The Palestine Chronology

At end of Israeli PM Shamir's visit to Bulgaria, Bulgarian PM states his country has ended arms transfers to PLO, that PLO has no diplomatic status in Bulgaria. (MEM 8/30)

Former Amal chief of security denies 8/29 report that Amal sold Israeli prisoner to Iranian Revolutionary Guards. (al-Safir 8/30 in FBIS 9/5)

Explosion near Khirbat al-Akrabaniyya, east of Nablus, kills two Palestinians; two others later died of wounds. Cause of blast unknown. (WP 9/1; MEM 9/2)

Lebanese general Michel 'Awn leaves Lebanon for France aboard French naval vessel. Two other 'Awn allies, Gen. 'Issam Abu Jamrand Gen. Edgard Ma'luf, also depart French embassy in Beirut, where the three had taken refuge since Oct. 1990. 'Awn departs Lebanon under terms of 8/26 amnesty passed by Lebanese parliament, which prohibits 'Awn from political activities or attempting to return from Lebanon. Amnesty does not include immunity from charges 'Awn embezzled $31 million. (WP 8/30; MEM 8/29)

After meeting in Libya, PLO Chmn. Arafat, Syrian vice pres. 'Abd al-Halim Khaddam, agree to form joint PLO-Syrian coordinating committee to begin meeting in early September. (Radio Monte Carlo 8/30 in FBIS 9/3; AFP 8/30 in FBIS 9/3)

Amal leader Nabih Birri declares Israeli airman captured in Lebanon in 1986 was transferred to Iranian Revolutionary Guards in 1988 for $500,000 and is now being held in Iran. Hizbullah sources claim, however, that the airman is being held by Revolutionary Guards near Ba'lbak, Lebanon. (MEM 8/29)

Chmn. Arafat agrees to Palestinian participation in peace conference if four conditions are met: recognition of Palestinian right to self-determination; PLO must determine Palestinian participation in conference; Palestinians from E. Jerusalem must be allowed to participate and question of Jerusalem must not be deleted from conference agenda; Israeli settlement activity in occupied territories must be halted and international protection extended to Palestinians. Arafat also praises democratic reforms underway in USSR, amidst increasing criticism of Palestinian stance vis-a-vis the Soviet coup. (MEM 8/28)

Arafat meets Pres. Mubarak in Libya for first time since Gulf war. (MEM 8/29)

PFLP denounces U.S.-led peace plan, criticizes PL-0 for conditional agreement. (MEM 8/28)

Israeli press announces Israel recently requested aid from Germany to assist settlement of immigrants inIsrael. Finance ministry requested $5.74 billion in aid during secret negotiations held several weeks ago. (MEM 8/29)

Kuwait announces U.S. will build military base at Sabiyya, 40 km. from Kuwait-Iraq border. (MEM 8/28)

Amal indicates it holds bodies of two Israeli soldiers, will allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to examine them after Israel releases 28 women held prisoner; Israel refuses. (NYT, WP 8/28)

PLO, Hamas officials meet in Amman to discuss Hamas participation in upcoming PNC meeting. Hamas demands 40 seats in council. (AFP 8/26, in FBIS 8/27; MEM 8/27)

Israeli police question Hanan Ashrawi, Faisal Husseini on their recent meetings in London with Palestinian officials to determine if they violated Israeli law banning contact with PLO. (MEM 8/27)

After heated debates, Lebanese parliament approves amnesty for war crimes committed during Lebanese civil war. (NYT 8/27)

Hizbullah admits it holds two Israeli prisoners. (WP 8/27)

Israeli housing min. Ariel Sharon details major plan to expand Israeli settlements. Plan would expand settlements in Jerusalem area to link them with large settlement of Ma'ale Adumim, which itself would be expanded to reach Jericho, cutting the West Bank in half. Thousands of new homes would be built. (MEM 8/27, 8/29)

Israeli cabinet agrees to equal funding of Arab, Jewish municipalities following 10- day sit-in by Arab mayors. Mayors indicate they will take their protest to the Israeli labor federation, the Histadrut, to protest unfair practices by that body, which is dominated by the Labor party. (MEM 8/27)

Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq issues report on increased Jewish settlement in o.t. Places number of settlers in W. Bank, Gaza at 104,000 along with 127,700 in E. Jerusalem. (MEM 8/27)

