The Palestine Chronology

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)

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)

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 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)