at Israeli embassy [WP, NYT 5/3].

Meeting in Cairo, PLO rep. Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian F.M. Esmat Abdel Meguid agree that no Middle East peace process could lead anywhere without "a role for the PLO, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people" [MEM 5/3]. 

Senior Bush admin. officials say U.S. wants Iraq to pay for American-led effort to help Kurds; operation is expected to cost over $500 million over 6 months [NYT 5/2].

Kuwaiti gov't. announces that the more than 400,000 Kuwaitis who have spent last 8 months in exile could begin returning home on 5/11 [WP, LAT 5/2].

Israeli Housing Minister Ariel Sharon meets with HUD Sec. Jack Kemp, but at White House insistence to avoid "official" meeting because of Sharon's pro-settlement views, talks are moved from Kemp's HUD office to the Israeli embassy (cf. 5/2) [WP 5/1, 5/3; NYT, LAT 5/2; CSM 5/3; IDF 5/2 in FBIS 5/2].

PLO spokesperson strongly condemns 4/30 stabbing death of French tourist in Bethlehem. Faisal Husseini sends victim's family cable of condolence. 19-year-old Palestinian surrenders to Israeli authorities and is charged with the stabbing [MEM 5/1; RMC, AVP 5/1 in FBIS 5/2].

Absorption Min. Yitzhak Perez says 17,700 immigrants arrived in Israel during April, and that some 55,000 immigrants arrived during 1st third of the year [IDF 5/1 in FBIS 5/2].

UNLU issues call no. 70, appealing for unified Palestinian response to Sec. Baker's peace initiative, warning that U.S. is trying to "impose an American solution to Palestine question," and condemning 4/30 stabbing of French tourist [MEM 5/2; AVP 5/2 in FBIS 5/3].

Israeli human rights group B'Tselem reports Israeli security forces killed 6 Palestinians during April, a 7th died after exposure to tear gas [FJ 5/6].