Soviet, Ethiopian Jewish immigrants clash in Jerusalem hotel where they live; four injured. Soviets have complained of preferential treatment extended to Ethiopians. (MEM 8/27, 8/29)

PLO Chmn. Arafat arrives in Amman for talks with King Hussein, Jordanian officials, on proposed joint Palestinian-Jordanian delegation to peace conference. PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Yasir 'Abd Rabbuh indicates form of Palestinian participation will depend on U.S. pledge that peace conference will result in full Israeli withdrawal from o.t. He also states final decision on Palestinian participation in peace conference will be determined by proposed 8/20 meeting of PNC in Algiers. 'Abd Rabbuh also indicated Arafat, Hussein agreed to form joint committee to discuss conditions for Palestinian participation. (NYT 8/26; MEM 8/27)

Three Israelis stabbed in Jerusalem. (ITV 8/24 in FBIS 8/27)

SLA, Israeli army continue shelling of S. Lebanese villages after 8/22 Hizbullah raid, causing heavy civilian casualties. Anti-Hizbullah demonstration in Jarju', led by villagers demanding Hizbullah leave area to avoid further attacks, leads to short gun battle between villagers, Hizbullah fighters. (Beirut Radio Lebanon 8/24 in FBIS 8/26)

Israeli foreign ministry accuses PLO of supporting anti-democratic forces around the world "time and again." Statement comes in wake of statements by some PLO officials in support of 8/19 coup in USSR. (NYT 8/23)

PLO ambassador to USSR denies PLO supported anti-Gorbachev coup, as reported by Russian television 8/23, issues press statement noting PLO considered recent developments in USSR to be an internal Soviet matter. (MEM 8/23)

Israeli authorities order Faisal Husseini, Hanan Ashrawi to appear before police 8/26 to discuss their recent meetings with Palestinian leaders in London [see 8/16]. (NYT 8/23)

Hizbullah claims responsibility for bomb attack that left one South Lebanon Army soldier dead, four wounded. SLA artillery, tanks bombard several villages in retaliation. (Qol Yisra'el 8/23 in FBIS 8/23)

Foreign min. of Congo holds discussions with Israeli for. ministry on restoring diplomatic ties. Congo, the tenth African state to renew relations with Israel since 1973, will open an embassy in Jerusalem, making it the third country to do so. (MEM 8/23)

Israeli def. min. Moshe Arens allows al-Najah University in Nablus to reopen. Al-Najah would be the fourth of six Palestinian universities reopened since their closure at the beginning of the intifada. Bir Zeit, Islamic University of Gaza remain closed. (NYT, WP 8/22)

Jewish settlers expand settlement for seminary students in Hebron by moving ten mobile homes (caravans) to bus station behind Beit Romano building. Bus station had been used as army base since its expropriation in 1983 after murder of Jewish seminary student. (NYT, MEM 8/22)

PLO Exec. Comm. mbrs. Yasir 'Abd Rabbuh, Mahmud 'Abbas arrive in Cairo for talks with Egyptian leaders on peace conference. Move comes in wake of improved Egyptian-PLO relations. (MENA [Cairo] 8/21 in FBIS 8/22)

'Abd Rabbuh also expresses clarification of PLO position on Soviet coup in interview with Agence France Presse, stating PLO hopes Soviet crisis can be solved in such a way as to "preserve the democratic gains" made by the Soviet people under Pres. Mikhail Gorbachev and to work for peace and international legitimacy in the Middle East. Statement comes in wake of statements in support of Gorbachev's ouster throughout the Arab world. PFLP, PFLP-GC went on record as favoring Gorbachev's removal. (MEM. 8/21)

Israeli interior minister with 37 Arab mayor striking for budgetary parity between Arab, Jewish municipalities of similar size in Israel. (MEM 8/22)

PLO Pol. Dept. Head Faruq al-Qaddumi states coup against Pres. Mikhail Gorbachev will restore international balance upset by Gorbachev's policies and "enhance the Third World's political role." (Sawt al-Sha'b [Amman] 8/20 in FBIS 8/20)

Palestinian mayors in Israel begin sitdown strike opposite prime ministry in Jerusalem to protest discrimination against Arab municipalities in terms of government funding. (MEM 8/21)

PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Yasir 'Abd Rabbuh states PLO hopes coup d'etat in USSR will help "solve" question of Soviet Jewish emigration to Israel. (AFP 8/19 in FBIS 8/19)

Israel, Albania establish diplomatic relations. (IDF Radio 8/19 in FBIS 8/19)

King Hussein, Pres. al-Asad meet in Syria on peace talks, Palestinian representation to conference. (AFP 8/19 in FBIS 8/20)

Israeli settlement leader sentenced to four month's community service in return for pleading guilty to a lesser charge in case involving death of a Palestinian youth [in Jan. 1988] whom the settler "accidentally" shot. (JP 8/20 in FBIS 8/20)

PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Sulayman al-Najjab indicates Syria, Egypt have agreed to hold a meeting of the five confrontation states to coordinate negotiating positions prior to peace conference [Jordan had already agreed to proposal]. (Jordan Times 8/19 in FBIS 8/19)

Special Palestinian committee meeting in London [see 8/15] ends discussions. In addition to discussing what assurances Palestinians should seek from U.S., the committee also adopted 28 confidence-building measures it will forward to the Israeli government through the U.S. (al-Hayat 9/4 in FBIS 9/9)

Iranian Oil Minister Qaqzadeh-Kho'i presents King Fahd of Saudi Arabia with letter from Iranian Pres. Rafasanjani on protecting the rights of the Palestinian people. (see 8/17) (Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran 8/17 in FBIS 8/19)

Nayif Hawatma, leader of one of two factions now using the name DFLP, states DFLP, PFLP, Fateh have agreed on common stance concerning Palestinian participation in peace conference, including insistance on PLO's right to present a delegation comprised of Palestinians from within and outside the o.t., including delegates from E. Jerusalem. But the three groups failed to adopt a joint statement to this effect for presentation to the upcoming Palestine National Council (PNC) meeting. (Radio Monte Carlo 8/18 in FBIS 8/19)

Pres. Bush refuses to grant pardon to Jonathan Jay Pollard, convicted of spying for Israel. (JP 8/18 in FBIS 8/21)

Hizbullah leader Shaykh 'Abbas al-Musawi, other Hizbullah officials, arrive in Tehran for discussions with Iranian leaders on comprehensive Middle East prisoner-hostage exchange. (NYT 8/19)

Israeli for. ministry declares Ethiopia will allow remaining 2,600 Jews in Ethiopia to emigrate to Israel. (WP 8/17)

Iranian Oil Minister Gholam Reza Qaqzadeh-Kho'i presents Kuwaiti leader Shaykh Jabir al-Ahmad al-Sabah with letter from Iranian pres. Rafasanjani on protecting the rights of the Palestinian people. Letter follows recent diplomatic activity indicating increased PLO-Iranian ties. (Tehran Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran 8/17 in FBIS 9/1)

Special meeting of Palestinians from o.t., the U.S., and PLO Exec. Comm. begins deliberations in London to decide what assurances U.S. should give Palestinians as condition for Palestinian participation in peace conference. Meeting was directed by Chmn. Arafat. Among those attending were Faisal Husseini, Hanan Ashrawi, Zakariya al-Agha (who have been meeting with Secy. of State Baker), Basil 'Aql, Edward W. Said, Ibrahim Abu-Lughod, Walid Khalidi, Musa Mazzawi, Zuhayra Kamal, and three PLO officials. (al-Quds al- Arabi [London], 8/19 in FBIS 8/23; MEM 8/19; al-Hayat [London] 9/4 in FBIS 9/9)

Turkish prime min. Turgut Ozal sends letter to U.S. Pres. Bush indicating that Syria strongly objects to a private U.S. foundation's plans to invite Israel to participate in conference on regional water issues to be held in November in Turkey, will boycott meeting along with other Arab states. U.S. indicates exclusion of Israel may result in U.S. boycott. (WP 8/29)

Israeli human rights group B'Tselem states Israel has once again begun deporting family members of West Bank, Gaza residents who do not possess residency permits. Most of those facing deportation are non-resident Palestinian women who married residents of the occupied territories, and their children; non-resident family members are not automatically granted residency permits by Israeli military authorities. Some 200 Palestinians had earlier been deported from territories during second half of 1989 for similar reasons. At B'Tselem's request, Israeli military agreed to suspend deportations pending an investigation. (NYT, WP 8/16) 

Israel refuses token release of prisoners prior to receiving information missing Israeli soldiers. UN Secy. Gen. de Cuellar states no further meetings on prisoner-hostage exchange are planned. (WP 8/15)

PFLP-GC head Ahmad Jibril again claims three Israeli soldiers are alive and in captivity in Lebanon. States he traveled to Lebanon, met with Hizballah representatives, urged them not to release the Israelis or Western hostages unless Israel also frees thousands of Palestinians detained by Israel during the intifada, in addition to the Lebanese prisoners Israel controls. Jibril states he reminded Hizballah of his role in securing release of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel during 1979, 1985 prisoner exchanges carried out between Israel, PFLP-GC, and claims Hizballah agreed to include Palestinians in any exchange. (LAT 8/15

British Prime Min. John Major sends letter to Prime Min. Shamir urging token release of some Lebanese. (LAT 8/14)

PFLP-GC head Ahmad Jibril claims Hizballah sources told him Hizballah holds three Israelis captive. (WP 8/14)

DFLP offers to trade body of Israeli soldier it claims it holds in return for prisoners detained by Israel. (MEM 8/13)

UN Secy. Gen. Javier Perez de Cuellar meets with Israeli defense officials in Geneva over proposed comprehensive prisoner/hostage exchange. Israelis reiterate refusal to release any Lebanese held by Israel without release of Israelis held in Lebanon or information relating to them. Refusal comes in wake of increased Western pressure on Israel to release some Lebanese to further efforts to achieve prisoner-hostage exchange. De Cuellar has also been maintaining contacts with Iranian officials and representatives of groups holding hostages in Lebanon. (WP, LAT 8/13)

DFLP spokesman in Damascus states group holds remains of one of the seven Israelis, whom group claims died during an Israeli air raid against Lebanon. (WP 8/13)

Hizballah reportedly claims it holds two Israelis, Palestinian group holds a third. (WP 8/14)

Fateh Central Committee mbr. Khalid alHasan criticizes Arafat for "dictatorial" leadership, again calls for formation of provisional Palestinian government [see 7/16]. (MEM 8/13) 

Israel again indicates willingness to release Lebanese prisoners in return for release of Israeli soldiers held in Lebanon or documented information their demise. Offer includes release of Shaykh 'Abd al-Karim 'Ubayd, kidnapped by Israeli troops in June 1989. In connection with recent release of two Western hostages held in Lebanon [on 8/8, 8/11] and international efforts to secure a comprehensive exchange of Lebanese, Israeli prisoners as well as Western hostages, Israeli officials indicate no Lebanese will be released in return for hostages unless Israeli captives are also released. (WP 8/12)

Syrian For. Min. Faruq al-Shar' states peace conference cannot take place unless Israel halts settlement building in occupied territories. (WP 8/13)

Kuwaiti cabinet establishes six-person committee todevelop long-range "population policy." Move comes in wake of flight or expulsion of some 270,000 Palestinians from Kuwait since Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. 50,000 of the remaining 90,000 Palestinians in Kuwait are expected to leave for Jordan. (MEM 8/12, 8/14)

U.S. officials arrive in Amman for talks with Jordanian leaders on U.S.-Jordan "memorandum of understanding." Americans earlier met with Israel officials, Palestinians, concerning similar bilateral memoranda with those parties. (MEM 8/12)

Palestinians protesting U.S.-led peace efforts clash with Israeli police near Damascus Gate, E. Jerusalem. (MEM 8/12)

Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv publishers poll shows 86% of Israelis support cabinet's decision to attend peace conference. (MEM 8/9)

PLO Executive Committee supports Palestinians who have been meeting with Secy. of State Baker in Jerusalem, in wake of 8/4 death threat directed against the Palestinians. (MEM 8/9)

U.S. officials including Dan Kurtzer, Aaron Miller, and Edmond Hall meet with Faisal Husseini, Hanan Ashrawi to discuss text of U.S.-Palestinian "memorandum of understanding" but fail to reach agreement. Americans met with Israeli officials 8/7 to discuss similar memorandum between U.S., Israel. Palestinians reportedly sought inclusion of demands that peace talks be based on U.N. Security Council resolutions 242, 338, that Israel must withdraw completely from occupied territories, that transition period of Palestinian self-government last for one year only, and that disagreement among peace conference participants be referred to binding international arbitration. (MEM 8/12)

Five-member Arab Maghrib Union, 15 other African countries meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe, issue statement urging PLO inclusion in peace conference. (MEM 8/12)

Egyptian Pres. Mubarak asserts PLO must be involved in peace conference, issue of Jerusalem cannot be excluded from agenda. (MEM 8/8)

Israeli officials again indicate willingness to exchange Lebanese prisoners for seven Israelis captured in Lebanon. Number of Lebanese "under Israeli authority" put at 375. (NYT 8/9)

Forty-five member Islamic Conference Organization meeting in Istanbul confirms PLO as sole representative of the Palestinians. PLO Pol. Dept. Head Faruq al-Qaddumi meets with Saudi For. Min. Prince Sa'ud al-Faysal during conference, amove considered significant given frigid PLO-Saudi relations following Gulf war. In move signalling improved PLO-Iranian relations, al-Qaddumi also met with Iranian For. Min. 'Ali Akbar Velayati, Velayati invited PLO to participate in international conference on Palestine to be held in Tehran in October. (MEM 8/7, 8/9)

In another PLO-Iranian development, official Tehran Radio urged resumption of Gulf states' funding of PLO. (MEM 8/8)

On Jordanian television, King Hussein rules out return to East Bank-West Bank unity which reigned from 1950-88. Declares he never believed in it, felt it was the "wrong approach." (MEM 8/8)

U.S., Israel officials begin work on U.S.- Israeli "memorandum of understanding" stating understandings between the two countries in relation to the peace process. (MEM 8/8)

PLO Chmn. Arafat asserts his right to choose Palestinian delegates to peace conference, again rejects Israeli veto over delegation's composition. Arafat also indicates that Palestine National Council will convene in Algeria next month to discuss peace initiative. (NYT 8/7)

In statement to U.S. press, King Hussein states not every city in occupied territories need be represented at peace conference, in reference to PLO insistence that E. Jerusalem Palestinians be allowed to participate in peace conference. (MEM 8/6)

Israeli press reports Prime Min. Shamir told Israeli cabinet he will walk out of peace talks if Syria demands return of Golan Heights. (LAT 8/7)

Israeli activists demonstrate at Eshkolot, Israeli settlement established 8/5. (MEM 8/6)

One Palestinian killed, over 25 wounded in most violent confrontation between Palestinians in Gaza and Israeli forces since the Gulf war [a second youth died of his wounds 8/9]. (MEM 8/6, 8/12)

Israeli army allows Gush Emunim movement to transform Eshkolot, a paramilitary Nahal base 15 km. s. of Hebron, into newest Israeli settlement in occupied territories. Israel has now established 137 settlements. (MEM 8/6)

Israeli cabinet approves Prime Min. Shamir's 8/1 decision to attend peace conference; vote was 14 in favor, 3 opposed.

Death threat againsthe three Palestinians who have been meeting recently with U.S. Secy. of State Baker [Faisal Husseini, Hanan Ashrawi, Zakariya al-Agha] issued in name of Islamic Jihad. (MEM 8/8, 8/9)

PLO Chmn. Arafat sends letter to Iranian Pres. Hashimi Rafsanjani detailing Palestinian concerns about US.-led peace efforts. Letter, one of many sent by Arafat to world leaders, seen as step toward improved PLO-Iranian relations. (MEM 8/5)

Secy. of State Baker meets with Palestinian delegation comprised of Faisal Husseini, Hanan Ashrawi, Zakariya al-Agha in Jerusalem; urges Palestinian compromise, positive response to peace initiative. Delegation states PLO response will come shortly. (NYT, LAT 8/3)

PLO Chmn. Arafat rejects Israeli veto power over composition of Palestinian delegation. (LAT 8/3)

Jordanian government issues "white paper" explaining its position during Gulf crisis. Pres. Bush indicates some U.S. aid to Jordan will resume in light of King Hussein's willingness to attend peace conference. (NYT 8/2; LAT 8/3; MEM 8/5)

Secretary of State Baker, beginning 6th visit to Middle East since Gulf war, meets P.M. Shamir, F.M. Levy and D.M. Arens in Jerusalem. Following meeting, Shamir commits Israel to attend peace conference provided no Palestinians associated with PLO or from E. Jerusalem are included in talks. Shamir will seek approval from Israeli cabinet for move. Shamir states U.S. assured Israel that Palestinian participants meet Israeli criteria. (NYT, WP, LAT 8/2)